ABL All-Star Game Umpires - Taka Leads Off

MiLB and veteran ABL umpire Takahito Matsuda served as All-Star Game crew chief in the Australian Baseball League's Summer (our Winter) Classic on Thursday, where he was joined by fellow ABL umpires Stewart Howe at first base, David Milton at second base, and Greg Howard at third base for the sixth annual World vs Team Australia All-Star Game at Melbourne Ballpark.

Streamed live on YouTube and simulcast on MLB Network, this season it was Team Australia that prevailed against a World All-Star Cast as the home team walked off for the second year in a row, drawing its historical record to 4-2 over the World.

Due to ABL's unique configuration as an international offseason league in partnership with Major League Baseball, the ABL All-Star Game features a World vs Australians matchup without regard to team affiliation (for instance, Aces pitcher Jeremy Guthrie played for the World squad while teammate Allan de San Miguel fielded the catcher's position for Team Australia).

The 2016 ABL All-Star Game is available on demand from ABL.TV on YouTube.

Non-Video ABL Ejections; Clark Ejected Twice

Melbourne's 11-inning victory in Game 1 of the Aces-Bite doubleheader wasn't televised, but featured two ejections, including one we would have especially liked to see. Adelaide also logged one ejection two games later, which we would really liked to have seen, in which Rangers prospect LeDarious Clark allegedly charged an opposing ABL player after Clark's time at bat.

Click here for the ABL homepage.

In the top of the 2nd inning, with one out and two on (R2, R3), Aces batter Josh Davies hit a ground ball toward shortstop Bite Josh Altmann, who was hindered in his ability to field the batted ball due to interference by Aces baserunner R2 Mike Walker. As the penalty for this brand of interference is a dead ball out, B1 Davies' award of first base due to the fielder's choice out, and the return of runner R3 Allan de San Miguel to third base, Aces Assistant Coach Damian Shanahan was ejected by Field Umpire Blake Halligan for arguing the interference call. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, with one out and none on, Bite batter LeDarious Clark was ejected by HP Umpire Ian Reval for arguing a strike two call: Clark drew a line in the dirt following the call. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 2-2. The Bite ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

During Adelaide's subsequent game against Canberra, Clark was ejected once again, this time by 1B Umpire Takahito Matsuda in the middle of the 6th inning after flying out to Cavalry first baseman Boss Moanaroa. According to the Cavalry, Clark was ejected for "charging down" Moanaroa as he attempted to field the pop fly. At the time of the ejection, the Cavalry were leading, 5-4. The Cavalry ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

The 2016/17 ABLTV schedule features one televised/streamed game per time slot, meaning that some ejections, such as those above, may not be available via video.

Wrap: Melbourne Aces vs. Adelaide Bite (Australian Baseball League), 11/26/16
Wrap: Adelaide Bite vs. Canberra Cavalry (Australian Baseball League), 12/2/16

ABL - Trent Thomas Ejects Grattan in 32-Run Game

Australian Baseball League Umpire Trent Thomas ejected Sydney P Todd Grattan for throwing at Canberra batter David Kandilas in the midst of a 32-run ballgame at the maiden Wollongong Classic: that would be 21 runs for Canberra and 11 for Sydney; Blue Sox relief pitcher Grattan was thrown out of Sunday's game in the 8th inning, when the score was only 17-11.

With none out and none on in the top of the 8th inning, Cavalry lead-off hitter David Kandilas took a 3-0 pitch from Grattan for a called fourth ball, resulting in Grattan's ejection as the offending pitch sailed over Kandilas' head, after which the benches half-heartedly cleared. Grattan, who only faced batter Kandilas, was charged with one earned run when Kandilas subsequently scored on teammate Kyle Perkins' double off of emergency reliever Michael Campbell (position player pitching). At the time of the ejection, the Cavalry were leading, 17-11. The Cavalry ultimately won the contest, 21-11.

Trent Thomas previously ejected Blue Sox DH Trent D'Antonio in January for arguing a ball call.

