It looks like another blown call

Before Game 1, blogboy Curt Schilling wrote, “This is about as bad a crew as I have ever seen assembled. Joe West, for all his pomp and circumstance, can ump a game. CB Bucknor? Greg Gibson? Not so much. I’m blown away that A: They made the postseason, and B: They are umping what I think will be the most-watched series. If I HAD to put them on the postseason roster, I’d try to hide them on the outfield lines of Colorado. Look for BOTH to have game impact in this series.’’

Bucknor blew several calls at first base in Game 1 (great Globe headline: “The New Buckner is Bucknor’’). Both managers wore a path to Bucknor’s station.

With Bucknor moving behind the plate last night, the possibilities seemed endless.

And Schill looked like Nostradamus.

In player polls conducted by Sports Illustrated, Bucknor twice has been named the worst umpire in the majors. Before Game 2 he was already feeling the scorn of Red Sox Nation. Citing “vandalism,’’ Wikipedia (an often incorrect, online encyclopedia) has temporarily disabled new edits in Bucknor’s bio. Hell hath no fury like angry Red Sox fans.

The whole thing is reminiscent of the demonization of Larry Barnett during the 1975 World Series. Barnett was the home plate ump when Carlton Fisk thought he was bumped by Ed Armbrister as he was trying to throw out a runner at second. The play proved costly and Barnett heard about it for the rest of his career. Barnett must be glad there was no Internet in 1975.

Bucknor’s Thursday gaffes worked against Boston. In the fourth inning of a scoreless game, Alex Gonzalez’s throw to first pulled Kevin Youkilis off the bag. Youk made a swipe tag on Howie Kendrick before the runner touched the base, but Bucknor called Kendrick safe. Two innings later, Kendrick hit a ball to Mike Lowell. Lowell’s throw was way off the bag. After Youkilis gloved the high throw, he raced Kendrick to the base and appeared to get there first. Again, Bucknor called Kendrick safe.

There was also another close call at first that went against the Angels.

“They were three bang-bang plays at first base,’’ said crew chief West, who worked the plate in Game 1. “It seemed like two of them went against the Red Sox, one of them went against the Angels. From where I was, it’s the kind of play, they hit the bag at the same time. I’m sure that the camera slowed everything down and they deciphered it the way they did.

“These are professional umpires, and they get in the best position they can to make the call. [Bucknor] was in great position on all the plays.’’

Angels manager Mike Scioscia last night was asked about the possibility of instant replays and said, “I don’t think it’s practical. I don’t think it’s needed . . . as much as you see us argue, and you see players argue . . . 99 percent of the time they’re correct with their calls.’’

It wasn’t just Bucknor in Game 1. West annoyed Jon Lester with his strike zone. At the end of one inning, Lester came in to talk to West before walking back to the dugout.

“That’s what happens in baseball,’’ said Lester. “Calls can sometimes affect the game. But they’re doing the same thing we are. They’re out there busting their butt to do the right thing.’’

Like Schilling, Cowboy Joe West is a magnet for controversy and attention. Goofy stuff just seems to find him. He’s a worthy successor to Ron Luciano and nimble Ken Kaiser - other large umpires who craved the spotlight.

Rich Garcia, a 25-year major league umpire currently employed as supervisor of umpires, was at Thursday’s game and stood by the work of his crew. Garcia’s boss, former Red Sox general manager Mike Port (MLB’s vice president in charge of umpires) arrived on the scene last night and explained the process of selecting umpires for the playoffs.

“It’s a 36-man all-star team,’’ said Port. “We have 68 full-time umpires and use these 36 for the first two rounds.’’

Port and Garcia both denied the long-suspected theory that umps get to work the playoffs as a result of a regular (read: union concession) rotation.

“We don’t have any rotation,’’ said Garcia.

“It’s based on merit,’’ said Port.

Sorry, guys. It’s tough to buy that explanation when CB Bucknor gets to work home plate in the Red Sox-Angels most important game of the season. Much as it kills me to say it, I’m with Schill on this one.