Savannah Bananas Rules Analysis - April 1 Edition

By popular demand, we analyze a few quirky plays from the off-beat baseball experience known as the Savannah Bananas. Which of their peculiar stunts are legal in a regulation game? Stick around for a rules analysis to find out.

Where applicable, we provide citations to rules and links to prior videos we may have done on the related plays.

Video as follows:

CCS Presents UmpShow the Umpire Simulator Game!

Close Call Sports Studios in consultation with Pitch Clock Productions presents UEFL's Ump Show, the video game that puts you behind the plate as an umpire for a virtual big league baseball game, giving you the chance to call the action to 100% accuracy...or turn it into a real #UmpShow full of ejections and controversy.

Umpire Ejection Fantasy League, in association with Close Call Sports Media Group, has taken officiating mechanics and created a virtual world that rivals the best baseball simulations in the market, you know, the mainstream abominations that restrict the user to controlling players and teams.

Ump Show has none of it, dedicating its revolutionary Dana DeMicroSAM™engine to the boys and girls in blue and black...but be forewarned: as in real life officiating, there are no slow-motion replays (unless you're playing in Replay Official Mode™), and one shot at full speed from the angle you have chosen is all you get. Our program doesn't even have a pause button, allowing for the mini-game, "Sprint to the Dugout Bathroom," a 60-second journey down the stairs.

Want to run the skip? It's your call to make.

And if your calls don't meet to the realistically irrational satisfaction of either manager produced by our cutting edge Mattingly Algorithm™, you'll hear chirping and gain access to Ump Show's state of the art Game Management Feature™, where you can discipline or ignore potential misconduct by issuing warnings and ejections.

Careful! If your fuse is too short, you'll see a TILT (Trigger Initiation Limit Tool) and receive downgrades from BOB™, your virtual supervisor (derived from "RoBOBserver Manfried Hard Drive"), but if you're too lenient, both clubs will jump all over you and potentially start a forfeit-inducing fight, which will get you in hot water with your crew chief, CompuKlem™ 9000.

The WEST application.

Choose your character directly from a template of The Show's 20 roster umpires, or create your own unique avatar using the proprietary Wendel-stencil Entertainment Studio Tool™ (aka the WEST), choosing your path through school for a shot at the show. Ump Show currently offers Hunter Hall and Corporate College as two paths to the pros.

It's all your call in Ump Show, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the game.

2022 MLB Umpire Crew List

Major League Baseball's 2022 umpire crews are listed in the following table. To review, five umpires retired (Fieldin Culbreth, Kerwin Danley, Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman, Joe West), five were hired (Ryan Additon, Sean Barber, John Libka, Ben May, Roberto Ortiz), and five were promoted to Crew Chief (Laz Diaz, Greg Gibson, Marvin Hudson, Ron Kulpa, Bill Welke).

Registration for the 2022 Umpire Ejection Fantasy League season, as well as the UEFL draft, will be announced in the coming days, and will conclude prior to Opening Day. Click here to see the rules changes for the 2022 UEFL season

Umpiring crews for the 2022 regular season appear below. The original posting on April 1, in which first names were modified in accordance with April Fool's Day, appears below the unaltered version. You can now update your website without crediting us, Steve:

