Monday, November 7, 2011

Discussions: 2011 Rules Summit

As baseball's offseason begins, the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League presents the 2011 Rules Summit. The purpose of the UEFL Rules Summit is to discuss any controversial issues which have surfaced during this past season and to set forth a framework for rectifying these issues by modifying the existing UEFL Rules Book in advance of next season.

This discussion thread is an open forum for proposing, discussing and debating potential rules changes. The 2011 Rules Summit discussion thread shall remain open for one week, which should provide ample time for the discussion of possible rules changes heading into the 2012 season.

The following matters are already on the docket for the 2011 Rules Summit, though any UEFL'er or guest may contribute an idea by replying to this thread. Modifications are identified by plaintext, while deletions are identified by italics and additions are identified by bold text.
  • Rules 1 and 2 (Selection of Umpires via the Pre-Season Draft), Deletion, Modification or Addition.
    • Revising the description of the draft process so as to preserve consistency
    • Consolidating these two rules into one single rule, AND/OR
    • Adding to these rules a selection of umpiring "crew" based on 2012 Crew Listings, AND/OR
      • Modifying Rule 4.a. to attribute "crew" points as one point per ejection, QOC notwithstanding.
    • Adding the selection of a tertiary and fourth umpire, in which all umpires receive equal points* and the mutual exclusivity requirement is eliminated.
      • *AAA umpires would/would not continue to observe their points structure.
    • Adding a provision for injured umpires ("Wegner Rule")
      • "Alternate Umpire" system wherein a back-up umpire is picked in the event of injury which sidelines an umpire for >1/2 the season.
        • Time injured is variable, decision to replace umpire would be determined by individual UEFL'ers who own the injured umpire
  • Rule 6.a. (Challenges and Appeals)
    • Creating a UEFL Appeals Board, which shall be comprised of 3 OR 5 OR 7 UEFL'ers, including Commissioners
      • Board Members would routinely rule on QOC Challenges (Affirm/Deny/Defer)
  • Rule 6.b.ii.e. (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Throwing At/Fighting Ejections), Modification.
    • Ceasing the assessment of Quality of Correctness points associated with this Rule by modifying Rule 4.a., OR
    • Eliminating the attribution of Quality of Correctness for these ejections, OR
      • Umpires will receive points for the ejection, but not receive QOC nor its associated points
    • Eliminating the attribution of ANY points as a result of these ejections by modifying Rule 4.a.
    • Adding Post-Inning Ejections to this rule
      • Removing QOC points attributed to ejections resulting from post-inning exemptions, OR
      • Removing the Post-Inning Exemption and Ball/Strike Exemption entirely.
      • Exempting the third out from this provision, so as to give ample argument opportunity.
  • Rule 6.b.ii.h (Check Swing Calls), Addition.
    • Ceasing the assessment of QOC points associated with check swing ejections by modifying Rule 4.a., OR
    • Eliminating the attribution of Quality of Correctness for these ejections.
  • Rule 10 (Umpire Odds & Ends), Addition
    • UEFL Posting Guidelines
      • Adds standard guidelines for acceptable/unacceptable posts and comments.
    • Commissioners as League Participants
      • Allows UEFL Admins to participate in League
        • Commissioner umpire picks must be mutually exclusive
        • Commissioners prohibited from ruling on their owned umpires' ejections
The discussion phase of the UEFL Rules Summit will remain active for one week, after which proposals will be officially drafted and voting will commence.

Standings: 2011 Final UEFL Standings


Pursuant to UEFL Rule 8.a., the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League presents the final standings of 2011. You can view the UEFL Roster and Standings at any time via the Roster and Standings page. You can view the UEFL Ejection List at any time via the Ejection List page.

With 2,467 games played* and 0 games remaining...
*The second game of the September 8 Dodgers-Nationals doubleheader was postponed, and, because neither team was within a 1/2 game of a playoff spot, officially cancelled at the conclusion of the regular season. 38 games were played during the 2011 postseason.

