How bout that Shane Victorino EJ????

[prumpire]

This was pretty crazy

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6022815

I have never seen anything like this. Tell me what you guys think about it.

[Umpire in Chief]

I heard about this but this is the first I've seen the video. There is probably more to the story. But your damn right if you're trying to argue balls and strikes from the outfield you're gone. You think you can see a pitch from 200+ feet away better than me behind the plate, yeah right.

In my judgement Howard's K3 looked like it was over the center of the plate at the knees maybe a bit low b/c Howard is a big guy, but not an egregious call and a call as umpires we're going to get. Helms's Ball looked inside without a doubt.

But another sub story here is how ignorant and umpire hating the announcers here are here and I realize the feed is from the Phillies broadcast.

[LMSANS]

I heard about this but this is the first I've seen the video. There is probably more to the story. But your damn right if you're trying to argue balls and strikes from the outfield you're gone. You think you can see a pitch from 200+ feet away better than me behind the plate, yeah right.

In my judgement Howard's K3 looked like it was over the center of the plate at the knees maybe a bit low b/c Howard is a big guy, but not an egregious call and a call as umpires we're going to get. Helms's Ball looked inside without a doubt.

But another sub story here is how ignorant and umpire hating the announcers here are here and I realize the feed is from the Phillies broadcast.

Umpires are a necessary addition to the game. Nobody wants them there, but they haven't come up with a better alternative yet. When they do, we will become history. I don't think it will happen for a long, long time.

And I agree, there is something else to this story, maybe Paul Harvey will get "the rest of the story."

[Umpire in Chief]

Were there any issues with Victorino's earlier ABs?

[BrianC14]

Charlie Manuel didn't seem to have a problem with the ejection.

[Umpire in Chief]

And I agree, there is something else to this story, maybe Paul Harvey will get "the rest of the story."

Unfortunately we lost Paul Harvey sometime earlier this year...:WTF

[LMSANS]

Unfortunately we lost Paul Harvey sometime earlier this year...

Paul Harvey, Jr

[carolinablue]

later on he admitted he was wrong and said Ed was one of the best Umpires in the game FWIW.

Manuel called a team meeting after the game, I don't think he was too happy with Victorino or the entire team. One video I saw showed Rollins out there jumping around like a LL also. Like Brain said, Manuel didn't seem to mind the ejection too much although he tried not to portray that.

[catoblue]

In my judgement Howard's K3 looked like it was over the center of the plate at the knees maybe a bit low b/c Howard is a big guy, but not an egregious call and a call as umpires we're going to get. Helms's Ball looked inside without a doubt.

I saw the same thing witht he locations on the two different pitches - and agree, if a player is going to argue balls and strikes from the outfield - he's gone.

[JnLeClair10]

I watched the entire game on the Phillies feed......the zone floated all day. It was hot, really humid and that had to be part of the EJ.

My opinion on both pitches is that they both were balls. The Howard pitch was low.

[markdewdney]

I had the same thing happen in a HS game this year, and you expect that out of high-schoolers - not out of MLBers, even as fiery as Victorino is (he's one of my favourites, and I'm not even a Phillies fan)

However, ejecting a CF IS a little bit of a stretch; I don't know about you guys, but I'm generally not aware of what the CF is doing, and am man enough (not questioning ANYONE ELSE's manhood AT ALL - just asserting my own) to ignore it until he comes up to bat.

"My" kid did the same thing, except he added "WHAT THE F***?!?" at the top of his lungs.

I cocked my head around the batter, letting him know, "I'm watching you, pardner".

Nothing further until he came up to bat, (at which point I was busy reminding myself, "NO F.U. CALLS")

He got a borderline pitch (it's a dream if he gets it in the same location as he whined about), so I LOUDLY called the strike, then let him know, while facing forward, "Both pitches get the same call, son. Jump around in center field again and you'll be doing it from the clubhouse."

The word got around to the league - one of the senior players told me he'd heard all about it - so I think that's a much better way to handle it.

Again, though, I've been p*ssed off, tired, hot and cranky and fired someone outta the field that might not have deserved it before. I AM Irish, after all.

