One of the first idioms we learned as kids was: “There’s no use crying over spilled milk,” which, of course, means that there’s no point to being upset over something that has already happened and cannot be changed.

But we can sure as hell complain about it.

During Saturday night’s ugly 10-inning 4-2 Dodgers loss to the Atlanta Braves in front of a Dodger Stadium crowd of 51,470, there was a lot of milk spilled – again.

It occurred in the bottom of the fourth inning when, with two outs and the bases loaded of the then 1-1 tied ballgame, 43-year-old home plate umpire Mark Ripperger called Dodgers future Hall of Fame infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts out on an 0-2 pitch that was clearly out of the strike zone. In other words and though we will never know what might have happened, there might not have even BEEN a 10th inning if the pitch had been called a ball, which it absolutely positively was.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

It should come as a surprise to no one that Ripperger is no stranger when it comes to spilling the milk. In fact, he has a rather extensive record for blowing calls – up to and including during postseason play.

But “It is what it is” (another popular idiom) and “There’s no use crying over spilled milk.”

Play Ball!

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