Friday, February 13, 2015

MLB Considering Changing Strike Zone Definition

MLB may change the definition of its strike zone in 2016, according to league sources. According to the report, the Major League Baseball Playing Rules Committee—whose umpires have been represented by crew chief Brian Gorman since 2011, and Charlie Reliford before him—has put the strike zone on its agenda for the 2015-16 offseason and may tweak Rule 2.00 [Strike Zone] as early as that time. The rule presently reads:
The 1996-present (2015) strike zone in professional baseball.
The STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.
The reason for the review may be tied to decreased offense and run production: the league sources cited technology, including Questec and the now-employed Zone Evaluation system tied to Pitch f/x, and the unintended consequence of a larger, more consistent strike zone, that has led to a recent trend towards pitcher domination.

Mets GM and Playing Rules Committee chairman Sandy Alderson referred to the last time the Committee changed the definition of its strike zone, which occurred in 1996: "I don’t think the Playing Rules Committee at the time of the last change ever expected that the umpires would call strikes at the hollow of the knee."

Thanks to that committee and reinforced by the numbers and evaluation of PFX and ZE, they are.

A 2014 Hardball Times story concluded that the strike zone expanded down the knee, to its hollow, by 46 square inches between 2009 and 2014.

The following is a history of Major League Baseball's strike zone, in the form of [lower-upper limit]:

Key: Green = Lower or Upper Bound same as preceding rules changeYellow = Changed rule.
1887: Batsman's knee - shoulders;
1907: Batsman's knee - shoulders (Adopted by both National and American Leagues)
1950: Top of the knee when batter assumes a natural stance - armpits;
*NOTE: 1957 was the Adoption of Rule 2.00 [Strike] referencing Rule 2.00 [Strike Zone]*
1963: Top of knees when batter assumes a natural stance - top of shoulders;
1969: Top of knees when batter assumes a natural stance - armpits;
1988: Top of knees when prepared to swing - midpoint between top of shoulders and top of pants;
1996: Hollow of the knees when prepared to swing at pitch - midpoint b/w top of shoulders/pants.

H/T: Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan | Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Sunday, February 8, 2015

UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Tripp Gibson

Presenting the UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Tripp Gibson
Umpire Hal "Tripp" Gibson
Name: Hal Harrison Gibson III
Pronunciation Guide: TRIP GIBB-son
Nickname: Tripp
Date of Birth: August 5, 1981
Place of Birth: Mayfield, Kentucky

MiLB Leagues Worked: Gulf Coast, New York-Penn, South Atlantic, California, Florida State, Eastern, Southern, Pacific Coast.
MLB Debut: 2013
Level: MLB
Umpire Uniform Number: 73
Crew Chief: No

2019 Ejections: 4.
Ejection 114 (NYM M Mickey Callaway; QOC = U).
Ejection 113 (NYM 3B Todd Frazier; QOC = U).
Ejection 095 (BAL M Brandon Hyde; QOC = Y).
Ejection 086 (ATL M Brian Snitker; QOC = Y).

2018 Ejections: 6.
Ejection 165 (PIT M Clint Hurdle; QOC = Y).
Ejection 164 (PIT C Francisco Cervelli; QOC = Y).
Ejection 069 (LAD C Yasmani Grandal; QOC = Y).
Ejection 068 (LAD M Dave Roberts; QOC = Y).
Ejection 067 (LAD LF Matt Kemp; QOC = Y).
Ejection 028 (SF PC Curt Young; QOC = N).

2017 Ejections: 3.
Ejection 133 (TEX M Jeff Banister; QOC = U).
Ejection 124 (SD M Andy Green; QOC = N).
Ejection 036 (CWS PC Don Cooper; QOC = Y).

2016 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 067 (CHC M Joe Maddon; QOC = N).

2015 Ejections: 5.
Ejection 195 (LAA M Mike Scioscia; QOC = Y).
Ejection 110 (BOS 1B Mike Napoli; QOC = Y).
Ejection 049 (DET M Brad Ausmus; QOC = Y).
Ejection 002 (SD M Bud Black; QOC = Y).
Ejection 001 (SD PH Will Venable; QOC = Y).

