HP Umpire Laz Diaz ejected Oakland A's Manager Bob Melvin for arguing a no catch call in
the bottom of the 6th inning of the A's-Rangers game.
With one out and two on, Rangers batter Elvis Andrus hit a sacrifice bunt to A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy. Rangers R3 Craig Gentry scored, R1 Ian Kinsler to second, and Andrus to first. Replays indicate that Andrus popped up his bunt to McCarthy, who cleanly caught the ball in his glove on the fly, the call was incorrect.* At
the time of the
ejection, the Rangers were leading, 4-3. The A's ultimately won the contest, 5-4, in 10 innings.
This is Laz Diaz (63)'s first ejection of 2012.
Laz Diaz now has -2 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + -4
Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Tim Welke now has 0 points in the UEFL's Crew division (0 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 0).
*After review, Quality of Correctness has been affirmed in a 5-0 decision by the UEFL Appeals Board (Incorrect==>Incorrect).
UEFL Standings Update
This is the 35th ejection of 2012.
This is the 21st Manager ejection of 2012.
This is Bob Melvin's first ejection of 2012.
This is the Oakland A's first ejection of 2012.
This is Laz Diaz's first ejection since August 19th, 2010.
This is the first Thursday ejection of the 2012 season.
Wrap: A's at Rangers 5/17/12
Video: Texas Rangers eke out late-inning lead on controversial call
Video: Melvin is ejected by Diaz for arguing no catch call on Andrus' bunt
UEFL Embedded Video:
Talk about a loooooooooooooooooong leash. The most recent Diaz ejection for arguing that I can think would be Girardi in 2008. This guy is the anti-Joe West.
ReplyDeleteHe ejected Jose Reyes, Jerry Manuel and Miguel Olivo in 2010. The Olivo ejection was actually really quick but he also gave Manuel and Reyes olenty of opportunity to leave before ejecting them. Welke and Diaz probably have 2 of the longest leashes in the MLB and are on the same crew.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad i didn't have that call! That is such a tough callespecially the way the glove turns down! And if you combine Laz moving and look at it from certain angles it looks like it does skip i can see how he makes the call.... Whoever did that vid.. Kudos.. And a good job embedding the logo on it.. we all know there are some people out there that try to steal information and lable it as theirs.. yes i'm talking about YOU steve!!
ReplyDeleteIs there a link for the Reyes and Manuel ejections?
ReplyDeleteEjections: Laz Diaz (1, 2)
ReplyDeleteThose ejections did not have any video posted; here's a UEFL copy: Video: Reyes receives equipment violation, ejection after arguing strike three call by throwing helmet, bat
I didnt actaully see the ejection. Did he eject him while we were watching something else or did he eject him after the video ended?
ReplyDeleteThe MLB video does not show the ejection; the UEFL video does at the 1:13 mark.
ReplyDeleteShould have been an inning-ending double play, Texas should have never tied this game. Good to see the right team won in the end.
ReplyDelete*That's taken the lead, not tied. Still, good to see Oakland able to pull out the win in extras.
ReplyDelete@ gil the video is actually up
ReplyDelete"Get help, ask him!"
ReplyDelete"No, It's my call, it's my call."
"He caught it here!"
"No, it bounced."
"Bullsh*t, he caught it."
Its funny how the A's annoucers are mad because they said he should get help from 1st or 3rd because they have the better angle, and the Rangers annoucers say he cant get help here because he had the best angle. Announcers are horrible and are the main reasons so many people hate umps.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the Reyes ejection, Gil.
ReplyDelete"That's brutal, that is absolutely brutal."
ReplyDeleteI'd say the above quote pretty much sums up that broadcasting exhibition by Ray Fosse.
I probably shouldn't go on a big rant about it, but that broadcasting effort by Ray Fosse is so atrocious that it brings up a point. The MLB really needs to start fining teams when the men behind microphone screw up so badly, because it paints the umpire in a bad light. I mean, the umpire supporters on this site are knowledgeable enough to know that Ray Fosse has no credibility left, but the average fan will hear his nonsense and agree with this. The MLB needs to clamp down on this garbage and fast.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Jim Palmer and I'm an O's fan.
DeleteThat's unfortunate. And that really is a call that the PU has to die with. Contrary to what that A's broadcaster would have you believe, there is no way the 1BU or the 3BU had a better look at the catch.
