Seasoned umps to work World Series

Major League Baseball is breaking tradition and sticking with only experienced umpires for the World Series, after a rash of blown calls in this postseason.

Longtime crew chiefs Joe West, Dana DeMuth and Gerry Davis, along with Brian Gorman, Jeff Nelson and Mike Everitt will handle the games, three people with knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press this week.

In 24 of the last 25 World Series, the six-man crew has included at least one umpire working the event for the first time; baseball likes to reward newer umpires, plus replenish the supply of umps with Series experience. In each of the last 2 years, there were three new umps working the World Series.

Umpiring mistakes caused anxious moments for MLB in the first two rounds: Phil Cuzzi's foul call on a drive by Joe Mauer that was fair by a foot, Jerry Meals' error on a ball that bounced off Chase Utley's leg, Dale Scott's miss on a pickoff and Tim McClelland's call on a tag play, among others.

Scott missed again last night in Game 5 of the ALCS, ruling New York's Johnny Damon out after he clearly beat Angels first baseman Kendry Morales' toss to pitcher John Lackey.