Showing posts with label Chris Marco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Marco. Show all posts

Friday, June 30, 2023

MiLB Ejection - Chris Marco Runs Casey Lawrence for Balk Complaints in Both Games of Doubleheader

Minor League scheduling contributed to a Triple-A ejection in Buffalo as umpire Chris Marco ejected Bisons pitcher Casey Lawrence for an extended balk complaint that started in Game 1 when Lawrence was called for a balk, culminating in a complaint that Worcester Red Sox pitcher Chase Shugart was not called for a similar balk in Game 2.

As 1B Umpire in Game 1, Marco called Lawrence for a no step balk during a pickoff play at first base, ruling a violation of Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(3), which states it is a balk when "The pitcher, while touching their plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base."

The MLBUM interpretation of this OBR 6.02(a)(3) called Stepping to a Base states, "If a pitcher turns or spins off their free foot without actually stepping, it is a balk."

The interp further requires the pitcher to "lift their entire non-pivot foot off the ground and bring it down in a location different from where it started and toward the base. The entire non-pivot foot must move in a direction and distance to the base. This will constitute a step. The pitcher is not allowed to lift their non-pivot foot up and bring it back down in the same spot where it started. In stepping, the heel of the pitcher’s free foot may not end up in the same spot it started."

When Marco, now the HP Umpire in Game 2, did not call a balk on Shugart, Lawrence (who had lost the first game and was a bench player for Game 2) was ejected from the dugout.

Video as follows:

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

MiLB Umpires Promoted to Triple-A for 2020

Hoping to become MLB's first-ever umpire from Japan, Takahito Matsuda is one of 10 Minor League umpires promoted from Double-A to Triple-A ahead of baseball's 2020 season.

Promotion to Triple-A's Pacific Coast and International Leagues is a required step on the road to the show and provides umpires with the opportunity to earn career-enhancing assignments such as the Arizona Fall League and MLB Spring Training, with an eventual goal of joining the major league regular season call-up/fill-in roster.

As reported this month by our friends at Ump-Attire.com, the following 2019 Double-A umpires were promoted to Triple-A for the 2020 season. This roster update accounts for the vacancies created by MLB promotions and possible resignations or releases at the Triple-A level, which will have a cascading effect on all levels of Minor League Baseball.

2020 Triple-A Rookie Umpire List (2019 league in parentheses):
>> Matt Bates (Southern League)
>> Cody Clark (Southern League) [UEFL History]
>> Chris Marco (Eastern League)
>> Takahito 'Taka' Matsuda (Eastern League) [UEFL History]
>> Jacob Metz (Eastern League)
>> Tyler Olsen (Texas League)
>> Justin Robinson (Justin Robinson)
>> Ben Sonntag (Southern League)
>> Derek Thomas (Eastern League)
>> Brian Walsh (Texas League)