2022 MLB Umpire Crews (by Seniority)

Crew #	Crew Chief	Umpire 2	Umpire 3	Umpire 4
Crew A	3 Welke, Bill	49 Fletcher, Andy	47 Morales, Gabe	96 Segal, Chris
Crew B	6 Carlson, Mark	68 Guccione, Chris	71 Baker, Jordan	67 Additon, Ryan
Crew C	51 Hudson, Marvin	80 Johnson, Adrian	74 Tumpane, John	36 Blakney, Ryan
Crew D	14 Wegner, Mark	64 Porter, Alan	81 Wolcott, Quinn	35 Rehak, Rehak
Crew E	50 Emmel, Paul	92 Hoye, James	1 Dreckman, Bruce	31 Hoberg, Pat
Crew F	34 Holbrook, Sam	5 Hernandez, Angel	28 Wolf, Jim	17 Reyburn, DJ
Crew G	58 Iassogna, Dan	11 Randazzo, Tony	87 Barry, Scott	97 May, Ben
Crew H	65 Barrett, Ted	23 Barksdale, Lance	83 Estabrook, Mike	59 Lentz, Nic
Crew I	27 Vanover, Larry	2 Bellino, Dan	86 Rackley, David	29 Barber, Sean
Crew J	45 Nelson, Jeff	54 Bucknor, CB	79 Gonzalez, Manny	85 Scheurwater, Stu
Crew K	63 Diaz, Laz	7 O’Nora, Brian	4 Fairchild, Chad	73 Gibson, Tripp
Crew L	77 Reynolds, Jim	13 Tichenor, Todd	76 Muchlinski, Mike	84 Libka, John
Crew M	72 Marquez, Alfonso	95 Timmons, Tim	16 Barrett, Lance	18 De Jesus, Ramon
Crew N	41 Meals, Jerry	15 Hickox, Ed	19 Carapazza, Vic	52 Visconti, Jansen
Crew O	20 Hallion, Tom	10 Cuzzi, Phil	89 Blaser, Cory	90 Ripperger, Mark
Crew P	46 Kulpa, Ron	60 Foster, Marty	98 Conroy, Chris	37 Torres, Carlos
Crew Q	24 Layne, Jerry	21 Wendelstedt, Hunter	78 Hamari, Adam	62 Whitson, Chad
Crew R	26 Miller, Bill	88 Eddings, Doug	91 Knight, Brian	40 Ortiz, Roberto
Crew S	53 Gibson, Greg	39 Nauert, Paul	30 Drake, Rob	93 Little, Will
IL	39 Nauert, Paul	-	CloseCallSports.com	March 2022

2022 MLB Umpire Crews (by Seniority)

Crew #	Crew Chief	Umpire 2	Umpire 3	Umpire 4
Crew A	3 Welke, Tim	49 Fletcher, Barelyknowher	47 Morales, Oreles	96 Segal, Duck
Crew B	6 Carlson, Brutananadilewski	68 Guccione, Tennis	71 Baker, Dozen	67 Additon, Multiply
Crew C	51 Hudson, River	80 Johnson, Pok	74 Tumpane, Rolaidane	36 Blakney, Liveney
Crew D	14 Wegner, Piniella	64 Porter, Inastormer	81 Wolcott, Alfuton	35 Rehak, Cough
Crew E	50 Emmel, Kayjay	92 Hoye, Matey	1 Dreckman, Recycling	31 Hoberg, Winslet
Crew F	34 Holbrook, Halfstream	5 Hernandez, Angel	28 Wolf, Blitzer	17 Reyburn, Icefreeze
Crew G	58 Iassogna, Tortellini	11 Randazzo, Aynuti	87 Barry, Bonds	97 May, June
Crew H	65 Barrett, Grinand	23 Barksdale, Meowscott	83 Estabrook, Thatalago	59 Lentz, Easterz
Crew I	27 Vanover, Doc	2 Bellino, Objection	86 Rackley, Shelfley	29 Barber, Pole
Crew J	45 Nelson, Full	54 Bucknor, Martineznor	79 Gonzalez, Kermitlez	85 Scheurwater, Iffyfire
Crew K	63 Diaz, Horaz	7 O’Nora, Whosnora	4 Fairchild, Fouladult	73 Gibson, Nextfall
Crew L	77 Reynolds, Wrap	13 Tichenor, Smidgenor	76 Muchlinski, Cowski	84 Libka, Conkhan
Crew M	72 Marquez, Potsie	95 Timmons, Ruler	16 Barrett, Notteddy	18 De Jesus, Iguessso
Crew N	41 Meals, Onwheels	15 Hickox, Educatedbison	19 Carapazza, Facedough	52 Visconti, Baroni
Crew O	20 Hallion, Unretired	10 Cuzzi, Can	89 Blaser, Platecoat	90 Ripperger, Taperdog
Crew P	46 Kulpa, Meamaxima	60 Foster, Lager	98 Conroy, Proray	37 Torres, Turris
Crew Q	24 Layne, Stayinyour	21 Wendelstedt, Igiveup	78 Hamari, Powerdrilli	62 Whitson, Dumdaughter
Crew R	26 Miller, Flour	88 Eddings, Cyyed	91 Knight, Nosun	40 Ortiz, Pedro
Crew S	53 Gibson, Homeplateumpire	39 Nauert, Ferrari	30 Drake, Eminem	93 Little, Big
IL	22 East, Klem	25 Battin, Downthehatches	- Ihatebaseball, Manfred	- Idotoo, Womanwilma