2014 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 092 (OAK 3B Josh Donaldson; QOC = Y). *First Career Ejection*

2013 Ejections: None.
Ejection History: 0 (2013), 1 (2014), 5 (2015), 1 (2016), 3 (2017), 6 (2018), 4 (2019).

UEFL History: Tripp Gibson

Postseason and Special Events History
World Baseball Classic: -
All-Star Game: -
Wild Card Game: 201720182020
Division Series: 20192020
Championship Series: -
World Series: -

UEFL Fill-In of the Year Award: 2014

Notes: Named to the full-time MLB staff in January 2015.
» Alum of the Harry Wendelstedt School and Murray State, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
» Prior to his appointment, served as a substitute teacher during the minor league offseason.
» Worked under the name "Hal Gibson III" as a Minor League umpire & fill-in. Changed to Tripp in 2015.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Will Little

Presenting the UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Will Little.
Umpire Will Little
Name: William Max Little III
Pronunciation Guide: WILL LIT-uhl
Date of Birth: March 2, 1984
Place of Birth: Fall Branch, Tennessee

MiLB Leagues Worked: Gulf Coast, Appalachian, South Atlantic, Carolina, Southern, International.
MLB Debut: June 24, 2013
Level: MLB
Umpire Uniform Number: 93
Crew Chief: No

2019 Ejections: 2.
Ejection 181 (PHI 1B Rhys Hoskins; QOC = Y).
Ejection 115 (DET DH Miguel Cabrera; QOC = Y).

2018 Ejections: 9.
Ejection 177 (STL M Mike Shildt; QOC = Y).
Ejection 176 (STL 3B Matt Carpenter; QOC = Y).
Ejection 139 (BOS P Rick Porcello; QOC = Y).
Ejection 138 (BOS SS Xander Bogaerts; QOC = N).
Ejection 102 (CHC M Joe Maddon; QOC = Y).
Ejection 101 (CHC 2B Javier Baez; QOC = Y).
Ejection 093 (KC M Ned Yost; QOC = N).
Ejection 073 (CWS M Rick Renteria; QOC = N).
Ejection 040 (SD SS Freddy Galvis; QOC = Y).

2017 Ejections: 6.
Ejection 183 (HOU M AJ Hinch; QOC = Y).
Ejection 113 (TOR C Russell Martin; QOC = Y).
Ejection 112 (TOR P Marcus Stroman; QOC = Y).
Ejection 111 (TOR M John Gibbons; QOC = Y).
Ejection 051 (OAK M Bob Melvin; QOC = N).
Ejection 050 (OAK 2B Jed Lowrie; QOC = Y).

2016 Ejections: 5.
Ejection 190 (NYM LF Yoenis Cespedes; QOC = Y).
Ejection 189 (PHI M Pete Mackanin; QOC = Y).
Ejection 188 (BAL M Buck Showalter; QOC = Y).
Ejection 187 (BAL 1B Chris Davis; QOC = Y).
Ejection 066 (Rays HC Derek Shelton; QOC = Y).

2015 Ejections: 2.
Ejection 072 (Mariners M Lloyd McClendon; QOC = Y).
Ejection 071 (Mariners C Mike Zunino; QOC = Y).

2014 Ejections: 4.
Ejection 165 (LAD PH Andre Ethier; QOC = U).
Ejection 138 (STL M Mike Matheny; QOC = Y).
Ejection 052 (MIA M Mike Redmond; QOC = Y).
Ejection 037 (LAD M Don Mattingly; QOC = Y).

2013 Ejections: 3.
Ejection 151 (KC M Ned Yost; QOC = Y).
Ejection 121 (DET P Max Scherzer; QOC = Y).
Ejection 084 (BAL 3B Manny Machado; QOC = Y). *First Career Ejection*

Ejection History: 3 (2013), 4 (2014), 2 (2015), 5 (2016), 6 (2017), 9 (2018), 2 (2019).

UEFL History: Will Little

Postseason and Special Events History
World Baseball Classic: -
All-Star Game: -
Wild Card Game: 201620182020
Division Series: 2017, 2019
Championship Series: 2020
World Series: -

Notes: Named to the full-time MLB staff in January 2015.
» Alum of the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring (JEAPU), played baseball at Milligan College.
» Began his umpiring career at Elizabethton Little League; worked the WBC Qualifier in Germany.

