Non-Roster AAA Umps Get Call in Final Days of Spring

Several non-roster AAA umpires joined Spring Training as the annual MLB March tune-up entered its final week.

Then-AA Umpire Max Guyll ejects Bryce
Harper during a 2011 Eastern League game.

For clarity's sake, these are non-Spring Training roster invites—MiLB call-ups Ryan Blakney, Ryan Goodman, Nick Lentz, Carlos Torres, and Doug Vines have been working the full slate in Arizona and Florida alongside their sleeve-numbered colleagues. Having concluded their 2015 Minor League Spring Training meetings, the following umpires have been given Major League pre-season opportunities (this list will be updated as the final week of Spring Training progresses):

Florida - Grapefruit League
Brian De Brauwere (AAA Affiliation: International League) - 4/4
Ramon DeJesus (AAA Affiliation: Pacific Coast League) - 4/2, 4/4
Max Guyll (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 3/28
Tom Honec (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 4/3
Brandon Henson (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 4/2, 4/3
Robert Moreno (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 4/2
Roberto Ortiz (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/2

Arizona - Cactus League
Eric Arenn (AAA Affiliation: None) - 3/29
Joseph Born (AAA Affiliation: International League) - 3/29, 4/4
William "Billy" Cunha (AAA Affiliation: Pacific Coast League) - 4/2
Travis Eggert (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 3/28, 4/3
Spencer Flynn (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/1
Kolin Kline (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/4
Shaun Lampe (AAA Affiliation: PCL; was on the 2014 Spring Training roster) - 3/28, 4/4
Nick Mahrley (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/3, 4/4
Jeff Morrow (AAA Affiliation: PCL; was on the 2014 Spring Training roster) - 3/29
Alex Ortiz (AAA Affiliation: PCL; was on the 2014 Spring Training roster) - 3/28
Alberto Ruiz (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 3/29, 4/1, 4/3
Greg Stanzak (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 3/28

All Saturday, March 28 non-roster invitees were assigned to the home plate umpire position.
Umpires on all other days were assigned to various roles (plate/bases).

Fighting Ejections: Spencer Flynn (AA Braves vs. BayBears)

Flynn's actions likely kept
pitcher Tarsi in the game.

AA Braves-BayBears fight: HP Umpire Spencer Flynn ejected Mobile BayBears catcher Rossmel Perez & Manager Turner Ward and Mississippi Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt & second baseman Alden Carrithers for fighting in the top of the 9th inning of the Braves-BayBears game. With two on and two out, Braves batter Ryan Strieby took a 3-2 fastball from BayBears pitcher Michael Tarsi inside for ball four, the wild pitch sailing back to the screen with catcher Bethancourt in pursuit as baserunner R3 Perez broke for home plate. As Tarsi arrived to cover home plate, Perez had begun his feet-first slide, resulting in a collision at home, Perez sliding across the plate while upending Tarsi, who did not have the baseball. Replays indicate that because Perez had legally scored, there was no obstruction. As Tarsi then stood up, he and Perez became entangled, separated by Flynn before Bethancourt ran into the fray and attempted to tackle Perez, provoking a bench-clearing brawl and the ejection of two persons from each team. Braves pitcher Cory Rasmus had been ejected two batters earlier for intentionally throwing at Perez. At the time of the Rasmus ejection, the BayBears were leading, 7-2. At the time of the fighting ejections, the BayBears were leading, 7-3. The BayBears ultimately won the contest, 7-3.

Wrap: Braves at BayBears, 7/28/12
Video: One strike away from game's end, Perez takes out Tarsi, Bethancourt pushes Perez, benches clear