1. kickersrule (West/Wendelstedt) - 35
2. sachmet (West/Bellino) - 33
3. tt49 (Wendelstedt/Guccione) - 32
3. mtn335 (West/Hudson) - 32
5. yawetag (Hernandez/Joyce) - 30
6. cyclone14 (Wegner/Johnson) - 28
6. BONZ_kansascity (West/Hernandez) - 28
8. BSBALLUMP (Rapuano/Drake) - 26
8. RichMSN (West/Emmel) - 26
10. DanNJ316 (Rapuano/Kulpa) - 25
10. spence1222 (O'Nora/Nelson) - 25

199 Ejections: 98 Manager ejections, 88 player ejections, 13 Coach ejections
Top 3 Reasons for Ejection: Balls/Strikes (101 Ejections), Safe/Out (45), Throwing At (20)
Cumulative Ejection Quality of Correctness: 147 Correct, 52 Incorrect: Accuracy = 73.9%

Umpire Ejection Leaders
1. Rob Drake - 9
2. Bob Davidson - 8
2. Hunter Wendelstedt - 8
4. Joe West - 7
5. Mike Estabrook - 6
5. Mike Muchlinski - 6
5. Brian Knight - 6
5. Dan Bellino - 6
10. Marvin Hudson - 5
10. Chad Fairchild - 5
10. Angel Campos - 5
10. Vic Carapazza - 5

Umpire Points
1. Rob Drake - 30
1. Mike Estabrook - 30
1. Mike Muchlinski - 30
4. Marty Foster - 23
4. Alfonso Marquez - 23
6. Jeff Nelson - 22
7. Hunter Wendelstedt - 18
7. Sam Holbrook - 18
7. Dan Bellino - 18
10. Angel Hernandez - 17
10. Chris Guccione - 17

Accuracy
1. Mike Estabrook - 100% (6/6)
1. Mike Muchlinski - 100% (6/6)
1. Marty Foster - 100% (6/6)
4. Alfonso Marquez - 100% (4/4)
4. Jim Joyce - 100% (4/4)
4. Angel Hernandez - 100% (4/4)
4. Sam Holbrook - 100% (4/4)
4. Jeff Nelson - 100% (4/4)
9. Chris Conroy - 100% (3/3)
9. Dana DeMuth - 100% (3/3)
9. Jerry Meals - 100% (3/3)
9. Mark Wegner - 100% (3/3)
9. Chris Guccione - 100% (3/3)
9. Mark Carlson - 100% (3/3)
9. Bill Welke - 100% (3/3)

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Awards: 2011 Umpire of the Year: Jeff Nelson

2011 UEFL Awards: Umpire of the Year: Jeff Nelson (45)

Jeff Nelson is the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League's 2011 umpire of the year.

In his 13th Major League season, Jeff Nelson called four ejections at 100% accuracy (4/4) and was selected to umpire his fourth Championship Series and his fourth consecutive postseason.

Nelson's ejection of Nationals left fielder Jerry Hairston, Jr. concerned an overturned call at first base. Originally ruled an out by 1B Umpire Mike Estabrook, the call was correctly overturned to "safe" after umpire consultation. While some UEFL'ers have speculated that acting crew chief Nelson improperly overruled Estabrook, others praised Nelson for his hustle and work ethic in working to get the call right.

Nelson has been described as "definitely one of the best," turning in the best plate performance of the 2011 postseason. In Game 5 of the ALCS, Nelson missed just two pitches and called 98.7% correctly, a full 2.6% higher than second place Greg Gibson's 96.1% during Game 2 of the World Series.

Nelson's ALCS Game 5 Plot
UEFL'er clement30 described Nelson as "a total class act, and an A+ umpire...He would be deserving of this award based off his umpiring skills alone, but his incredible work this year should put him over the top."

Others referred to Nelson as a "consummate professional" and praised him for a tremendous performance as interim crew chief while Tim Tschida was injured during the latter half of the 2011 season. These consistent praises for Nelson combined with his tremendous all-around performance this season have combined to make Jeff Nelson the UEFL's 2011 Umpire of the Year.


Jeff Nelson now has 22 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (17 Previous + 5 Award = 22).
Final Standings will be released tomorrow. The Rules Summit will begin tomorrow as well.