Friday, February 6, 2015

UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Mark Ripperger

Presenting the UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Mark Ripperger.
Umpire Mark Ripperger
Name: Mark Anthony Ripperger
Pronunciation Guide: MARK RIP-urr-gurr
Date of Birth: August 6, 1980
Place of Birth: Escondido, California

MiLB Leagues Worked: Arizona, Northwest, Midwest, California, Eastern, Hawaii Winter, Pacific Coast.
MLB Debut: 2010
Level: MLB
Umpire Uniform Number: 90
Crew Chief: No

2019 Ejections: 2.
Ejection 129 (SF CF Kevin Pillar; QOC = Y).
Ejection 107 (DET M Ron Gardenhire; QOC = Y).

2018 Ejections: 4.
Ejection 146 (ARI RF Steven Souza, Jr.; QOC = Y).
Ejection 145 (ATL M Brian Snitker; QOC = Y).
Ejection 050 (LAA M Mike Scioscia; QOC = Y).
Ejection 049 (LAA C Martin Maldonado; QOC = Y).

2017 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 157 (MIL LF Ryan Braun; QOC = Y).

2016 Ejections: 3.
Ejection 148 (MIA 1BC Perry Hill; QOC = U).
Ejection 070 (ARI M Chip Hale; QOC = Y).
Ejection 016 (TB M Kevin Cash; QOC = Y).

2015 Ejections: 4.
Ejection 208 (WAS P Jonathan Papelbon; QOC = U).
Ejection 082 (MIN M Paul Molitor; QOC = N).
Ejection 081 (MIN RF Torii Hunter; QOC = N).
Ejection 075 (ARI M Chip Hale; QOC = N).

2014 Ejections: 6.
Ejection 166 (MIL M Ron Roenicke; QOC = Y).
Ejection 145 (STL LF Matt Holliday; QOC = Y).
Ejection 131 (TB M Joe Maddon; QOC = N).
Ejection 091 (PHI M Ryne Sandberg; QOC = U).
Ejection 090 (PHI P Roberto Hernandez; QOC = U).
Ejection 040 (SEA P Felix Hernandez; QOC = N).

2013 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 154 (HOU M Bo Porter; QOC = Y).

2012 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 178 (COL RF Andrew Brown; QOC = N).

2011 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 156 (BOS M Terry Francona; QOC = Y). *First Career Ejection*

Ejection History: 1 (2011), 1 (2012), 1 (2013), 6 (2014), 4 (2015), 3 (2016), 1 (2017), 4 (2018), 2 (2019).

UEFL History: Mark Ripperger

Postseason and Special Events History
World Baseball Classic: -
All-Star Game: -
Wild Card Game: 2020
Division Series: -
Championship Series: -
World Series: -

Notes: Named to the full-time MLB staff in January 2015.
» Alum of Harry Wendelstedt & Escondido High School; attended Palomar College & Cal State San Marcos.
» Started umpire career at Escondido Little League at age 16 after breaking his right foot junior year.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Winter Leagues Baseball Ejections, January 2015

Here is baseball's January 2015 Winter Leagues ejections update, including the Caribbean Winter & Australian Baseball Leagues; the regional Caribbean League seasons are now complete, ABL is in playoffs:

