2020 UEFL Year-End Awards Nominations Open

The Umpire Ejection Fantasy League's Postseason Awards nomination season coincides with the 2020 Presidential Election and you have a chance to have your voice heard by voting for Umpire of the Year categories from Best, Promising, Honorable, Fill-In, Crew Chief, Most Improved, Ejection, and Disappointing Season. Fill out the following form to cast your ballot and comment here to discuss rationale. You may cast your Awards votes through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Don't forget to vote.

Link to Postseason Awards Ballot (also appears below):

a. Umpire of the Year (min. 1 / max. 1 umpire) [+5 pts]

b. Promising Umpire of the Year (min. 1 / max. 2) [+3]

c. Honorable Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 2) [+2]

d. Fill-In Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1) [+2]

d.1 Triple-Digit Rookie Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1) [+2]

e. Most Improved Umpire (min. 0 / max. 1) [+1]

f. Crew Chief of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1) [+1]

g. Best Ejection of the Year (min. 0 / max. 2) [Link: 2020 MLB Ejections List] [+1]

h. Most Disappointing Season (min. 0 / max. 1) [-1]

Click here for a complete history and table of UEFL Postseason Award recipients

An eligible umpire may be selected for as many or as few awards as that umpire is eligible for; Ballots will be accepted until 11:59pm on Tuesday, November 3, with awards distribution beginning shortly thereafter.

All 12 Triple-A Umpires who were on the 2019 call-up list are eligible to be written in for any UEFL Award, in addition to the Fill-In Umpire of the Year award (see 2020 Call-Up Umpires, sorted by MLB experience). The 19 minor league umpires authorized to call MLB games in 2020 and who made their MLB debuts during the 2020 season, signified by their triple-digit sleeve jersey numbers, are eligible for a 2020-exclusive award, the Triple-Digit Rookie Umpire of the Year Award. Umpires named by MLB as interim chiefs for the 2020 season (see MLB Names 7 Interim Crew Chiefs for 2020 and 2020 MLB Umpire Crews [Modified for Coronavirus Season]) are eligible for this year's Crew Chief of the Year Award.

Definitions:

a. Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been the best MLB Umpire the past year, bar none. This Umpire has been more dedicated, professional, and positive than all others. This award will be given to one umpire.

b. Promising Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been dedicated, professional, and has worked hard. Perhaps a rising star, the Promising Umpire of the Year is an umpire to keep an eye on, for an expectation of great things down the line. Formerly known as Noteworthy Umpire of the Year, this award will be given to one or two umpires.

c. Honorable Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been the most honorable Umpire during the past year. Perhaps through Community Service, or through struggling with and overcoming his own difficulties, this Umpire has been the most personally admirable of all. This award may or may not be given to either one or two umpires.

d. Fill-In Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been the best AAA Call-Up Umpire the past year, bar none. This Umpire has been the most dedicated, professional, and positive AAA/Non-MLB Full Time Umpire of all non-MLB Full Time Umpires. This award may or may not be given to a maximum of one umpire who also worked at least one MLB game during the 2019 regular season.

d.1 Triple-Digit Rookie Umpire of the Year: An award just for 2020, this umpire had an MLB debut during the COVID-modified 2020 season, signified by a uniform with a triple-digit sleeve number, and made the most of this shortened season and impromptu try-out at the major league level. This award may or may not be given to one umpire who had an MLB debut in 2020.

e. Most Improved Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has improved his overall performance from the previous season more noticeably than any other Umpire. Generally, this umpire has developed into a solid arbiter within the past year. This award may or may not be given to a maximum of one umpire.

f. Crew Chief of the Year: This Umpire has been the best MLB Umpire Crew Chief, the past year, bar none. This Umpire has led his crew(s) better than all others. This award will be given to one umpire.

g. Best Ejection of the Year: In the form of "Ejection 123: Umpire (1)," this award recognizes the best ejection(s) of the year. Nominated and selected due to form, mechanics, entertainment value, reason for ejection, or overall quality, the Best Ejection of the Year is awarded to one or two umpires for one or two specific ejections. The award may be given to one umpire for two separate ejections, in which case, he receives one point for each ejection.

h. Most Disappointing Season: This Umpire has demonstrated a regression in ability, and might have had a regrettable incident(s) occur in-season. The Most Disappointing Season award may or may not be given to a maximum of one umpire.