Officiating on the Big Screen - The Naked Gun

In this April 1 edition of Officiating on the Big Screen, we analyze Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen's) officiating performance in The Naked Gun. HP Umpire Drebin/Nielsen/Enrico Pallazzo ejected Joe West and Hank Robinson in this American League game between the Angels and Mariners in Los Angeles, employing several advanced umpiring techniques and mechanics.

We review this historic performance, including a risky game management move that demonstrates the full influence of a baseball umpire-in-chief.

Video as follows:

New Atlantic League Rules for 2020

Despite baseball's indefinite shutdown, the Atlantic League, having partnered with MLB in 2019 with rules such as allowing batters to steal first base on any wild pitch, announced experimental rules for its 2020 campaign. CloseCallSports.com obtained exclusive information on some rule changes for the upcoming season. They are as follows:

1a) The Automated Ball/Strike System has been programmed to call check swings by determining whether the barrel of the bat has crossed the front edge of home plate. This will manifest in the existing ABS system by announcing "strike" whenever ABS determines that the bat crossed the front edge of home plate. Occasionally, ABS might mistake the bat for a pitched ball, but the call of "strike" shall nonetheless prevail.

In an effort to promote social distancing, all umpires shall stand at least three feet behind the catcher when adjudicating balls and strikes in what is being informally referred to as the "Non-Phil Cuzzi Mechanic."

Will the latest changes make it to MiLB?

As was the case in 2019, the media shall not be permitted to take any photos of the computer screen displaying the ABS system; the sole ABS outcome that shall be communicated to the public shall be the system's final decision of "ball" or "strike."

1b) The glitch in which ABS fails to call either "ball" or "strike" has been fixed. Despite our previous reporting and pages upon pages of evidence that ABS routinely misses pitches ("When I say it missed 500 pitches [in April], that didn't mean they called them wrong. They didn't call them at all" - Joe West), the league has assured folks this was due to a persistent volume error on Apple iOS which cut out the audio signal right at the moment of verbalization. Umpires have been instructed that when the system outputs no audio, the proper call is "strike."
Related Post: Video - Truth About Baseball's Electronic Strike Zone (5/30/19).

ALPB doesn't want a repeat of Frank Violin.

1c) Umpires have been instructed to refrain from ejecting any players in connection with the Automated Ball/Strike System's pitch calls. Any such ejection shall be subject to league review; however, under the newly-adopted "Frank Viola Rule," any non-player who argues the Automated Ball/Strike System shall be subject to immediate discipline, up to and including demotion to the Houston Astros.

2) No more automatic doubles if the ball bounces over the fence. Instead, the umpire shall determine where the ball first contacted the playing field to determine base awards. If the ball first bounced off the outfield grass, a two-base award shall be had, as the present rules dictate. However, a new universal ground rule will award a ground-rule triple if the ball first contacts the dirt warning track before bounding over the wall and out of play. For scorekeepers, an error shall be charged in connection with the play if at any time the ball touched an outfielder.

Players caught using Barroids shall be banned.

3) Batters can no longer wear any protective equipment. The "Barry Bonds Rule" includes arm guards, shin guards or anything worn for the disproportionate rationale of "safety" at the expense of making a hit-by-pitch more likely. Penalty shall be ejection for the first offense and relegation to the San Francisco Giants on the second.