Wrap: Sydney Blue Sox vs. Canberra Cavalry (ABL), 11/27/16 | Video via "Read More"

Umpire Roberto Moreno Injured in Venezuelan League

Venezuelan Umpire Roberto Moreno suffered a head injury during a Venezuelan League game on Thanksgiving Thursday, reportedly losing consciousness as the result of a foul ball to his right jaw area. Moreno also officiated Triple-A's International League during the 2016 Minor League Baseball season.

Roberto Moreno, in his 2013 ejection of Asdrubal Cabrera.

Moreno served as home plate umpire during Thursday's Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional game between the Lara Cardinals and Margarita Braves when Cardinales batter Carlos Rivero fouled off pitcher Luis Ramirez's fastball into Moreno's traditional-style facemask, resulting in Moreno's collapse and subsequent delay during which paramedics placed Moreno on a stretcher; an Ovation Sports report stated that Moreno was admitted to a local clinic after losing consciousness as a result of the trauma.

MiLB's box score indicates that 2B Umpire Manolo Alejandro completed the game behind home plate, with corner umpires Jhonatan Biarreta (1B) and Osmel Pimentel (2B) joined by standby official Luis Gonzalez (2B).

Gonzalez and Heriberto Diaz subsequently joined Biarreta and Pimentel over the weekend (where the crew ejected three Lions and Tigers on Saturday, including Leones del Caracas 1B Coach Yorvit Torrealba, whose ejection was allegedly very demonstrative. Torrealba has a history of misconduct, including a 2013 ejection in which Torrealba shoved HP Umpire Dario Rivero Jr., which itself followed a 2012 histrionic ejection in Anaheim over a Tim McClelland safe call. If video surfaces of his most recent escapade, we'll share it).

Moreno is the sole Triple-A umpire on the 2016-17 Winter Leagues officiating roster.

Video: Plate umpire Moreno takes foul ball to face and must be removed from the game

Tremendo susto en Margarita 😐😨😟

A video posted by Beisbol Al Día (@beisbolaldia) on Nov 24, 2016 at 8:16pm PST

Baseball Rules Guru Carl Childress Passes Away

Baseball Rules Differences author & umpire Carl Childress passed away over Thanksgiving week.

Longtime Rulebook Umpire Carl Childress has died.

Childress began officiating baseball in the 1950s—that would be his teens—and eventually worked his way into NCAA Division I baseball, at which time a March 1978 Referee Magazine article outlining 38 differences between Federation and Professional baseball led Childress to think about how to bridge the gap created by discussing the difference between high school and pro rules—which left college baseball out of the picture entirely.

As a rules educator, Childress had a way with words: humorous, while clearly and concisely conveying important concepts. Here is one of my favorite Childress-isms (from an Officiating.com article):

Here's what you're supposed to say on a foul ball: "Time!" Generally, we amateurs just say "Foul!" 

Here's what you're supposed to say on a fair ball: "            !" The blank space means you're supposed to say nothing. A friend read it and didn't get it.

Still from Officiating YouTube Video: Controlling the Game.

After joining Referee Magazine as a Contributing Editor in March 1982, Childress' first Baseball Rules Differences (BRD) took its initial form one year later as a short publication in Referee outlining the NCAA/Pro differences.

Since then, Childress wrote, edited, and otherwise journaled material for Referee, Officiating.com, and Childress' own carlsbrd.com: He renamed the mechanic known as "Position 1" to the now-commonly used "Position A," served as a trainer in Texas, and—yes—continued working his slate of D1 college games. He collaborated with all manners of officials, and tabbed Hunter Wendelstedt as official OBR interpreter for his BRD, which he continued publishing annually through 2016.

Speaking to the longevity and gravitas of "Papa C" in baseball officiating circles, Carl's BRD reached 34 editions under his authorship: It is the UEFL's book of choice for deciphering rule differences for FED/NCAA/PRO Case Plays matters.

Carl Childress was 79 years old (April 23, 1937).

2016-17 Winter League MiLB Umpire Rosters

Each year as part of the Minor League Baseball Umpire Development program, MiLBUD (formerly PBUC) supports certain umpires to develop and officiate in off-season professional leagues.