Ballot as follows:

Discussion of 2020 World Series

With MLB's 2020 postseason drawing to a conclusion with a #Rays-#Dodgers #WorldSeries in Texas, CloseCallSports.com prepares for the final home plate umpire plate score reports of the season, beginning with Laz Diaz for Game 1.

Umpire lineups are listed for all potential games of the series and, in accordance with UEFL f/x 3.0 framework, plate scores and skews are generated following completion of each game pursuant to UEFL Rules 6-2-b-a (Kulpa Rule) and 6-2-b-b (Miller Rule). Preliminary scores are scores calculated at the conclusion of play based on raw and placeholder values while Final scores are populated the morning after each game, factoring in post-game processing and data correction by the league.

Related: 2020 MLB World Series Umpire Crew Roster

- 10/20 TB@LAD Gm 1: Laz Diaz. 120/123 Balls + 46/48 Strikes = 166/171 = 97.1%. Skew: +1 TB.

Final for Diaz: 119/123 + 46/48 = 165/171 = 96.5%. Effect: -1 / -0.6% / -1 Skew. +0 Neutral.

- 10/21 TB@LAD Gm 2: Todd Tichenor. 92/99 Balls + 42/44 Strikes = 134/143 = 93.7%. Skew: +1 LA.

Final for Tichenor: 94/99 + 42/44 = 136/143 = 95.1%. Effect: +2 / +1.4% / +0 Skew. +1 TB.

- 10/23 LAD@TB Gm 3: Bill Miller. 93/94 Balls + 55/56 Strikes = 148/150 = 98.7%. Skew: +0 Neutral.

Final for Miller: 94/94 + 54/56 = 148/150 = 98.7%. Effect: +0 / +0.0% / +2 Skew. +2 LA.

- 10/24 LAD@TB Gm 4: Chris Guccione. 117/119 Balls + 44/45 K = 161/164 = 98.2%. Skew: +1 LA.

Final for Guccione: 117/119 + 44/45 = 161/164 = 98.2%. Effect: +0 / +0.0% / +0 Skew. +1 LA.

- 10/25 LAD@TB Gm 5: Marvin Hudson. 104/105 Balls + 48/49 K = 152/154 = 98.7%. Skew: +2 LA.

Final for Hudson: 104/105 + 47/49 = 151/154 = 98.1%. Effect: -1 / -0.6% / -1 Skew. +1 LA.

- 10/27 TB@LAD Gm 6: Jerry Meals. 85/90 Balls + 33/37 Strikes = 118/127 = 92.9%. Skew: +1 LA.

Final for Meals: 85/90 + 33/37 = 118/127 = 92.9%. Effect: +0 / +0.0% / +0 Skew. +1 LA.

Series Complete: Final Cumulative Score: 613/630 + 266/279 = 879/909 = 96.7%. Skew: +4 LA.

Note: The highest plate score during the 2019 World Series was Alan Porter's 98.2% (WS Game 1).

The highest overall plate score during the 2019 postseason was James Hoye's 99.3% (NLDS Gm 4).

The highest plate score thus far during the 2020 postseason is Jordan Baker's 99.4% (ALWC Gm 1).

Marvin's Margot Mischief - Umpire Hudson's Steal at Home

Although Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw caught Rays runner Manuel Margot stealing home in Game 5 of the #WorldSeries in the span of seconds, for HP Umpire Marvin Hudson, years of training and education contributed to a quick-draw out/safe call.

To recap, Tampa Bay's Margot led off the bottom of the 4th with a walk and stole second base in short order, advancing to third on a missed catch error by LA second baseman Chris Taylor, all with zero out.

Two outs later, Margot still stranded at third base, the young center fielder attempted to steal home, trying to catch Kershaw and battery-mate Austin Barnes. And that's when Hudson had to cram years of experience into about five seconds.

Pitcher: The first consideration for Hudson was Kershaw. As Kershaw became aware of Margot's sprint home, he lifted his pivot foot and stepped off the back of the pitcher's plate and, in doing so, became a fielder with no obligation to deliver a pitch (for having disengaged from the rubber). Once Hudson saw Kershaw remove his back foot from the rubber, he knew not to call a balk or officiate a pitch, but instead a potential throw to catcher Barnes.

Batter: Similarly, Kershaw's disengagement cued in batter Kevin Kiermaier to exit the batter's box. Official Baseball Rules 6.01(a)(3) and 6.03(a)(3) prohibit a batter from "making any other movement that hinders the catcher's play at home base," and in this situation wherein the pitcher has legally disengaged from the pitcher's plate, the batter shall vacate the batter's box lest (s)he be put in jeopardy of hindering the catcher's play at home.