4) Batters can steal third base on a wild pitch. The play at third will become a force play.  If the batter/runner is thrown out at third, the inning is over no matter how many outs there were when the play began. If he is safe, the next batter comes to the plate with a new count. A batter can not steal third if it’s occupied, but shall be permitted to run after the wild pitch/passed ball and kick the ball away from the catcher or other fielder.

5) All bases will be red, white, and blue because: AMERICA! The blue bases are worth two points. A player may physically steal a base and carry it around the base paths in order to avoid being put out; however, such a base intentionally dislodged and carried by the offense may only be returned to its natural position during a live ball or base award as the result of actions that occurred during a live ball.

Players may brandish bases to avoid outs.

6) All games will now be eight innings and all batters shall inherit a 1-1 count in any game whose score differential is four or greater. In an effort to increase scoring, all games shall begin with both teams tied at a score of 9-9.

7) There will be a three-hour time limit on all games with no new inning beginning at two hours and forty minutes from the scheduled start time.

8) The 8th inning will be our special comeback inning to keep the fans entertained. If a manager elects to use a pinch-hitter, his run will count as double (triple on blue bases). If the pinch hitter hits a home run, all runs count as quadruple. If the bases are loaded, the home run shall be a quintuple.

Many have been following the bizarre rule changes ever since the eastern indy league has grabbed money from MLB and became obliged to obey just about every request—these were the requests for 2020.

Quotes:

Robbed-of-Sense Manfred:  “You believe this?!  We keep trolling them and they keep letting us do whatever we want.  I was going to suggest that each team has to play with a little leaguer, but we found out insurance would be too high and that no little leaguers want to be part of a rinky dink production…Did I do it again?  Did I say that out loud."

Chris Younger-Than-Springtime: "The Atlantic League, what’s that? You guys know I was the pitcher and not the hitter right?"

Joe Torree: “I have this problem.  Randy keeps calling me just to chat. When will he realize he’s no longer working for the office?”

Rick-Roll White: “As long as umpires don’t mess up, we’ll have a great season. The reason we had to change the strike zone is because the umpires aren’t very good, but I respect them a lot. Nobody respects umpires more than me. I'd never defend them, but they must be some of the best people in the game. But don't tell anyone that because it might not be false. But seriously, our league might be out of business in 10 years if MLB leaves. Please don't leave, we'll do whatever you say."

Mike Pfaffy Taffy:  “Everyone knows I run the league. You know that, right? Wanna work here, you gotta get by me. They don't call 'em the Long Island Kings for nothing. Oh, you wanted to know about the new rules?  Well I’m hoping we expand to the moon: 30 teams by 2030 that’s what I say!  In reality, as long as the island makes money, why would I care about the rules?"

Happy April Fools' Day, everyone!

Bob Davidson to Return to Baseball for Third Time

Bob Davidson to return to major leagues.

Denver, CO— Closecallsports.com has obtained information that former MLB umpire Bob Davidson will, for the third time, get to call a professional baseball field home when he returns to a Major League field in a full-time capacity as an umpire on Thursday, April 18 in San Diego when the Manny Machado-led Friars host Cincinnati. It will be Machado's first ejection as a member of the Padres.

Davidson, an umpire of 3911 MLB games, can’t wait to get back on the field and has been waiting for "the call."

"Joe (Torre) told me this was a possibility last year when I happened to run into him at a Colorado Avs hockey game," said the 30-year vet Davidson.  "I asked him if there was a chance to get back onto the field.  He seemed open to the idea."

Torre, the Chief Baseball Officer wasn’t convinced to make the move, however, until consulting with longtime yes-man Peter Woodspork, the Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations.

“I talked to Peter, and he kept saying ‘yes’ so I decided to pull the trigger. I guess that’s why Wooden Eating Utensil gets my lunch every day and washes my car.”

Super Baseball 2020, where everyone's a robot.