In October, Minor League Baseball assigned 12 umpires (nine PCL, three IL) to the 2016 Arizona Fall League (roster available via this link). AFL assignments have recently featured mid-to-high level Triple-A umpires on track for work at the Major League level (e.g., four 2016 AFL umpires also officiated MLB games in 2016).

Before getting that coveted AFL assignment and informal domestic tryout, many umpires—especially those from other parts of the globe—take the international route by officiating one of pro baseball's Winter Leagues. The following is a roster of the 2016-17 Winter League umpires and regular season dates. Our Minor League Scout MLBumpireobserver has additionally identified which of these officials also served in Minor League Baseball this past season; they are identified at the top of their respective league in bold text with their 2016 MiLB league in parentheses. Minor League Baseball officiating is most strongly represented this winter in the Venezuelan League with six umpires officiating that league's games:

Australian Baseball League (ABL, 11/17/16 - 1/29/17) - Two 2016 Minor League Umpires
Takahito Matsuda (Single-A, California League) - From Seiyo Ehime, Japan
Tom West (Single-A, South Atlantic League) - From Queensland, Australia
Barry Barnes
Riley Barrington
Andrew Bell
Lou Bonomi
Peter Bowie
Gavin Carson
Bob Crawford
Michael Cumming
Blake Halligan
Geoff Hallmann
Ryan Harder
Greg Howard
Stewart Howe
Paul Hyham
Greg Kent
Paul Latta
Michael Lyons
Mal Mackay
David Milton
Ian Reval
Brett Robson
James Shields
Payne Sowter
Jordan Taylor
Trent Thomas

Dominican Winter League (10/20 - 12/21/16) - One 2016 Minor League Umpire
Hardlen Acosta (Rookie Short, Gulf Coast League) - From Sanchez, Dominican Republic
Santo Castillo
Nelson De La Cruz
Juan Diaz
Felix Leguisamo
Verman Mejia
Miguel Mercedes
Domingo Paulino
Edward Pinales
Domingo Polanco
Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Santos Silvestre
Felix Tejada
Simeon Vasquez
Mariano Vizcaino

Puerto Rican / Roberto Clemente League (10/27 - 12/30/16) - Two 2016 Minor League Umpires
Jean JC Velez-Morales (Single-A, Carolina League) - From San Juan, Puerto Rico
Kelvis Velez Caminero (Rookie Short, Gulf Coast League) - From Ensenada, Puerto Rico
Kelvin Bultron
Delfin Colon* (Former MiLB and MLB Fill-In Umpire)
Jorge Davilla
Edwin Hernandez
William Lopez
Ivan Mercado
Vincent Morales
Carlos Rey
Charlie Rivera

Venezuelan Winter League (10/6 - 12/29/16) - Six 2016 Minor League Umpires
David Arrieta Quintero (Double-A, Southern League) - From Maracaibo Zulia, Venezuela
Gabriel Alfonzo (Rookie Short, Gulf Coast League) - From Guacara, Venezuela
Jhonatan Biarreta (Rookie Short, Gulf Coast League) - From Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela
Roberto Moreno (Triple-A, International League) - From Cumana, Venezuela
Jonathan Parra (Single-A, Carolina League) - From Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Jorge Teran (Double-A, Eastern League) - From Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Manolo Alejandro
Heriberto Diaz
Mayhue Edwards
Luis Gonzalez
Juan Gomez
Edwin Jimenez
Emil Jimenez
Carlos Leal
Yosman Mendez
Jose Navas
Leo Nieves
Edward Pacheco
Osmel Pimentel
Jesus Santiago
Rainiero Valero

Mexican Pacific League (10/11 - 12/30/16)
Ulises Dominguez
Eliseo Favela
Jair Fernandez
Jaime Gutierrez
Demian Hernandez
Abraham Lopez
Jesus Lopez
Orlando Lopez
Roberto La Madrid
Socrates Marin
Oswaldo Meza
Marco Nava
Felipe Romero
Daniel Rubio
Michael Salazar
Pablo Soto

Hometown information is from REFEREE.com

2016 Rules Summit - Results

The following contains results of the 2016 UEFL Rules Summit. Items which have gained passage (indicated in green highlight) will become rules for the 2017 UEFL season. Text of items which did not pass are indicated in red highlight.