With less than two out, as in Rule 5.09(b)(8), the runner is out, while with two out, the batter is out for interference. In other words, had Kiermaier remained in the box and swung at Kershaw's throw to Barnes after Kershaw legally disengaged the pitcher's plate, he would be guilty of interference and, with two out, Kiermaier would be declared out (no run would count).

Catcher/Runner: Although baseball's plate blocking rule always has a bearing on plays at home plate, on steals of home, the catcher generally will receive the throw prior to the runner's arrival, which would allow him to legally block access upon receipt of the baseball. Nonetheless, Barnes doesn't appear to block Margot's path to score.

Umpire: Finally, Hudson knows time is limited so he takes one simple read step to the right of his starting position at point-of-plate, and from this angle roughly along the left field foul line extended, is able to officiate this play thanks to obtaining the keyhole angle or wedge needed to see the potential tag.

Replay Review: Following the play, Margot signaled that he wanted a video review of the play, but the Manager's Challenge must come from, well, the manager. Because Kevin Cash opted not to challenge Hudson's call, despite each team's allotment of two Manager's Challenges during the postseason, this play was not reviewed. A Crew Chief Review for such a play cannot occur until the 8th inning, and only if the team has exhausted its supply of Manager's Challenges.

Video as follows:

Willy Adames' Subtle Push Part II - Fool Me Twice

After Max Muncy's Game 4 adventure with Rays SS Willy Adames at second base, Tampa Bay's shortstop tried for an encore performance with Dodgers runner Austin Barnes during #WorldSeries Game 5, resulting in another umpire's out call. Was this call the proper one or did Adames get greedy?

To review, 2B Umpire Mark Carlson during Game 4 declared Los Angeles batter-runner Max Muncy out at second base after an overslide into Adames, during which both players tumbled to the ground on the third-base side of the bag.

In our analysis, we discussed Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(4), the Definition of Terms' entry for oversliding, and MLB Umpire Manual standard for a fielder pushing or forcing a runner off a base. Conclusion: Carlson's call was correct; the runner was properly declared out on the tag after oversliding second base.

Related Post: Was Max Muncy's Fall From 2nd Base a Legal Out? (10/24/20).

In Game 5, Adames repeated his putout antics by tagging Barnes as he slid headfirst into second base and attempted to remain on the base with his left foot. This, too, resulted in an out call from 2B Umpire Laz Diaz.

Compare and Contrast, Gil's Call: Unlike the Muncy play, it would appear that Barnes was forced or pushed off of second base by Adames.

The reason for this is two-fold. First, compared to Game 4's play in which Muncy appeared to be the player responsible for the bulk of the forceful contact with his opponent (Muncy crashed into Adames), in Game 5, Adames appears to be the player responsible for the collision by virtue of diving into (or onto) Barnes, who is sliding headfirst and has only his legs at the base.

Second, Adames appears to actively direct his right hand—his non-glove hand without the ball—directly into Barnes' left leg and, in doing so, pushes Barnes off the base. Although the rule does not require the act to be intentional in order for the umpire to judge that a runner has been improperly pushed off of a base, it appears that Adames' act—not the runner's momentum—primarily caused Barnes to break contact with the base, meaning the proper remedy would be to declare the runner safe.

That said, this is a judgment call, and if the umpire's judgment, Barnes would have been unable to hold the base even without the fielder's perceptively illegal intervention, the proper call would be to declare the runner out—even if the fielder intentionally caused the runner to come off of the base.

Your mileage may vary | Video as follows:

Was Max Muncy's Fall From 2nd Base a Legal Out?

When Dodgers batter-runner Max Muncy slid into second base during the 5th inning of Saturday's #WorldSeries game, Rays shortstop Willy Adames tagged him out, but was there an illegal force-off that 2B Umpire Mark Carlson missed? Momentum notwithstanding, should Muncy have been declared safe for the fielder's improperly forcing him off of second base?

In 2018, we reviewed a similar fielder-pushes-runner-off-base question in Anaheim, when Blue Jays infielder Devon Travis kept a tag on Anaheim's Jose Fernandez, finding an out as Fernandez momentarily lifted his left foot off of the bag. Even before that, Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek may too have pulled Braves baserunner Ron Gant off of first base during Game 2 of the 1991 World Series. What's the rule?

