Why hasn't Bob Davidson been fired again?-Bill Madden

Bill Madden: ""Can anyone explain how Bob Davidson, one of the consistently lowest-ranking umpires who seemingly is constantly involved in controversial blown calls and was already fired once, is still working in the majors?

• Davidson should have been fired again after tossing Angels ace
• John Lackey - who was making his first start of the season after missing six weeks due to forearm strain -

• after just two wayward pitches a week ago Saturday.

Yes, both of Lackey's pitches went behind Ian Kinsler's head, but common sense tells you there was no intention to throw at Kinsler and get thrown out of the game after one batter."

• from Madden's NY Daily News column, item at end in 'It's a Madd, Madd World,' "Mets Manager Jerry Manuel has Amazin' Ring of Stengelese" 5/23/09 ***********

• Balkin' Bob Davidson calls 2 balks in one night on same pitcher, 8/4/08

• Balkin' Bob Davidson calls one balk and one ejection, 4/11/08

• Bob Davidson was the home plate umpire who reversed the 2nd base umpire's call in the 2006 World Baseball Classic that would've given Japan the lead.

• And another controversial call he made when apparently needing to rush to catch a flight, umpires leaving the Baltimore stadium with police escort, May 8, 2005, Royals v Orioles:
• "Still, Davidson called the balk with the score tied in the eighth inning and the game dragging on to the point where it apparently was questionable
• whether he would make his flight to Tampa for the series between the Devil Rays and the Chicago White Sox. The Baltimore Police Department and other sources confirmed that the umpires asked for an escort out of the ballpark because of the tight travel schedule. They got a motorcycle escort through the stadium traffic, which is not unusual following an afternoon getaway game. That, in itself, is not improper, and World Umpires Association president John Hirschbeck said yesterday that major league umpires would not let a travel schedule affect their performance. "I know I would never do that, nor do I believe that any umpire would do that," Hirschbeck said."
• Pointed out by Peter Schmuck ever so gently so as not to ruffle feathers (article posted 5/10/05). on Baseball-Fever.com, "Was it a Balk or Not? Posted on this blog 8/25/07

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