“The bottom line is, umpiring over the past two years has been too good and between you and me and with the help of commissioner Rob Manfred we want to speed up the games and Bob loved calling pitches six inches off the plate so that should help.”

Baseball hopes Davidson's return will bring the staff below 98% and necessitate robot umpires. This is also the one-year anniversary of UEFL Ump Show the video game and that seems to work okay.

The office also noted that it’s likely that MLB will begin to allow players and managers to leave their positions to argue balls and strikes. “I gotta give credit to Sandy (Alderson) on that one. Who’s more argumentative than Bob.  He’s gonna make the umpires look so bad we’ll be able to bury them in the next union contract.  I mean we like Bob and hope he does well.”

Ump Show also had an electronic strike zone.

We had to cut off the interview with Torrey Pines because Director of Major League Umpires, Randy Marsh was in the office lobbying for a World Series.

“Every year I have to explain to Randy that he can’t work a World Series just by sitting in my office and begging, but it’s better than when he was on the field and called about once a week,” said the same guy.

Alderson, who is now a senior advisor with Oakland and also a longtime friend of the MLB front office, loves the idea of bringing back a spicy veteran.

“Davidson is one of the best umpires I know for igniting riots. That’s why we want robot umpires and quicker games and more offense, but faster too.”

Davidson prepares to eject a fan, "just 'cause."

The real impetus behind bringing Davidson back was Woodspork.

“Look we live in an anti-bullying environment,” said "Sporky," as he's known to his April 1 friends.  “That’s why we don’t do much to help the umpires when they get bullied. Let’s be honest, I don’t have a punching bag anymore. Davidson was easy. He’d throw out a popcorn vendor and I could yell at him. I have nobody to yell at and I feel like not getting angry takes my vitality away. Plus absence makes the heart grow fonder according to Sextus Propertius. That's not part of the fake quote-joke, that's a real name. Look it up. I'm serious, they attribute it to him."

"This guy's breath smells like laughing gas."

Davidson will take over crew chief duties for Jeff Kellogg who is entangled in a legal dispute with a fan whom he tackled in Baltimore a few years ago.

“It will just be great to be back and hopefully get to 40,000 games,” added Davidson.  “I’ve been practicing under an assumed name of Joe Henry doing JV high school games out West. I’ve done over 40 games and ZERO ejections. Except that one kid I caught with a foreign substance. He said it was for chapped lips but nobody is bringing vasoline on my field and getting away with it.”

We’ll monitor this story and have more from Davidson as his re-debut gets closer.  Until then Happy April 1st everyone. April Fools'. It's all satire and like Whose Line, everything's made up and the points don't matter.

20 Fill-In Umpires Promoted Full-Time to The Show

Baseball announced a hiring spree of big league fill-in umpires today, who virtually have a combined 100 years of experience calling games—and that number could well be north of the million-games mark when factoring in their global officiating work. Most have additional postseason experience, and nearly all have worked at least one World Series.

20 Umpires Were Added to The Show.

Some of the umpires have already been scouted by big league broadcasters. For instance, Eric Karros described one umpire's plate calling as, "[having] a bit of a reputation as having a fat strike zone, but I don't think that really applies to all corners. Also, I've been told that he's pretty consistent with what he does and doesn't call."

Regarding a second, Karros said, "'Ferg,' as he's known amongst baseball people, really does call a good game back there. He might reward a pitcher for a good location every once in awhile, but most of his calls seem to be spot on."

Click here to see them in action.

The newest additions to the baseball umpiring staff include the following umpire crews:
Crew A
» Carl Dixon
» Freddie Ferguson
» Joe MacDonald
» Eric Summersgill

Crew B
» Ed Drummond
» Woody Keller
» Earl Hendricks
» Clyde Washington

Crew C
» Mike Fillmore
» Jerry Hillsdale
» Kenny Janzen
» Rusty Valentine

Crew D
» Ricky Holliday
» Dave Lawrence
» Darryl Parker
» Matthew Ross

Crew E
» Larry Bullard
» Patrick Johnson
» James Kingsley
» Gary Simmons

Happy April Fools' Day!