Related Post: Replay Rewind - Runner Pushed Off Base (6/25/18).

With Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(4) appearing rather generic (a runner is out when "he is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off his base"), the bread and butter for this call is found in the Definition of Terms: "OVERSLIDE (or OVERSLIDING) is the act of an offensive player when his slide to a base, other than when advancing from home to first base, is with such momentum that he loses contact with the base."

Voluntary adjustment or forced off?

Even more to the point, the MLB Umpire Manual states, "If in the judgment of an umpire, a runner is pushed or forced off a base by a fielder, intentionally or unintentionally, at which the runner would have otherwise been called safe, the umpire has the authority and discretion under the circumstances to return the runner to the base he was forced off following the conclusion of the play."

Finally, this play is largely officiated, just as Carlson does here, with patience and great regard for its totality: To determine whether the "runner would have otherwise been called safe," several questions must be asked.

Has the runner's slide left him with momentum into the base? Has he proven himself to possess body control thus enabling him to undoubtedly remain on the base, if not for the fielder's actions? Did the fielder exert his own momentum onto the runner to cause the runner to break contact with the base? Would the runner have had a tough time remaining on the base without the fielder's presence? Who initiated the bulk of the contact to begin with?

Gant is vertical while Muncy is leaning.

This play between Muncy and Adames contrasts with Gant and Hrbek thusly: When Gant steps back into first base, he remains vertical and appears to arrest his momentum that would have otherwise taken him into foul territory. Muncy, however, appears to maintain a lean to the left of the base (oriented toward third base) even prior to falling into Adames' arms; he doesn't appear to be trying for third, naturally, but nonetheless portrays a center of gravity that is consistently moving away from second base without the same deceleration displayed by Gant.

The aforementioned occurs prior to the fielders' potential actions in forcing the runner off the base: In Minnesota, Hrbek pulls his glove upward while hooked underneath Gant's leg, thus causing Gant to rise off the base, all occuring after Gant demonstrated body control while remaining in an upright posture.

Meanwhile, in Arlington, Muncy is already falling toward third base prior to Adames wrapping his arms and potentially pulling backward.

For this reason—body control demonstrated by Gant and not by Muncy—it would appear that 2B Umpire Mark Carlson correctly ruled Muncy out at second base, for failing to demonstrate that he would have been unequivocally safe if not for Adames' actions.

Video as follows:

In COVID Era, Wendelstedt Turns to Online Ump School

When 2020's MLB postseason began, Hunter Wendelstedt was one of only a few umpires who did not take the field. Turns out, with his foot in a boot, he physically couldn't. Instead, he wondered how to operate his umpire school in a COVID-19 world where prospective students throughout the country either might balk at the risk of in-person instruction, or, much like Hunter and the 2020 postseason, would be physically unable to travel to Ormond Beach for one reason or another, where the Wendelstedt Umpire School has been operating for decades.

In a year when MiLB Umpire Academy announced the cancellation of its January 2021 session as well as the 2021 Minor League Baseball Advanced Course due to the pandemic, the Wendelstedt School might have befallen a similar fate, now well known to countless small businesses.

But the Wendelstedt School isn't just a small business: According to the Florida Department of Education, it is a licensed independent educator, and as so many educators have done in 2020, Wendelstedt prepares to adapt to a new model of coursework: distance learning. "We have to be flexible," explains Wendelstedt, who expects his recuperation from a high ankle sprain should have him back on the field by 2021.

Enter The Wendelstedt Umpire School Online Prep Course, a five-week online program that kicks off November 28, 2020 and will reward a partial scholarship to the flagship, in-person Wendelstedt Umpire School to the student who earns the highest grade (there are nine online quizzes and a final exam).

Even ump school is going online.

As Wendelstedt prepares for this newest venture, he explains how the idea of an online program came into existence: "This idea has been something I've been thinking about for a while. We've started to use video at our banquet in order to teach the guys about some of the greats like Lee Weyer and some of the older guys who came before and paved the way. So we started putting stuff on CDs and now digital, and last year we started taping the field work as we try to adapt how we teach to the changing times. If you miss something you can watch it, and that's what this is all about. We train umpires and now we're training them in the virtual world."

Wendelstedt credits his staff with the tech savviness to undertake the new online effort. Explains Director of Online Instruction Ben Engstrand, "This course was absolutely created as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe it is our responsibility to provide umpires with as many opportunities as possible."

