ABL - Bell Ejects River Stevens for Obscene Bird

HP Umpire Andrew Bell ejected Cavalry 2B River Stevens for flipping off the crowd in Adelaide during his 2 RBI double in the top of the 6th inning of the ABL's Cavalry-Bite game. With two out and two on, Stevens hit a fastball from Bite pitcher Matthew Williams down the right field line for a double, scoring two runs for Canberra. Replays indicate that as Stevens ran down the first base line, he raised his right arm and extended his middle finger while looking at either the Adelaide dugout and/or the "Shark Tank" fan section directly behind the dugout, resulting in an ejection for an unsporting obscene gesture, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Cavalry were leading, 4-1. The Cavalry ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

Related: MLB Ejection 189 (Joe West/Jonathan Papelbon; Lewd Gesture, 9/14/14)
Wrap: Canberra Cavalry vs. Adelaide Bite (Australian Baseball), 1/8/17 | Video via "Read More"

Minor League Umpires Receive New 5-Year CBA

Minor League Baseball Umpire Development reached agreement with the Association of Minor League Umpires on a five-year collective bargaining agreement that will ensure continuous labor peace through the 2021 MiLB season.

Notable elements of the 2016-21 MiLBUD-AMLU CBA include:

> Salary and Wages: Umpires across all levels of Minor League Baseball will receive nominal wage increases. Rookie and Short-A will start at $2,000-per-month (previously $1,900) and increase to $2,300 for a fourth-year umpire. Full/Advanced-A will start at $2,100 (from $2,000) with $2,600 at the seventh season. Double-A starts at $2,500 (from $2,300) to $3,100 at the ninth season, and Triple-A starts at $2,900 (from $2,600) to $3,900 at the 14th season.

> Per Diems: League-wide per diems will increase by two dollars annually. In 2017, these figures are: $44.50 for Single-A, $50 for Double-A, and $58 for Triple-A. At the CBA's conclusion in 2021, the Single-A per diem will be $52.50, $58 at Double-A, and $66 at Triple-A.

> Family Leave: Umpires will receive five paid days of family leave for the birth of a child, and may receive additional time off at the discretion of management.

> Mandatory Day Off: Umpires are capped at working no more than 30 consecutive days.

> Hotels: Requires that hotel facilities feature interior room entrances as opposed to exterior room entry, such as entrance directly into the motel room from the parking lot or exterior staircase/breezeway.

> Uniforms: In lieu of being provided uniforms, Single-A and higher Umpires will be given a uniform and equipment allowance, which marks a new benefit wherein umpires will be given cash credit from the League that may be used to purchase equipment items such as chest protectors, shin and throat guards, marks, shoes, etc., that previously were not covered through credits.

> Concussion Management: Stadiums throughout MiLB must supply a refrigerator or freezer to chill medical items, such as ice packs and specialized headgear, such that the item will be cold if and when an umpire requires use of the concussion pack.

> Evaluation Advancement: Forthcoming technological changes to MiLB's method of evaluating ALMU's umpires will now be subject to disclosure and discussion before the Association.

The most recent labor stoppage in Minor League Baseball occurred in 2006 when umpires went on strike after the two sides failed to reach a satisfactory agreement.

2017 Hires Include Hamari, Hoberg, Morales & Torres

MLB hired umpires Adam Hamari, Pat Hoberg, Gabe Morales & Carlos Torres to the full-time staff, according to a source.* Since their respective MLB debuts as Triple-A call-up umpires, the foursome has a combined 1,364 games of big league experience going into the 2017 regular season, with Hamari the most experienced and Torres the least.

As reported in 2016, retirements include Bob Davidson, John Hirschbeck, and Tim Welke.

Adam Hamari: With 461 of Major League experience over four seasons (2013-16), Marquette, Michigan native Adam Curtis Hamari joins the big league staff as the most experienced member of the 2016 Call-Up staff. After graduating from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring (JEAPU) in 2006, Hamari worked the New York-Penn, Midwest, California, Florida State, Southern, Eastern, International, and Pacific Coast Leagues. He also officiated the 2011 Arizona Fall League. Hamari won the 2016 UEFL Fill-In Umpire of the Year award and is fellow MLBU Cory Blaser's brother-in-law.
> Age on Opening Day 2017: 33 (5/25/1983).
> MLB Debut: June 26, 2013 (CHC-MIL; -cc Kellogg).
> First MLB Ejection: March 8, 2014 (Bob Melvin).
> Notable: Called Tim Lincecum's no-hitter on June 25, 2014.
> Most Recent MLB Ejection: Sept 23, 2016 (Kemp/Snitker).