2B Umpire Kelvin Bultron: Indios de Mayaguez Manager Carlos Baerga for Unsportsmanlike-NEC (RC, 1/3)
HP Umpire Jorge Teran: Caribes de Anzoategui Manager Omar Lopez for arguing an out call (V, 1/3)
3B Umpire Jair Fernandez: Aguilas de Mexicali Manager Juan Castro for arguing a check swing (M, 1/6)
HP Umpire Carlos R Cotto: Criollos de Caguas 1B Carlos Rivera for arguing a strike three call (RC, 1/7)
HP Umpire Tom Woodring: Toros del Este C Mayo Acosta for arguing a ball call (D, 1/8)
HP Umpire Ulises Dominguez: Tomateros de Culiacan 2B Ramiro Pena for arguing a strike 3 call (M, 1/8)
HP Umpire Jorge Davilla: Indios de Mayaguez RF Luis Montanez for arguing a strike 3 call (RC, 1/12)
HP Umpire David Arrieta: Aguilas del Zulia P Wilfredo Boscan for throwing at a batter (V, 1/12)
HP Umpire David Arrieta: Aguilas del Zulia Manager Eddie Perez for intent HBP after warning (V, 1/12)
HP Umpire Carlos Rey Cotto: Criollos de Caguas LF Juan Silva for arguing a strike 3 call (RC, 1/13)
HP Umpire Nate White: Navegantes del Magallanes 2B Henry Alejandro, balls and strikes (V, 1/18)
HP Umpire Neil Poulton: Adelaide Bite P Tony Vocca for intentionally throwing at batter (ABL, 1/18)
HP Umpire Neil Poulton: Melbourne Aces SS Brad Harman (hit batter) for fighting pitcher (ABL, 1/18)
HP Umpire Tom West: Brisbane Bandits C Ryan Battaglia for arguing a strike 3 call (ABL, 1/18)
1B Umpire Edwin Hernandez: Cangrejeros de Santurce 3B Coach Jose Flores, balk no-call (RC, 1/25)
HP Umpire Jorge Teran: Navegantes del Magallanes Manager Carlos Garcia, ball call (V, 1/28)
HP Umpire Trent Thomas: Perth Heat C Matt Kennelly for arguing a teammate's K3 call (ABL, 1/30)

*ABL = Australian, CS = Caribbean Series (Begins February 2015), D = Dominican (Concluded), M = Mexicana del Pacifico (Concluded), RC = Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico, Concluded), V = Venezuelan (Concluded)*

Thursday, January 29, 2015

UEFL 2015 Registration and Appeals Board Nomination


Quick Links: 2015 UEFL Registration Form / 2015 UEFL Appeals Board Candidacy Form
After registering, your name will be added to the 2015 UEFL Member Roster (note Last Updated date). Preliminary registrants will appear on the Roster. If you submit registration and do not see your username on the roster by the Friday of that week, please register again.

Per UEFL Rule 1, as first adopted prior to the 2013 season:
a.     A post announcing the opening of registrations shall appear on the UEFL website no later than two months prior to the start of the regular season. This post shall instruct members on the proper methods of signing up to participate in the UEFL for the upcoming season and will contain all appropriate pre-draft deadlines.
b.     Once the registration period is closed, a draft order shall be pre-assigned (see Rule 1-1-c). Five umpires shall be drafted by each UEFL member in the form of one (1) crew chief per Rule 1-2, two (2) primary umpires per Rule 1-3 and two (2) secondary umpires per Rule 1-4.
c.     The draft will be conducted in two phases: Phase one encompasses the crew/primary round while phase two encompasses the secondary draft. Members have the option of drafting all umpires during the first phase.
For more information about the UEFL draft and selection process, see the 2015 UEFL Rules Book. Note that the draft will occur in March 2015; no umpires will be selected until the draft begins in March.

Any visitor, guest or user may become a league member. There is no cost to register for this league. If you would like to register for the 2015 UEFL season, please complete the 2015 UEFL Registration Form. If you experience technical difficulties, please respond to this post with your requested username. If you participated during the 2014 season, please use the same username or otherwise mention what your username was last season. Do not select umpires during the registration process.

Important Note: To register for the 2015 Umpire Ejection Fantasy League, please indicate your desired username and e-mail address, the combination of which shall serve as user verification. Pursuant to Rules 4-7 and 6-1, users must be logged in to initiate challenges. The UEFL uses DISQUS for this purpose. To register, view any post on the website and scroll to the comments section. Click the "Join the discussion" text box and a variety of sign in options will appear. You can sign in with Facebook, Twitter or Google, or create an account with DISQUS. Your DISQUS sign in (whether Facebook, Twitter, Google or DISQUS itself) must match your UEFL username.

It is recommended that UEFL members be placed on an e-mail list so that we may expeditiously communicate important site-related news, such as UEFL Live Draft order and Prop Boards. If you wish to be included, please indicate this during registration.