Harry & Hunter Wendelstedt, 1998.

Says Hunter, "This class is really for anyone who loves the game, but also wants to learn the rules the right way. Look at Laz [Diaz]. He came to school and it hasn't always been easy for him and now he's just called Game 1 of the World Series in that bubble environment which has challenges that most aren't aware of."

There will be a lot of unknowns ("We don't know anything about how the system will be next year" says Hunter), but in the coronavirus era, even umpire school must adapt.

Will it work? That's another unknown, but Hunter chalks up the new approach to his upbringing: "I've grown up around dad [former National League umpire Harry Wendelstedt] and this is what we do."

Former MLB Umpire Derryl Cousins Dead at 74

As MLB begins its 2020 World Series, the umpiring community mourns the loss of former AL and MLB umpire Derryl Cousins, who died at the age of 74, one year after baseball lost Eric Cooper during the 2019 postseason.

Born on August 18, 1946 in Fresno, California, Cousins presided over 4,496 regular season contests, five Division Series, seven League Championship Series, three World Series, and three All-Star Games, in addition to serving as crew chief for the 2009 World Baseball Classic in Los Angeles during his 34-year major league career.

During his time officiating in the majors from 1979 through 2012, Cousins ejected 123 players, coaches, and managers, ranging from Whitey Herzog and Reggie Jackson in the 1970s and 1980s to Joe Maddon, Lou Piniella, and Tony LaRussa in the 2000s (Bobby Cox: three times).

At the time of his retirement, Cousins was the active staff leader in games worked and his umpiring partnership with Joe Brinkman still holds the record for most games officiated as crew partners in major league history (2,123 games).

Cooper, who passed away on October 20, 2019, and Cousins, whose death comes one year later, served on the same crew during the mid-2000s, when Cousins chiefed a foursome that included Angel Hernandez, Cooper, and Marty Foster.

Related Post: Eric Cooper Dies at 52 Following Blood Clot (10/20/19).

Cousins' uniform number 13 is currently worn by umpire Todd Tichenor, who is officiating his first career World Series in 2020.

2020 MLB World Series Umpire Crew Roster

Major League Baseball announced umpire assignments for the 2020 #WorldSeries between the Los Angeles #Dodgers and Tampa Bay #Rays, featuring a crew of seven MLB umpires led by chief Bill Miller. Full roster and rotation for the Fall Classic follows.

Crew Chief Miller is indicated in bold text and by the -cc suffix, regular season crew chief Jerry Meals with an asterisk (*), interim crew chiefs Mark Carlson, Laz Diaz, and Marvin Hudson with a degree (°), and Todd Tichenor's first World Series assignments by the tag (^1st World Series^). The following crew is presented in Game 1 rotation with plate umpires for each subsequent game indicated in brackets.

Umpires in 2020 do not rotate through New York; instead, the seven-person crew features a standby/off official who does not work on the field the day prior to their plate assignment.

In this final stage of MLB's four-round postseason, as in the semifinal LCS, the rotation is as follows: RF-LF-3B-2B-1B-Off-HP, such that an umpire who begins Game 1 at first base will be off for Game 2, work behind home plate for Game 3, and move to right field for Game 4.

2020 World Series (Los Angeles Dodgers vs Tampa Bay Rays) Umpires:

HP: Laz Diaz° [Game 1 Plate] - 1 Wild Card, 7 Division Series, 3 LCS, 3rd World Series

1B: Bill Miller -cc [Game 3 Plate] - 6 Wild Card, 8 Division Series, 7 LCS, 4th World Series

2B: Chris Guccione [Game 4 Plate] - 5 Wild Card, 7 Division Series, 4 LCS, 2nd World Series

3B: Marvin Hudson° [Game 5 Plate] - 1 Wild Card, 7 Division Series, 2 LCS, 2nd World Series

LF: Jerry Meals* [Game 6 Plate] - 1 Wild Card, 9 Division Series, 2 LCS, 2nd World Series

RF: Mark Carlson° [Game 7 Plate] - 2 Wild Card, 5 Division Series, 5 LCS, 2nd World Series

7th/Off: Todd Tichenor ^1st World Series^ [Game 2 Plate] - 2 WC, 5 DS, 1 LCS, 1st World Series

Replay Officials: Adrian Johnson (Lead Replay Official) & David Rackley (Assistant).