Gabe Morales: Santa Clara, California-born Gabriel Morales joins the big league staff with 389 games of MLB experience, which is third as of the 2016-17 offseason, behind fellow hire Hamari (461) and call-up Clint Fagan (453). Morales is a 2009 graduate of the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring (JEAPU), and since has officiated the Arizona, New York-Penn, South Atlantic, Arizona Instructional, Texas, International, and Pacific Coast Leagues, in addition to the 2013 Arizona Fall League and XM All-Star Futures Game. Morales finished third in the 2016 UEFL Fill-In Umpire of the Year award vote.
> Age on Opening Day 2017: 32 (6/21/1984).
> MLB Debut: April 2, 2014 (CLE-OAK; -cc Winters).
> First MLB Ejection: August 23, 2015 (Paul Molitor).
> Most Recent MLB Ejection: July 31, 2016 (John Farrell).

Pat Hoberg: With a birthdate of September 11, 1986, Patrick Hoberg is the youngest hire (30 years old), and also has the most big league ejections to his name (11). Born in Des Moines, Iowa (think: Tim McClelland and Eric Cooper, and tangentially Mike Everitt and Mike Reilly), Hoberg is the third new hire to have graduated from the Evans Academy, and was in Morales' 2009 class at the school. Hoberg has worked the Arizona, Appalachian, Florida State, Texas, and Pacific Coast Leagues, additionally joining Morales on the 2013 AFL and XM Futures Game staffs. After Hoberg ejected disgruntled minor league manager Mark Haley in 2011, Haley ominously predicted, "it's going to be a long ways to go before [Hoberg] reaches his goal." Consider that goal reached. Hoberg finished second in the 2016 UEFL Fill-In Umpire of the Year award vote.
> Age on Opening Day 2017: 30 (9/11/1986).
> MLB Debut: March 31, 2014 (SF-ARI; -cc Hallion).
> First MLB Ejection: May 28, 2014 (Elvis Andrus).
> Notable: Called Jake Arrieta's no-hitter on Aug 30, 2015.
> Most Recent MLB Ejection: September 20, 2016 (Mike Scioscia).

Carlos Torres: The eldest (38 years old) and only foreign-born umpire in MLB's Class of 2017, Venezuela's Carlos Torres Nuldis (born in Barquisimeto, Lara) officiated the most big league games in 2016 of any single MLB or MiLB umpire, save for Ryan Blakney (Torres officiated 141 games; Blakney called 142), yet has worked cumulatively fewer games than the other three hires. Unlike the others, however, Torres has more consistent experience working his native Venezuelan League, one of baseball's Winter Leagues. Like Morales and Hoberg, Torres has been a Minor League umpire since graduating from Evans' Academy in 2009 and worked the Gulf Coast, New York-Penn, South Atlantic, Carolina, Southern, Arizona Fall, and International Leagues. He is the second Venezuelan to umpire a Major League game (Manny Gonzalez).
> Age on Opening Day 2017: 38 (9/14/1978).
> MLB Debut: July 17, 2015 (CLE-CIN; -cc Kellogg).
> First MLB Ejection: May 14, 2016 (Terry Collins).
> Most Recent MLB Ejection: Sept 10, 2016 (Hernan Perez).

Most Games Officiated as a Call-Up Umpire (Bold Text denotes umpires hired for 2017 season)
1) Adam Hamari - 461 Games (48 in 2013, 127 in 2014, 154 in 2015, 132 in 2016).
2) Clint Fagan - 453 Games (5 in 2011, 16 in 2012, 69 in 2013, 119 in 2014, 131 in 2015, 113 in 2016).
3) Gabe Morales - 389 Games (123 in 2014, 135 in 2015, 131 in 2016).
4) Pat Hoberg - 354 Games (123 in 2014, 92 in 2015, 139 in 2016).
5) Toby Basner - 323 Games (19 in 2012, 17 in 2013, 106 in 2014, 93 in 2015, 88 in 2016).
6) Chris Segal - 248 Games (111 in 2014, 116 in 2015, 21 in 2016).
7) Ryan Blakney - 230 Games (88 in 2015, 142 in 2016).
8) Sean Barber - 217 Games (92 in 2014, 58 in 2015, 67 in 2016).
9) Tom Woodring - 192 Games (102 in 2014, 54 in 2015, 36 in 2016).
10) Ben May - 187 Games (30 in 2014, 88 in 2015, 69 in 2016).
11) Carlos Torres - 160 Games (19 in 2015, 141 in 2016).
12) Nic Lentz - 105 Games (105 in 2016).
13) Stu Scheurwater - 100 Games (24 in 2014, 23 in 2015, 53 in 2016).