Registration, draft and roster deadlines (Note: All deadlines extend to 11:59 PM Pacific on date indicated)
March 9, 2015 (Monday): Preliminary and standard registration processes closed, draft opens.
March 27, 2015 (Friday): Last day to submit unrestricted Primary umpires.
March 28, 2015 (Saturday): Last day to submit unrestricted Secondary umpires.
April 3, 2015 (Friday): Last day to submit unrestricted Crew Chief selections.
April 4, 2015 (Saturday): Last day for roster changes (retirements, pre-season injuries, etc.).
April 5, 2015 (Sunday): Cardinals at Cubs (ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, Opening Night)
Any late submissions will be "restricted," meaning umpire selection will be limited to a list as determined by the Commissioner and based on timely league drafting activity.

Appeals Board: Rule 6-4-a mandates the establishment and maintenance of an Appeals Board to rule on disputed issues, such as Quality of Correctness. Any visitor, guest or user may become an Appeals Board member and may or may not also be a concurrent league member. The Appeals Board operates on a voluntary basis only and is a one-year term (no term limits). To apply, please access this form. If you are interested in nominating yourself for the one at-large Appeals Board vacancy, please consider the following requirements:
➤ Ability to separate subjectivity from objective analysis;
➤ Extensive rules knowledge or ability to attain exceptional proficiency;
➤ Acceptance of prior and willingness to form UEFL precedent and rule interpretations;
➤ Ability to objectively and thoroughly analyze plays to determine, among others, Quality of Correctness;
➤ Availability to respond to the "Office of the UEFL Commissioner" in a timely fashion;
➤ Board members must abstain from ruling on plays involving drafted umpires (if applicable).

2015 Appeals Board page on the UEFL Portal
Permanent Appeals Board members are: Gil (Commissioner, Chair), Jeremy (Deputy Commissioner).
Appeals Board members re-elected via the 2014 Rules Summit are: Arik G, JD, RichMSN, tmac, Turducken, cyclone14.
Vacancy: Seat 9.

Appeals Board nomination and election procedures, deadlines
January 29, 2015 (Thursday): Appeals Board nominations opened.
March 20, 2015 (Friday): Appeals Board nominations closed and voting begins.
March 27, 2015 (Friday): Appeals Board voting ends.
April 5, 2015 (Sunday): Opening Night, Cubs at Cardinals, MLB season begins.

If you have any questions, please post here. As you can see, registration will remain open for over four weeks while Appeals Board nominations will remain open for over six weeks. We hope you enjoy this registration process for the 2015 season. Read on for a "How To" example...

Scenario, Registration & Draft: John Doe would like to register for the 2015 UEFL season. He reads the new policies and procedures for 2015 and registers a username with the DISQUS commenting system. On March 14, John takes part in phase one of the UEFL draft by selecting two primary umpires, Ump A and Ump B. Ump A is MLB-level while Ump-B is AAA-level. John opts not to select Secondary umpires at this time, though he has the option to do so. On March 25, John chooses his two secondary umpires and drafts Ump C and then Ump D, whom are both MLB level umpires. On March 30, John submits his Crew Chief selection, selecting Ump E. On April 2, it is revealed Ump E has suffered an injury; John contacts the Office of the UEFL Commissioner and successfully changes his Crew Chief selection from Ump E to Ump A (who is also one of John's primary umpires).

Scenario, Appeals Board: John Doe would also like to run for a vacant seat on the Appeals Board and after reading Rule 6 and the above description of a boardperson's duties, believes he will be a solid fit. He completes the nomination process in February. John makes sure to vote for himself and another candidate and submits his ballot on March 21, cognizant of the fact that voting twice in the Appeals Board election or contributing to voting irregularities surrounding his candidacy will disqualify himself gaining election.

To register for the 2015 UEFL season, please complete the form below (click here if you cannot see it):

Thursday, January 15, 2015

MiLB Double-A, Triple-A to Adopt 20-Second Pitch Clock

Double- and Triple-A will likely use a 20-second pitch clock in 2015, according to MiLB.com. Taking place at the January Arizona meetings is a negotiation with the players' union over pace-of-game concerns. Minor League Baseball's higher levels will also reportedly implement other methods tested during 2014's Arizona Fall League.
The Pitch Clock. Photo: Arizona Fall League

These include a modification of OBR Rule 6.02(d) regarding a batter keeping at least one foot in the batter's box throughout his at-bat (with limited exception), the manager's ability to request an intentional walk as opposed to his pitcher throwing four times, and a limit of three non-substitutive defensive conferences/mound visits per game.