Pursuant to UEFL Rule 4-3-c, umpires selected to appear in the World Series receive four bonus point for this appearance, while postseason crew chiefs receive an additional bonus point.

Teachable - Postseason Manny's Head Over Heels

When Tampa Bays RF Manuel Margot leaped to catch an inning-ending fly out during Game 2 of the Astros-Rays ALCS, he wasn't the only man who sprinted to make a play. Enter umpire Manny Gonzalez, fresh off his first-career ALCS plate assignment, who ran from his position as the right field umpire to officiate Margot's jump over the foul territory wall at Petco Park.

With two out and two on in the top of the 2nd inning, Astros batter George Springer hit a 1-1 sinker from Rays pitcher Charlie Morton on a fly ball to right field where outfielder Margot attempted to make a catch, diving into the spectator area while catching Springer's fly ball in flight for the third out of the inning.

Gonzalez hustles to see the play.

While our rules exercise here simply asks what would have happened had Margot completed this play with just one (or none) out and runner(s) aboard [the answer involves Rule 5.06(b)(3)(C) ("Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when—a fielder, after catching a fly ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area") and, more pointedly, OBR 5.06(b)(3)(C) Comment ("If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should step or fall into any out-of-play area, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area"), the primary purpose of this Tmac's Teachable Moment is to highlight the right field (or first base during regular season) umpire's responsibility.

Manny waits before making a call.

During this play, RF Umpire Gonzalez sets himself on the right field foul line, as the first consideration is fair/foul. As Margot locates the ball and runs into foul territory, our umpire's responsibility—the determination of fair/foul almost certainly decided as the latter—shifts to catch/no catch.

When Margot tumbles over the wall and out of play, Gonzalez sprints to the corner to see fielder Margot emerge with the baseball in his glove. Satisfied as to the completed catch, Gonzalez signals the out.

Notice that Gonzalez doesn't give an "out" mechanic prior to confirming that Margot actually has the baseball. On an out-of-play boundary catch/no catch situation, regardless of zero/one/two outs, the immediate outcome is largely the same: the call will either be "out [catch]" or "foul."

Angel Hernandez called a similar play.

Both of these calls will result in "Time" and a dead ball...so there's no reason to rush the call.

Time will be out either way and waiting a few seconds to confirm the call in one's mind won't hurt the game. Find the ball and then make the call. If the catch doesn't end the inning, enforce OBR 5.06(b)(3)(C) by moving the Houston runners up a base and scoring that run from third.

In this situation, with two outs, there is no so-called penalty or remedy to prescribe, but with fewer than two outs, the call is consequential because, with a runner on third base, catch/no catch is the difference between a run scoring and a simple foul ball.

TTM sponsored by OutWestOfficials.

For instance, Angel Hernandez officiated a similar play during the 2012 Baltimore-New York ALDS at Yankee Stadium, only in that game, outfielder Nick Swisher did not catch the ball. Hernandez waited, actually leaned into the stands to look for the ball amidst the scrum of Yankees fans, and emerged with a safe call.

As the General Instructions to Umpires section of the rulebook states, "Wait until the play is completed before making any arm motion."

Video as follows:

Discussion of 2020 AL and NL Championship Series

CloseCallSports.com will once again report umpire plate scores (both preliminary and final numbers) for the American and National League Championship Series. Listed below are the 2020 ALCS and NLCS home plate assignments for the Astros-Rays and Braves-Dodgers matchups, beginning with Manny Gonzalez (Houston vs Tampa Bay) and Pat Hoberg (Atlanta vs Los Angeles).

As is tradition, plate umpire lineups are listed for all necessary games of the series and plate scores/skews are generated following completion of each game pursuant to UEFL f/x and UEFL Rules 6-2-b-a (Kulpa Rule) and 6-2-b-b (Miller Rule). The first line for each umpire is that ump's Preliminary score calculated in real-time while the second line is the ump's Final score, calculated upon post-game processing (data correction by the league).

Click here to see the full rosters for the 2020 ALCS and NLCS umpiring crews.

- 10/11 HOU@TB Gm 1: Manny Gonzalez. 120/125 Balls + 47/51 Strikes = 167/176 = 94.9%. +3 TB.

Final for Gonzalez: 117/125 + 49/51 = 166/176 = 94.3%. Effect: -1 / -0.6% / +1 Skew. +4 TB.