*Refer to the UEFL's Best Practices for more information on news reporting from a source.

Harrelson's Ballad of Cowboy Joe West and The Hawk

Ken "Hawk" Harrelson and Joe West have become the unlikeliest of friends, and the veteran White Sox broadcaster sat down with CSN Chicago and the White Sox Talk podcast to tell the tale of how a seemingly bitter feud from the days of Mark Buehrle and Ozzie Guillen has transformed into a story bigger than baseball.

Joe West and Hawk Harrelson at a golf outing.
Photo from @ChuckGarfien.

In 2010, you might recall, Joe West ejected then-Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen for arguing a balk called against pitcher Mark Buehrle, before ejecting Buehrle himself for arguing a similar call one inning later. In one of the Hawk's famous rants, Harrelson tore into the long-time umpire:

[West]'s a joke, he's becoming a joke is what he's doing. He's becoming a joke to the umpiring profession. Joe is, uh, getting to be that time for Mr. Joe West...Joe West deserves a suspension is what—he needs a rest, he needs a rest. I tell you what, Mark Buehrle is one of—Joe West just wanted to stick it right up his behind and he did. He should be suspended. That is a flat out absolute disgrace to the umpiring profession what this guy has been doing.

Harrelson, of course, has levied similarly impassioned criticism toward other objects of ire over the years, namely Mark Wegner ("You gotta be bleepin' me! What are you doing Wegner? That is so bad, it is absolutely brutal"), Angel Hernandez ("NO! NO! And ANOTHER blown call by Hernandez!"), Gary Darling ("These are times I wish I could cuss"), Lance Barrett ("He is absolutely brutal"), and even the White Sox themselves.

To be fair, Harrelson has been consistent in his level of decorum throughout his career, as evidenced by this 1991 diatribe against Joe Brinkman ("That is absolutely unbelievable").

In 2012, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig met with Harrelson over his rant against Wegner, with White Sox Senior VP Brooks Boyer stating, "I think moving forward those types of bursts and snaps will be limited if not eliminated."

And they have.

Although Harrelson has continued to use phrases like "horsebleep judgement" (Alfonso Marquez) and "that's BS and he's right" (Jeff Nelson), his tenor has certainly been more restrained...although he did go after the home plate collision rule ("this rule is BS, pure simple BS"), at one point stating that "next thing you know, they'll have catchers wearing skirts out there."

It all started with Joe West's absence and delayed return to baseball in 2013 (See: Rehab report from 4/26/13). The Hawk explains how and why:

Joe West is the best umpire in the game. He and I butted heads for 30 years...[In 2013], We were doing a game down in Texas and [Steve] Stone tells me that this is going to be the first day a couple months into the season that Joe's back, and I say, 'back, where's he been?' 'Well, he had throat cancer,' Steve said. I didn't know that. So after the game was over, I went down and knocked on the umpire's room. And one of the umpires was shocked when he opened the door and I was standing there. I said, 'Where's Joe?' Said, 'He's in the shower.' So I walked in, went back, and Joe was in the shower, soap all over his face. And finally rinsed his face off, looked at me and said, 'Hawk!' I said, 'Joe, let me tell you something right now.' I said, 'I don't mind arguing with you, I don't mind fighting ya. But the one thing I cannot have is you getting sick on me.' And he started laughing, and since that time, Joe and I have become good buddies.

Harrelson told CSN that he and West play golf together, and said he keeps a copy of West's country music CD (Blue Cowboy, available from cowboyjoewest.com) in his car.

Hawk's story and discussion on West, umpiring, and his passion for baseball begins at the 25-minute mark.

Truly Offseason - Joe West & the Caddyshack Yacht

In the spirit of the offseason, what do Joe West, Caddyshack, and Reel Deal Yachts have in common?