Rule 1 - Selection of Umpires
Prop 1-1: Addition of Drafted Crew Chief - 46.2% YES.
> Would have increased total umpires drafted to six (2 cc + 2 PRM + 2 SEC); Crews continue to be 5.

Prop 1-2: Pre-Season Replacement due to Bereavement - 83.6% YES.
> Bereavement will be added as a reason for pre-season replacement in Rule 1-2.

Prop 1-5: Mid-Season Replacement - 61.8% YES.
> UEFL'ers may now replace an umpire midseason under certain circumstances with a replacement whose total points at the time of exchange are less than points held by the umpire to be replaced.

Prop 1-6: Manager Division - 29.1% YES.
> Would have incorporated the draft of one manager. Present rule (no managers) will be maintained.

Rule 2 - The Season
Prop 2-1: Monthly Phases - 54.0% YES.
> Seasonal phases will be realigned and replaced with monthly intervals.

Prop 2-x: Divisions and Trades - 18% YES/Divisional Trades & 12% YES/Narrow the Field.
> Would have split UEFL into Divisions and allowed trades within them; no trades will be permitted.
> Would have eliminated all but two UEFL'ers at ~ Game 130; no players will be eliminated.

Rule 3 - Crew Division
Prop 3-3: Penalty for Incorrect Ejection - 47.1% YES.
> Would have deducted one point (-1) for an incorrect crew ejection; zero points will be given to -cc.

Prop 3-7: All-Star Game Points - 66.0% YES.
> All-Star Game ejections and replay reviews will now count toward UEFL points and standings.

Rule 4 - League Scoring
Prop 4-2: QOC Component for Incorrect Ejections - 24.1% YES.
> Would have changed points for QOCN/Calling to -6 and /Crewmate to -4; Points continue to be -4/-2.

Prop 4-4i: Fill-In Umpire Award Eligibility - 50.9% YES.
> Fill-In umpires may now be written in for all Year-End Awards (except for Crew Chief of Year).

Prop 4-4ii: Award Voting Procedure - 55.4% YES/As is + Commish & 25% YES/Restrict Voting.
> Commissioner is now authorized to review and modify suspicious votes; no restrictions will apply.

Prop 4-4-b: Promising Umpire of the Year - 87.0% YES.
> "Noteworthy Umpire of the Year" is renamed & hereby known as "Promising Umpire of the Year."

Prop 4-4-i: Most Declining Umpire of the Year - 75.4% YES.
> "Most Declining Umpire of the Year" Award will be added to the Year End Award list.

Prop 4-5: Blind Case Play Requirement - 42.6% YES.
> Case Plays continue to be set to public or private, subject to Commissioner discretion.

Prop 4-8: Waiver of Points - 35.7% YES.
> No rule will be added to the UEFL Rule Book to address the issue of a member waiving points.

Prop 4-9: Community Contribution Points - 37.5% YES.
> Would have allowed awarding of contrib. points throughout yr; no such points will be authorized.

Rule 6 - Challenges and Appeals
Prop 6-2-b-5i: Throwing At Ejection QOC - [49.2% for all YES options, combined].
> Would have determined Throwing At QOC differently; such ejections will continue to be QOCU.

Prop 6-2-b-5ii: Check Swing Ejection QOC - [45.6% for all YES options, combined].
> Would have changed Check Swing QOC; such ejections continue to be Appeals Board-referred.

Prop 6-2-b-5-b: Ripperger Rule - 77.2% YES.
> Refers all disputed reasons-for-ejection to the UEFL Appeals Board (no challenge required).

Prop 6-2-b-6: QOC During Replay/Meeting - 83.0% YES.
> Changes the language of 6-2-b-6 and -7 to bring rules closer together.

Rule 8 - Umpire Odds & Ends and Community Issues
Prop 8-1: Restrict Commenters - 47.3% YES.
> Would have required all commenters register with DISQUS; guests will still be allowed.

UEFL Personnel Issues
tmac as Assistant Commissioner - 86.8% YES.
> tmac is now the UEFL Assistant Commissioner.