- 10/12 HOU@TB Gm 2: John Tumpane. 90/90 Balls + 45/45 Strikes = 135/135 = 100.0%. +0 Neutral.

Final for Tumpane: 90/90 + 44/45 = 134/135 = 99.3%. Effect: -1 / -0.7% / +1 Skew. +1 HOU.

- 10/12 ATL@LAD Gm 1: Pat Hoberg. 91/91 Balls + 48/50 Strikes = 139/141 = 98.6%. +0 Neutral.

Final for Hoberg: 91/91 + 49/50 = 140/141 = 99.3%. Effect: +1 / +0.7% / +1 Skew. +1 ATL.

- 10/13 ATL@LAD Gm 2: Will Little. 146/150 Balls + 62/63 Strikes = 208/213 = 97.7%. +1 ATL.

Final for Little: 148/150 + 62/63 = 210/213 = 98.6%. Effect: +2 / +0.9% / +0 Skew. +1 ATL.

- 10/13 TB@HOU Gm 3: Jeff Nelson. 103/104 Balls + 49/54 Strikes = 152/158 = 96.2%. +6 HOU.

Final for Nelson: 102/104 + 50/54 = 152/158 = 96.2%. Effect: +0 / +0% / -2 Skew. +4 HOU.

- 10/14 LAD@ATL Gm 3: Jim Reynolds. 150/153 Balls + 58/61 Strikes = 208/214 = 97.2%. +2 LAD.

Final for Reynolds: 150/153 + 58/61 = 208/214 = 97.2%. Effect: +0 / +0% / +0 Skew. +2 LAD.

- 10/14 TB@HOU Gm 4: Chris Conroy. 104/105 Balls + 42/43 Strikes = 146/148 = 98.6%. +2 HOU.

Final for Conroy: 104/105 + 42/43 = 146/148 = 98.6%. Effect: +0 / +0% / +0 Skew. +2 HOU.

- 10/15 TB@HOU Gm 5: Ted Barrett. 94/97 Balls + 50/57 Strikes = 144/154 = 93.5%. +0 Neutral.

Final for T Barrett: 94/97 + 51/57 = 145/154 = 94.2%. Effect: +1 / +0.7% / +1 Skew. +1 HOU.

- 10/15 LAD@ATL Gm 4: Cory Blaser. 119/124 Balls + 38/43 Strikes = 157/167 = 94.0%. +0 Neutral.

Final for Blaser: 120/124 + 37/43 = 157/167 = 94.0%. Effect: +0 / +0% / +2 Skew. +2 ATL.

- 10/16 HOU@TB Gm 6: Tim Timmons. 147/150 Balls + 56/61 Strikes = 203/211 = 96.2%. +2 TB.

Final for Timmons: 147/150 + 57/61 = 204/211 = 96.7%. Effect: +1 / + 0.5% / -1 Skew. +1 TB.

- 10/16 LAD@ATL Gm 5: Dan Iassogna. 105/107 Balls + 50/51 Strikes = 155/158 = 98.1%. +1 ATL.

Final for Iassogna: 105/107 + 49/51 = 154/158 = 97.5%. Effect: -1 / -0.6% / -1 Skew. +0 Neutral.

- 10/17 ATL@LAD Gm 6: Alan Porter. 84/86 Balls + 41/42 Strikes = 125/128 = 97.7%. +1 ATL.

Final for Porter: 84/86 + 41/42 = 125/128 = 97.7%. Effect: +0 / +0% / +0 Skew. +1 ATL.

- 10/17 HOU@TB Gm 7: Lance Barksdale. 93/94 Balls + 46/48 Strikes = 139/142 = 97.9%. +1 HOU.

Final for Barksdale: 93/94 + 46/48 = 139/142 = 97.9%. Effect: +0 / +0% / +0 Skew. +1 HOU.

- 10/18 ATL@LAD Gm 7: James Hoye. 123/125 Balls + 37/39 Strikes = 160/164 = 97.6%. +2 ATL.

Final for Hoye: 124/125 + 36/39 = 160/164 = 97.6%. Effect: +0 / +0% / +0 Skew. +2 ATL.

Note: The highest plate score during the 2019 LCS was Cory Blaser's 98.9% (ALCS Gm 2).

The highest overall plate score during the 2019 postseason was James Hoye's 99.3% (NLDS Gm 4).

The highest plate score so far during the 2020 postseason is Jordan Baker's 99.4% (ALWC Gm 1).