Confirmed: 3 MLB Umps Hired, 3 Retired, 3 New Crew Chiefs

Confirmed: 2013 will feature three new MLB umpires & three new crew chiefs. The retirement of three long-time arbiters, all chiefs, has also been confirmed. The UEFL's hiring rumor post from January 10 may be seen here. The initial rumor was confirmed by Honig's Whistle Stop, which is in attendence at the annual pre-season MLB umpire meetings in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Hired: Vic Carapazza, Manny Gonzalez, Alan Porter.
Retired: Derryl Cousins, Ed Rapuano, Tim Tschida.
Promoted to Crew Chief: Ted Barrett, Fieldin Culbreth, Jim Joyce

Hires
Vic Carapazza (Palm Harbor, Florida), completed his 4th full year in Triple-A in 2012 as a member of the International League (IL). Prior to joining the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 2008, Carpazza worked the Gulf Coast, Florida Instructional, New York-Penn, Midwest, Florida State, Arizona Instructional, Eastern, Arizona Fall and Dominican Leagues. An MLB fill-in since 2010, his first season was 2003, working the FL Instructional and Gulf Coast Leagues.

Manny Gonzalez (Valencia, Venezuela), completed his 5th full year in Triple-A in 2012 as a member of the IL. Prior to joining the IL in 2008, Gonzalez worked the Gulf Coast, New York-Penn, South Atlantic, Florida State, Texas, Southern and Arizona Fall Leagues. An MLB fill-in since 2010, his first season was 2002, working the Gulf Coast Lg. He is the first native Venezuelan MLB umpire.

Alan Porter (Warminster, Pennsylvania), completed his 5th full year in Triple-A in 2012 as a member of the IL. Prior to joining the IL in 2008, Porter worked the Gulf Coast, New York-Penn, South Atlantic, Florida Instructional, Carolina, Arizona Instructional, Eastern and Arizona Fall Leagues. An MLB fill-in since 2010, his first season was 2002, working the Gulf Coast Lg. Porter was the UEFL's 2012 Fill-In Umpire of the Year.

Retirees
Derryl Cousins (Southern California), 34 years of MLB service after joining the Major League staff in 1979, which rivals only veteran arbiter and National Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Klem's 37-year career, while his 4,496 MLB games worked at the conclusion of the 2012 season was the most of all active big league umpires. Cousins worked 3 All-Star Games, 5 Division Series, 7 League Championship Series and 3 World Series. Cousins was an initial hire from the Pacific Coast League. Cousins concludes his career with 118 MLB ejections.

Ed Rapuano (Florida), 22.5 years of MLB service after joining the Major League staff in 1991. Rapuano worked 2 All-Star Games, 8 Division Series, 5 League Championship Series and 2 World Series. Rapuano was an initial hire from the Triple-A Alliance and will remain with MLB as an umpire supervisor. Rapuano concludes his career with 47 MLB ejections.

Tim Tschida (Wisconsin), 27 years of MLB service after joining the Major League staff in 1986. Tschida worked 2 All-Star Games, 10 Division Series (tied with Gerry Davis and Bruce Froemming), 3 League Championship Series and 3 World Series. Tschida was an initial hire from the American Association. Tschida concludes his career with 85 MLB ejections.

Promoted to Crew Chief
Ted Barrett (Arizona), 16 years of MLB service after joining the Major League staff in 1999. Barrett has worked 1 All-Star Game, 1 Wild-Card Game, 7 Division Series, 5 League Championship Series and 2 World Series. Hired from the Pacific Coast League, Barrett presently holds 52 career MLB ejections and was the UEFL's 2012 Honorable Umpire of the Year (with Joyce).

Fieldin Culbreth (South Carolina), 16 years of MLB service after joining the Major League staff in 1999. Culbreth has worked 1 All-Star Game, 5 Division Series, 6 League Championship Series and 2 World Series. Culbreth was initially a hire from the International League (by way of the Pacific Coast League). Culbreth presently holds 33 career MLB ejections.