Ejections 01, 02: Odo Ital (Benjamin Sisko, Captain Solok)

HP Umpire Odo Ital ejected Niners Manager Benjamin Sisko for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 5th inning and Logicians Manager Captain Solok for arguing a celebration in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Logicians-Niners game. In the 5th, with two out and one on, Niners first baseman Worf took a 3-2 fastball for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee, the call was correct. In the 9th, with two out and one on, Niners batter Rom executed a squeeze bunt, scoring baserunner R3 Nog for the Niners' first run, prompting a bench-clearing incident during which the Niners celebrated Rom's RBI, the call was irrecusable. At the time of Sisko's ejection, the Logicians were leading, 7-0. At the time of Solok's ejection, the Logicians were leading, 10-1. The Logicians ultimately won the contest, 10-1.

These are Odo Ital (6)'s first and second ejections of the DS9 Exhibition Game.
*Immediately preceding both ejections, Sisko and Solok touched Odo's chest, prompting Odo to reference and quote OBR Rule 4.06(a)(4), which states that "No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall at any time, whether from the bench, the coach’s box or on the playing field, or elsewhere make intentional contact with the umpire in any manner."

Wrap: USS T'Kumbra Logicians vs. Deep Space 9 Niners (Star Trek Exhibition), 2375 (N/A)
Video: Following a fifth-inning strikeout, Sisko touches the umpire, good for an auto-EJ (DS9)

Happy April Fools' Day!

Ejections 1, 2: Enrico Pallazzo (Joe West, Hank Robinson)

HP Umpire Enrico Pallazzo ejected 3B Umpire Joe West and 1B Umpire Hank Robinson for arguing a safe and/or out call in the top of the 7th inning of the Mariners-Angels game. With two out and one on, Mariners batter Armando Criscione hit a 2-0 fastball for a pop fly to Angels catcher Santinez who dropped at least one

Pallazzo's umpire card

baseball, which may have intentionally or inadvertently fallen or been thrown from Pallazzo's plate coat, Mariners runner R3 Dory scoring.

Verbally ruled a fair ball by Pallazzo, B1 Criscione attempted to advance toward second base, Santinez throwing to Angels shortstop Austin, who threw to first baseman Zuhr as the Angels attempted to execute a rundown against Criscione. After Austin received the ball for the third time, he threw to Umpire Pallazzo, who threw to B1 Criscione before Umpire Robinson stepped in to throw with Pallazzo, B1 Criscione, according to Pallazzo, returning safely to first base though Robinson called him out for leaving the baseline as West observed the umpires' altercation. Replays indicate Criscione was either safe or out or neither or both.

Umpires West, Robinson and Pallazzo.

At the time of the ejections, the contest was tied, 4-4. The game was subsequently forfeited due to a bench clearing brawl during which time Angels outfielder Reggie Jackson attempted to assassinate the Queen of England before Pallazzo-Frank Drebin foiled the plot. Drebin was charged with two minutes for roughing, an instigator penalty, 15-yards unsportsmanlike conduct, five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct. The league fined Jackson $5,000 for flopping and Leslie Nielsen was promoted to crew chief. West was given a recording deal.

Video: Robinson and West make history as the first two Major League umpires ever ejected during a game

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is copyright Paramount Pictures, 1988. April Fools!

Umpire Jerry Layne's Crew

Of the 199 MLB ejections in 2011, Jerry Layne and crewmates Bob Davidson, Hunter Wendelstedt and Brian Knight accounted for 26, or 13 percent—8 for Davidson, 8 for Wendelstedt, 6 for Knight and 4 for Layne. With 17 umpire crews, the average crew administered just 11-12 ejections, meaning Layne's crew ejected twice as much as the ordinary crew. By comparison, Joe West's crew barely scratched the 20 ejection mark.

As such, perhaps a parting-of-the-ways is ineluctably necessary.