ReplyDeleteFor those who are unhappy with the broadcasters who trash the umpires, please remember that competition for broadcasting jobs in the big leagues is intense, just like it is for the players and umpires. These guys are trying to hold onto their jobs. And they have correctly concluded that the way to win audience approval is to tell the fans what they want to hear, i.e. the major league umpire roster is populated by a bunch of incompetent, arrogant, unaccountable jerks who are ruining the game. It's garbage, but the fans eat it up. Remember, professional baseball is a business.
Short of opening a Vin Scully school of broadcasting, I'm not sure how much clout MLB has in regards to broadcasting. It's all about ratings. I can't get many of my friends interested in the umpire ejection fantasy league because they think this site is way too pro umpire. On the other hand, my officiating brothers and sisters like the objectivity and transparency. Still, academic approaches to the game that sometimes exposes team/player/coach mistakes and paints e umpire as correct where the close call was indeed the right one aren't going to be popular with the average fan, who is a homer by the very definition of the word fan, they're subjective and simply don't care for rules, unless it benefits their team.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 605pm
ReplyDeleteWhat if the home team broadcasters bash the players as bad as they bash the umpires when the players make errors and the players are incompetent, arrogant, unaccountable jerks who are ruining the game, and these broadcasters do this in the name honest, unbiased broadcasting.
You want honest, unbiased broadcasting, watch something on National Geographic or CSPAN. Short of that, and possibly some third party independent YouTube channels, you're not going to find that kind of quality in mainstream media.
ReplyDeleteThat's one thing I really like about the UEFL videos, they're generally void of broadcaster commentary.
ReplyDeleteaviles just got run for arguing balls & strikes in the red sox-rays game.
ReplyDeleteI don't see why MLB couldn't fine the teams when the broadcasting is as bad as it was in this case. It would give the organizations incentive to reign in the announcers.
ReplyDeleteHey Gil, do you have a UEFL video for the Olivo ejection?
Aviles video: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21528437&c_id=mlb
ReplyDeleteWhy can't we have the camera zoom at .43 like it zooms in at .53? At .53 it looks like a little snow-cone job with the ball into the glove. By not zooming at .43 to give a good look and instead keeping that high overhead angle, we do not get the perspective from the other side.
ReplyDeleteDo the broadcasters loose their job if they are not homers. Glad the umpires aren't homers. Just a great job where you cannot report using the same style and venom on players that you use on umpires. What a bunch of people of ill repute.
ReplyDeleteI still can't believe how much leash Diaz gave to Melvin. But do the A's broadcasters care about that? No, of course they don't.
ReplyDeleteSteve Stone, who was the color man for the Cubs in 2004, was pretty much forced to resign during a season in which he criticized Kent Mercker and Mike Remlinger. He also praised Roy Oswalt in a game, which led to Mercker calling him in the broadcast booth from the the bullpen during a game. They also confronted each other in a team hotel and on the plane.
ReplyDeleteThat long leash is just him saying it was a hard call, and I know you're upset, so say your piece and let's move on. He doesn't eject Melvin until its clear he won't leave. No way any other umpire sees that, and with the glove turning over, they would have the same problem, only a lot farther away. If they got together and overturned the call Washington would have had to go. Only way to save an ejection on this one is get it right the first time
ReplyDelete@ Anon 7:58
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair point, but still...Laz Diaz has a longer leash than most umps.
mlb channel actually did a very good objective piece mentioning that all of the base umpires are blocked off from this call and the only one who had a chance at this was Diaz himself. They also mentioned that with Diaz having to look between and around both the batter and the catcher he might not have had a great look either although he did have the best and only look. They thought this might be one of the kind of plays where nobody gets a good look and that instant replay would be the way to go, even if IR would not be the way to go in reality. Nice to see an objective and intelligent conversation that did not blast and blame the umpire on this piece that was done.
ReplyDeletei think that call is that close it can go either way. watching the slo-mo I believe it touchs the ground but in real time you got to go with the umpire. so I challenge the call as i say inclusive at best
ReplyDeleteIt turned out to be the wrong call by Laz, but I wasn't sure of it until seeing the second slow mo replay. He had to make the call in real time. To listen to the A's announcers, that was an an easy, obviously call to make, and it was far from it.
ReplyDeleteCurious as to see what you guys think of Laz as an Ump overall?