During the 2013 Winter Meetings, MLB Chief Baseball Officer (then Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations) Joe Torre said, "There is a chance that will happen."

Sunday, January 11, 2015

MLB Hires Tripp Gibson, Mark Ripperger, Will Little

MLB hired umpires Tripp Gibson and Mark Ripperger to the full-time staff, according to the Wendelstedt Umpire School; Will Little is the third umpire hired. Gibson, Ripperger, and Little officiated the most MLB games of all umpires in 2014 (149, 142, and 141, respectively). Gibson, who has been working the Dominican Winter League, purportedly left the Dominican Republic in order to return to the United States to complete the hiring process. Gibson's hire to the MLB staff was first reported on January 9 by George Torres of the Dominican's Radio Universal.

Umpire retirement information will be forthcoming when available.

MLB Umpire Tripp Gibson
Hal 'Tripp' Gibson III: With just 173 games of Major League experience over two seasons (24 in 2013, 149 in 2014), Mayfield, Kentucky native Hal Howard Gibson III joins MLB's umpiring roster with the fewest games officiated of any of the 9 umpires hired over the past two seasons. Gibson worked as a AAA call-up while in the Pacific Coast League. A 2006 graduate of the Wendelstedt School, the 33-year-old Gibson has worked the Gulf Coast, New York-Penn, South Atlantic, California, Florida State, Eastern and Southern Leagues before his PCL promotion. Gibson was the 2014 UEFL Fill-In Umpire of the Year award winner and served as crew chief for the 2013 Arizona Fall League experiment with expanded instant replay review.
> MLB Debut: July 8, 2013
> First and Most Recent MLB Ejection: June 14, 2014 (OAK Athletics 3B Josh Donaldson).

MLB Umpire Will Little (left)
Will Little: William Max Little III from Fall Branch, Tennessee, joins the full-time staff with 197 games of big league experience over two seasons (56 in 2013, 141 in 2014). The 30-year-old Little graduated from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in 2006 and since officiated in the Gulf Coast, Appalachian, South Atlantic, Carolina, Southern and International Leagues.
> MLB Debut: June 24, 2013
> First MLB Ejection: June 27, 2013 (BAL Orioles 3B Manny Machado)
> Most Recent MLB Ejection: August 26, 2014 (LA Dodgers PH Andre Ethier).

MLB Umpire Mark Ripperger
Mark Ripperger: Mark Anthony Ripperger promotes to full-time status with 211 big league games over five seasons under his belt (4 in 2010, 41 in 2011, 12 in 2012, 12 in 2013, 142 in 2014). The 34-year-old Ripperger, from Escondido California, is a 2003 graduate of the Wendelstedt School and has worked the Arizona, Northwest, Midwest, California, Eastern, Hawaii Winter and Pacific Coast Leagues.
> MLB Debut: September 30, 2010
> First MLB Ejection: August 13, 2011 (BOS Red Sox Manager Terry Francona)
> Most Recent MLB Ejection: August 27, 2014 (MIL Brewers Manager Ron Roenicke).

Most Games Officiated During the 2014 Regular Season (bold denotes umpires hired since 04/14)
1) Tripp Gibson - 149
2) Mark Ripperger - 142
3) Will Little - 141
4) John Tumpane - 138
5) Quinn Wolcott - 132
6) Marvin Hudson, Paul Emmel, Vic Carapazza, Adam Hamari - 127
10) Mark Carlson - 126

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Winter Leagues Baseball Ejections, December 2014

Here is baseball's December 2014 Winter Leagues ejections update, including the Caribbean Winter & Australian Baseball Leagues:

HP Umpire Vincent Morales: Criollos de Caguas RF Henry Ramos for arguing a strike call (RC, 12/1)
HP Umpire Santo Castillo: Tigres del Licey DH Jose Ruiz for arguing a strike 3 call (D, 12/4)
3B Umpire Stewart Howe: Melbourne Aces 3B Josh Davies for arguing an out call (ABL, 12/6)
HP Umpire Richard Mason: Melbourne Aces Manager Tommy Thompson, same out call (ABL, 12/6)
HP Umpire Verman Mejia: Toros del Este 1B Allan Dykstra for arguing a strike 3 call (D, 12/6)
HP Umpire Jair Fernandez: Aguilas de Mexicali 1B Josh Whitesell for arguing a strike 3 call (M, 12/7)
HP Umpire Nate White: Tiburones de La Guaira C Miguel Gonzalez for arguing a strike 2 call (V, 12/7)
HP Umpire Manuel Araiza: Yaquis de Obregon DH Donald Lutz for arguing a strike 3 call (M, 12/9)
HP Umpire Ryan Harder: Perth Heat LF Tim Smith for arguing a strike 3 call (ABL, 12/11)
HP Umpire Charlie Rivera: Indios de Mayaguez SS Luis Figueroa for Unsportsmanlike-NEC (RC, 12/13)
HP Umpire Edwin Moscoso: Aguilas del Zulia Manager Eddie Perez, batter's interference call (V, 12/13)
HP Umpire Riley Barrington: Adelaide Bite Manager Brooke Knight, strike 3 call (ABL, 12/14) [Video]
HP Umpire Ron Teague: Tigres del Licey Manager Wally Backman, batter's interference call (D, 12/14)
1B Umpire Orlando Lopez: Venados de Mazatlan Manager Miguel Ojeda, check swing call (M, 12/17)
HP Umpire Kelvin Bultron: Cangrejeros de Santurce C A.J. Jimenez, ball call (RC, 12/17)
3B Umpire Nate White: Bravos de Margarita Manager Henry Blanco, check swing K3 (V, 12/19)
HP Umpire Carlos Velez: Indios de Mayaguez 2B Jesmuel Valentin, strike three call (RC, 12/22)
HP Umpire Carlos Torres: Caribes de Anzoategui Manager Omar Lopez, ball call (V, 12/22)
HP Umpire Tom West: Brisbane Bandits Manager Dave Nillson, ball calls (ABL, 12/22) [Video]
HP Umpire Kelvin Bultron: Criollos de Caguas Manager Alex Cora, ball calls (RC, 12/22)
HP Umpire Jairo Martinez: Leones del Caracas P Loiger Padron, balls and strikes (V, 12/22)
HP Umpire Jairo Martinez: Leones del Caracas DH Bobby Abreu, strike 3 call (V, 12/22)
3B Umpire Socrates Marin: Caneros de los Mochis SS Emmanuel Avila, check swing (M, 12/23)
HP Umpire Carlos Torres: Tigres de Aragua P Ramon Garcia, balls and strikes (V, 12/30)
3B Umpire Brett Robson: Melbourne Aces SS Brad Harman, 3B Josh Davies, NEC (ABL, 12/30) [Video]
HP Umpire Peter Bowie: Melbourne Aces C Kellin Deglan, strike 3 call (ABL, 12/30) [Video]
HP Umpire Carlos Velez: Senadores de San Juan P Miguel Martinez, ball call (RC, 12/30)

*ABL = Australian, CS = Caribbean Series (Begins February 2015), D = Dominican, M = Mexicana del Pacifico, RC = Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico), V = Venezuelan*

Monday, January 5, 2015

John Hirschbeck Announces 2015 Return After Son's Death

MLB umpire John Hirschbeck announced his return to baseball in 2015, describing the great importance umpiring and baseball played throughout his and his late son Michael's life. After working MLB's opening week, John Hirschbeck took to umpiring's bereavement list with the death of son Michael at age 27. In 1993, 8-year-old John Drew Hirschbeck died of the rare inherited brain disease ALD.

2015 will be Hirschbeck's fourth return to baseball since missing the entire 2008 season recuperating from back surgery and, in his words, "much more important."

Hirschbeck was the UEFL's 2014 Honorable Umpire of the Year alongside veteran Ted Barrett.

Video: Hirschbeck announces his return to the game and remembers his son Michael (MLBAM)