Jim Joyce (Oregon), 25 years of MLB service after joining the Major League Staff in 1989. Joyce has worked 3 All-Star Games, 9 Division Series, 4 League Championship Series and 2 World Series and served as an interim crew chief during the 2012 season. Joyce was initially a hire from the Pacific Coast League (by way of the International League). Joyce presently holds 66 career MLB ejections (coincidentally, his uniform number) and was the UEFL's 2012 Honorable Umpire of the Year (with Barrett).

Rumor Mill Madden: Three Umpires "Quietly Let Go by MLB"

Rumor Mill Madden: Three umpires "quietly let go" by MLB, chief to be brought back at MiLB level.

Writers sometimes find creative ways to twist words to suit a motif. Read on for an umpiring-related example:

In a scathing critique of MLB officiating and an attempt to compare umpires to NFL replacement officials, New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden wrote the following curious statement:

This summer, three of the consistently lowest rated umpires were quietly let go by MLB, not for their performance but for off-the-field personal issues. Another crew chief, I’m told, was allowed to go home after being involved in numerous blown calls and complaining that he just couldn’t take the pressure — but will reportedly be brought back next year to go through the minors as an evaluator!

Given the overall tone of Madden's potshot piece, could Madden have some untoward knowledge regarding MLB Umpiring and an alleged restructuring of the staff—or is Madden twisting words and circumstances—for instance, Hunter Wendelstedt's extended absence in the wake of his father, Harry's passing following Hunter's 2011 head injury, Bruce Dreckman's extended absence due to a neck injury or even John Hirschbeck's recovery from cancer—to suit an underlying agenda?

Or could "quietly let go by MLB" really refer to an extended leave of absence that was approved? It has been reported that some umpires, such as Ed Rapuano, have suffered extended, chronic injuries that might suggest a journey into retirement, though at the time of this publication, nothing has been officially confirmed.

MLB Umpires who have not had a plate job since the beginning of September include:
Mike DiMuro (last plate: 8/12, NYY@TOR; high-profile missed call, Ejection 078: Mike DiMuro (2))
Ed Rapuno (Crew Chief; last plate: 5/30, PHI@NYM; officially out since 6/1 due to injury)
Brian Runge (last plate: 8/30, CHI@BAL; vacation?)
Tim Tschida (Crew Chief; last plate: 8/25, SD@AZ; vacation?)
Hunter Wendelstedt (last plate: 6/8, TOR@ATL; rumored/unconfirmed injury [broken ankle])

Dreckman and Hirschbeck have been sidelined the entire 2012 season due to injury/illness.

News: Hey MLB, learn from the NFL's referee debacle before baseball loses its integrity (NYDN)

Ejections: Ed Rapuano (1)

1B Umpire Ed Rapuano ejected Tigers Manager Jim Leyland for arguing an out call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Blue Jays-Tigers game. With none out and one on, Tigers batter Andy Dirks bunted a 1-0 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Jason Frasor for a sacrifice bunt, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Adam Lind. Rapuano initially indicated Dirks was safe, but after a brief consultation with HP Umpire Alfonso Marquez, Rapuano changed his call to out. Replays indicate Lind received the ball and tagged first base prior to Dirks' arrival, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 2-2. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Ed Rapuano (19)'s first ejection of 2011.
Ed Rapuano now has 4 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4)
Ed Rapuano is owned by BSBALLUMP, who is now in 1st place in the UEFL with 22 points.
Ed Rapuano is owned as a Secondary Umpire by whenindoubt55, who is now tied for 21st place in the UEFL with 5 points.
*This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.g.

This is the 90th ejection of 2011.
This is the 47th Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Jim Leyland's first ejection of 2011.

Wrap: TOR & DET 6/27/11 Wrap
Video: Leyland ejected for arguing an overturned call