Apparently, not much anymore. According to UPI, November's World Series brought umpire Joe West and Caddyshack actor Bill Murray together, where West reportedly told Murray during Game 7 that he was purchasing the famous "Seafood" yacht from the movie.

Yet, here we are in January and the 1979 striker, real name "Big Dog," is still listed for sale on YachtWorld with the infamous sales pitch, "Being a Striker and built like a Tank, she can handle anything you throw at her! So if you are in the market for a fabulous rough water fishing boat with a bit of movie history thrown in, this is your boat! And at a great price as well! She needs some TLC but well worth the effort...."

Turns out, according to Striker Yacht Corp. CEO Edward Ennis, "it's a total piece of junk": The hull is damaged, the engine needs work, and there's mold afoot, which is slightly more significant than Rodney Dangerfield-as-Al Czervik's silver screen exclamation, "you scratched my anchor."

The January update in regards to the Big Dog/Caddyshack yacht situation suggests that the vessel's state of disrepair following years of service as a Dominican Republic fishing boat may have been enough to keep it on the market, where Reel Deal Yachts lists it for $129,000.

Top 20 Ejections of 2016 - UEFL Year in Review

Presenting baseball's best ejections, this is the UEFL's Top 20 Ejections of 2016, a year in review. With assistance from voter input gathered during the 2016 year-end Awards Nomination process, we present the Top 20 Ejections of 2016.

*Quality of Correctness is provided in the following format: Y=Correct, N=Incorrect, U=Irrecusable.

Umpire Ejection Fantasy League Year in Review: The UEFL's Top 20 Ejections of 2016
Note: Click each umpire's name & ejection # to be taken to the associated ejection report from the season.
20: E-107|108: Mark Wegner (1-2); A's 1B Yonder Alonso & Mgr Bob Melvin (K3 Call; QOC = Y).
19: E-067: Tripp Gibson (1); Cubs Manager Joe Maddon (Check Swing Ball Four; QOC = N).
18: E-055: Dale Scott (6); Angels 3B Yunel Escobar (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).
17: E-088|089: Ben May (2-3); Pirates' Branson & Mgr Clint Hurdle (Strike One Call; QOC = Y).
16: E-127: Alan Porter (3); Astros 2B Jose Altuve (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).
15: E-010: Sean Barber (1); Padres LF Melvin Upton Jr (Strike Two Call; QOC = Y).
14: E-141: Mike Winters (3); Nationals RF Bryce Harper (Strike Three Call; QOC = Y).
13: E-023: Chris Guccione (1); Yankees Manager Joe Girardi (Balk No-Call; QOC = Y).
12: E-079: Mike Everitt (1); Braves Interim Manager Brian Snitker (Replay Review; QOC = Y-C).
11: E-024: Cory Blaser (1); Braves C AJ Pierzynski (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).
10: E-087: Hunter Wendelstedt (2); Braves LF Jeff Francoeur (Replay Review; QOC = Y).
#9: E-062|063: Adam Hamari (1-2); Mets P Syndergaard, Mgr Collins (Throwing At; QOC = U).
#8: E-049: Doug Eddings (1); Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).
#7: E-199: Jeff Kellogg (5); Mets Manager Terry Collins (Replay Review; QOC = Y).
#6: E-090: Bill Miller (2); Padres Manager Andy Green (Runner's Lane Interference NC; QOC = N-C).
#5: E-042-47: Scott & Iassogna; Blue Jays and Rangers (Fighting, Throwing At; QOC = U).
#4: E-139: Scott Barry (3); Red Sox 3B Coach Brian Butterfield (Ball Two Call; QOC = Y).
#3: E-032: Brian Knight (1); Nationals RF Bryce Harper (Strike Three Call; QOC = Y).
#2: E-142-145: Mike Everitt (3-6); Tigers' Martinez x2, Joyner, Ausmus (Strike Calls; QOC = Y & N).
HONORARY: Unofficial: Bob Davidson; Philly spectator (Vulgar/Obscene Conduct; QOC = U).
#1: E-159: Joe West (5); Cubs Manager Joe Maddon (Stalling/Pace of Play Enforcement; QOC = U).

Total Correct: 10.5 / Total Incorrect: 6.5 / Total Irrecusable: 3 = 61.8% Accuracy (Compare to 66.7% in 2015).

Links to previous year's Top Ejections countdowns: 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012.

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