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Anon at 9:04. The slo mo does look like part of the ball hit the ground and skipped into the glove. Tough call on slo mo, even tougher in real time, with bodies blocking a clear view. Laz is the ONLY one who can make that call, none of the base umps get a good look at that.
ReplyDeleteI see no one has challenged, so I will, Challenge!
ReplyDeleteMy challenge consist of 1 point only. The video does not clearly show an error by Diaz. Is a blade of grass part of the ground?
I'm suggesting the ball hit "some" grass, and then the finger tips of the glove, and then rolled into the fingers and palm. Then his momentum makes his glove roll over.
If a blade of grass is part of the ground, I think there was grass in between the finger tips and the ball.
I guess I have a second point. The call is too close to overturn.
(take 2) The call was too close to say Diaz was wrong. (yep use take 2)
ReplyDeleteThis ruling has been challenged and is under review.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video (with sound muted), I think this is not a catch. At :54 the ball bounces and then goes in the glove. There is a clear change of direction just before the ball disappears. In the interest of full disclosure, Diaz is one of my secondary umpires. Can I challenge the correctness ruling?
ReplyDelete@ anon 5:57 the ruling has already been challenged.... The appeals board is reviewing the information which for most of us includes MLB.tv.. so we can watch all of the replays etc.
ReplyDeleteThe process usually takes about 2-3 days considering most of us have lives!! (shocker) :)
I am a long long time A's fan. I watch them on tv - in fact, I watched this happen - , I have listened to them on the radio, and I have been to over 100 games. All of that said, I hate Ray Fosse. He is such an arrogant, bitter man. And he hates umpires.
ReplyDeleteI have no opinion about right or wrong here. This is a very tough, heat of the moment call. The folks at MLB network would like Diaz to call from a different position. I maintain that there wasn't time to get to the position they want, even if Laz knew he would need to be there. I know that I would hate to have had to make the call myself.
I also support Laz for taking this entirely on himself. There is no angle whatsoever for any other umpire to help. None. Fosse, and likely Melvin, are just perpetuating the myth that any and every call can be appealed. They can't.
I have always maintained that if we need slo-mo and angles to prove an umpire wrong, then the call is good enough. I hold to that position. This call is good enough, given the circumstances.
Brandon McCarthy has published a statement on his blog. He says that while he still thinks the call is horrible, he regrets his actions and statements toward Diaz on the field. He realizes that it was a tough situation, and that Laz did the best he could. He also says that he will try in the future to remain more calm.
http://bmccarthythoughts.wordpress.com/
After review, the original Quality of Correctness of "Incorrect" has been affirmed in a 5-0 decision by the UEFL Appeals Board. Four Appeals Board members elected to Confirm and one elected to Uphold the original ruling.
ReplyDeleteIn reviewing this ruling, the Board considered the definition of a catch. Per Rule OBR Rule 2.00 [Catch]: "A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it..." The issue of voluntary release was summarily dismissed by the Appeals Board, as Gil opined, "we have no issue of voluntary release." The only issue here to determine was whether not the ball was secured in McCarthy's possession in flight.
On the issue of whether the ball was secured in flight, tmac delivered the opinion of the Board:
"The television angle from over the 3rd base dugout CLEARLY shows the ball going into the glove; and while the ball may have moved in the glove, the 3 attributes to having a catch are garnered. Therefore, the ruling in my view of incorrect is confirmed."
Therefore, the Board affirms the Original Ruling that no Catch occurred, as prescribed by OBR Rule 2.00 [Catch].
Confirmed: Gil, tmac, BillMueller, RichMSN
Upheld: yawetag
Overturned: None
Deferred: None
Abstained: Jeremy (Posted Original QOC), Albertaumpire (Vacation)
Quality of Correctness has been affirmed, 5-0.
A 2-3 day estimate turns into 1 day?
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked there wasn't 1 person to see this play as a no catch. I'm not shocked the call wasn't overturned.
To say the ball clearly went in the glove is a false statement.
Definition...........
CLEARLY: Free from doubt or confusion; certain.
I really do not think this play fits the definition of "clearly goes into the glove".
The ruling would be more digestable if a simple yea or nay vote was displayed with no comments.
Jon Terry must have worked Pro Ball. Excellent, excellent commnent. No one else noticed that Laz actually took the heat for the crew.
ReplyDeleteWell, you said and explained it better than I'm trying to do now.