Appeals Board Charter Members - 60.8% YES.
> Board Charter Members will have permanent seats on Appeals Board (only applies to RichMSN).

UEFL Appeals Board (The Following Members Sought Re-Election to the Appeals Board)
Arik G - 75.0% YES. Arik G has been re-elected to the 2017 UEFL Appeals Board.
cyclone14 - 75.5% YES. cyclone14 has been re-elected to the 2017 UEFL Appeals Board.
Dennis - 68.8% YES. Dennis has been re-elected to the 2017 UEFL Appeals Board.
MarkCanada - 71.2% YES. MarkCanada has been re-elected to the 2017 UEFL Appeals Board.
RichMSN - 86.8% YES. VOID - Charter Member vote supersedes this re-election vote.
tmac - 92.5% YES. VOID - Assistant Commissioner vote supersedes this re-election vote.

2016 UEFL Rules Summit Ballot and Voting

Voting is now open for the 2016 UEFL Rules Summit, following our discussion phase.

The following ballot includes a list of proposals for the 2017 UEFL Rules, including descriptions of each measure and the opportunity to cast a vote. Upon Commissioner approval, all proposals receiving a majority of votes, or a plurality where prescribed by Rule 8-3, will become rules for the 2017 UEFL season.

The Rules Summit ballot will close Tuesday, November 22, at 11:59 pm PT. A run-off ballot and/or election, if necessary will follow.

The 2016 Rules Summit includes 21 Rules proposals, one personnel issue, and six Appeals Board retention polls. Carefully consider the below options before submitting your ballot. You may vote in as many or as few polls as you wish; we will review voting records to determine ballot authenticity and adjust the record accordingly to account for suspicious or fraudulent activity or conduct. Click "read more" to access the ballot.

Former AL Umpire Mark Johnson Passes Away

20-year American League umpire Mark Stephen Johnson passed away on October 26, 2016 in Hawaii, reportedly as the result of a heart attack. He was 65 years old and would have turned 66 on Friday.

Card for AL Umpire Mark Johnson

Born on November 18, 1950 in Louisville, Kentucky, Johnson hired into the Gulf Coast League in 1971, whereupon he traveled through the Florida State, Southern, and Pacific Coast Leagues before promoting to the AL full-time in 1984, having served as a fill-in since his first big league game in August 1979.

Johnson, who ejected 43 players and coaches in his 1,994 regular and postseason games, officiated the 1996 American League Division Series, 1991 League Championship Series, 1993 World Series, and 1990/'99 MLB All-Star Game, before the umpires' collective bargaining strategy cost him his job midway through the 1999 season.

Following his retirement, Johnson moved to Oahu.

In December 2004, Johnson was awarded $325,000 from baseball as part of a settlement that saw three umpires rehired (Bob Davidson, Tom Hallion, Ed Hickox), and six more receive severance pay and health benefits (Jim Evans, Dale Ford, Eric Gregg, Ken Kaiser, Johnson, Larry McCoy).

Johnson, whose obituary was published this weekend in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, died in Oahu, Hawaii and leaves behind wife Lilia and son Kyle.

Arizona Fall League Experiments with Mud-less Baseball

Baseball used the 2016 Arizona Fall League to try out a new kind of baseball that doesn't require a pre-game mud-rub, which might come as a welcome sign for the progressively inclined, while signaling a departure from tradition for that which is considered "old school" with the nearly 75-year use of New Jersey's Lena Blackburn Baseball Rubbing Mud.

According to MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis, reporting from the AFL's Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, baseball selected several games at Salt River in which the League swapped out the traditional mud-treated balls with the new, "tackier," factory-treated model in a limited test of new technology.

In speaking with several AFL players, Callis drew the following observations:
> Comparable in performance, including StatCast spin rate and similar measurements, to current ball;
> Untreated ball is slippery, but pitchers say that applying rosin to the ball is enough to neutralize this.
> Seams are less prominent than on the ball currently used in Major and Minor League Baseball.

Benefit for Pitchers:
> Ball appeared to give more life to sinkers, cutters, and breaking ball action.

Benefit for Hitters:
> Ball appeared brighter due to lack of mud, increasing visibility at home plate;