Best post of the year, nice job and thanks.
Let me say it and I'm not on the board: "The ball CLEARLY went into the glove without hitting the ground first." "Blade of grass," really? I'd love to hear you sell that one, "No catch, Skip, it hit a blade of grass!" "Oh ok, good call. Let me go back to the dugout." Here's what happened: It was a catch in real time, a catch in replay and people still want to complain even after the challenge. Laz Diaz is a great umpire, but he missed a call (a tough call) at an inopportune time. Live with it. Everyone then comes on this site and wants to spin it and protect the umpire 100% and somehow find him an excuse. Blame the announcers, poor angles, the appeals board, or something else. Can we all stop over analyzing the video like it's the Zapruder film and we're looking for the 2nd gunman on the grassy knoll? I understand the objective of the site is to analyze and discuss umpiring, but how ticky tacky is this going to get? Sometimes things just aren't there no matter how bad we want it to be. Oh, and not that I'm pro-announcer and I'm definitely not in love with Ray Fosse, but I watch about 80 A's games a year. For a guy that was a catcher Fosse isn't too knowledgeable about umpiring. But he's not bitter (well, maybe at Pete Rose) and I've never got the impression he hates umpires. For sure he's a homer, but he's no Hawk and he actually quite often has nice things to say about umpires. So, if we as umpires don't appreciate getting buried for things that aren't true then we should extend the same courtesy. Bury him for the commentary he gave on this play, but don't play him up to the site just because we can and we don't think anyone knows better. As for being arrogant, no more so than you and me and probably everyone else I've ever met that is affiliated with the great game of baseball. Oh, and finally, I really do believe there was a 2nd shooter. Perhaps I can challenge!
ReplyDelete@ Anon 7:08
ReplyDeleteI agree that the replays show that the call was blown. However, that doesn't excuse Fosse's broadcasting exhibition.
@Anon 7:08pm.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of bullshit you posted. Go to a JFK site and post your nonsense.
Your lack of umpire knowledge is only exceeded by inability to form an origianl opinion.
The next thing you will bring up is Turf vs Real grass, which is better?
You have no original opinion on the play, but some how have developed enough courage (liguid probably) to pick my words apart.
If you think I would go to a Manager and say the ball hit a blade of grass, your nuttier than a fruitcake.
Tougne and cheek comments, along with sarcasm are lost in typed messages.
What is not lost is your stale, uninteresting commnents.
Watching the A's game now and in the 2nd inning Ray Fosse talked about the umpires and what a professional and good guy Jim Joyce is. Hardly an umpire hater and that was point. As for my sarcasm, you are correct that it does not belong here and is lost in a typed message so I apologize. What baffles me is your comment about my lack of umpire knowledge. The funny thing is I inferred the same thing about you based on some of your comments (i.e. blade of grass), but since I've never seen you work I refrained from the ad hominem attack. Who knows, maybe you're solid. Although I do hope you're not as super aggressive and confrontational on the field when someone questions you like I did your comment. You probably could have told me to go shove it in a more civil manner. My larger point was how this site has become and the comments and complaints including ones even after a challenge has been ruled on. I've read a ton of b.s. on this site (especially this year). Your comment was just one of the last I read that I didn't necessarily agree with so I sincerely apologize if I made it seem like I was directing it all towards you. My complaint is bigger than that and I should have addressed that and not you. Sorry. Anyway, I'll let you have the last word and blast me all you want. I've been out of the game for a bit now and perhaps I deserve it and lack the knowledge I think I once had. I'll be okay, hell, I'm sure I've been called a lot worse probably by a lot better. Finally, my hat's off to the guys who run this site. Just like umpiring, you're never going to please everyone so just keep doing what you do. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteGuys, cool it on the arguing a bit!
ReplyDeleteWithout debate, without criticism, not one single person and no country can succeed-- and no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why we are all protected by the First (emphasized) Amendment-- the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteI was only stating my opinion as strongly as I possibly could. I think as an umpire it's very easy for me to have a heated discussion one minute, and then let it roll off my back the next.
Since the Anon poster apologized 3 times in his last post, I can only help but think it was me who didn't understand the meaning of sarcasm.
I don't understand why people are so critical of the announcers. I think you're disillusioned if you believe they are supposed to be unbiased. It's their job to homers. That's why the work for the teams and not MLB.
ReplyDelete