...so I really can't blame Eddie Rap for that, wasn't there anyways, and shouldn't sit in judgement of another ump.

Just my .02 (Canadian, at that...)

[BrianC14]

Guys, arguing balls and strikes is a quick ticket to the showers, it doesn't matter where you are on the field.

If the centerfielder is jumping around and screaming, that's arguing balls & strikes, "Buh-bye."

Ordinarily, a manager will come out and protect his player - especially after an ejection. Manuel not only didn't do that, he barely peeped about it in the post-game press conference. Gee, I wonder why? Probably because he agreed with it.

Even Victorino apologized, for crying out loud! Who gives a rat's butt what the weatherwas like? Take off your Phillies goggles. This is an umpire's forum, not a place for fans to vent their spleen. :WTF

Edited August 12, 2009 by BrianC14

[Umpire in Chief]

The Howard pitch was low.

We all know it will be hard for any of us to tell with certainty exactly where the pitch was from TV. Possibly low, but especially for us at the amateur level (ie all of us) where we don't have the K-zone hovering over us, that's a pitch an umpire has to get. And the batter needs to be protecting his plate.

As for Victorino's antics, I'm not looking for it, but he's in center field-- I'm going to see that. If he's in left or right I probably don't see it.

I do think Victorino took the high road after the game and should be commended even if it was just to avoid further action from MLB.

[therefump]

But another sub story here is how ignorant and umpire hating the announcers here are here and I realize the feed is from the Phillies broadcast.

Being a Phillies fan for life I agree with the announcers in Philly. They are merciless on the umpires and about 80% of the time they are wrong. Must be something about Philly...........Tim He-who-shall-not-be-named is a former Phillies player and he knows the rules like I know how to officiate soccer............NOT.:WTF

[HokieUmp]

"My" kid did the same thing, except he added "WHAT THE F***?!?" at the top of his lungs.

I cocked my head around the batter, letting him know, "I'm watching you, pardner".

Nothing further until he came up to bat,...

Seriously? You let a HS player drop an F-bomb from out in centerfield "at the top of his lungs" .... and you, erm, stared sternly in his direction? Really?

Word may have gotten around at how you handled it, but could it have been more of the variety where it was said "wow, this guy'll let us get away with murder out there!"?

So, you're leaving to the rest of the umpires in your area to clean that up?

[BrianC14]

Seriously? You let a HS player drop an F-bomb from out in centerfield "at the top of his lungs" .... and you, erm, stared sternly in his direction? Really?

Word may have gotten around at how you handled it, but could it have been more of the variety where it was said "wow, this guy'll let us get away with murder out there!"?

So, you're leaving to the rest of the umpires in your area to clean that up?

Wouldn't want to hurt the poor darling's feelings now, would he?

:clap:

[HokieUmp]

Wouldn't want to hurt the poor darling's feelings now, would he?

Ahhhh, it's a teenager. They don't have feelings, do they??

[BrianC14]

Ahhhh, it's a teenager. They don't have feelings, do they??

Most parents would describe them as "their delicate little flower". If they only knew! :(

[mstaylor]

I had a 6ft8in wrestler cussing me one night. His Dad grabbed him to take out. As we hit the lobby the Mom was yelling not to mess with her son, he's just a child. The boy was in the 289 division or whatever that highest weight is. :(

[nolanadair]

I think that this call was deserved if Shane was showing up the umpire. I don't care where you are on the field, if you are showing up an umpire you are probably going to get tossed (I would probably warn the player, manager, coach the first unless it was a severe action towards the umpire). I believe that Shane said he was one of the best umpires in the game is because he did not want to face a possible fine or suspension (unlikely) for his actions towards the umpire.

I don't care if a player thinks I missed a call, but I am not going to have any body on the field showing me up or constantly arguing about the strike zone or any call I make.

[markdewdney]

Sorry, guys, not ducking your comments - I just hadn't logged in for awhile.

I appreciate the "don't leave the rest of us to clean up your mess" comment. That's absolutely true, I didn't think of that, and I'll take that into consideration down the road.

It's worth pointing out that I've got quite the rep already around the league, and was told to lay off last year; I'd had a game with eight EJs (pitcher/catcher/manager on both sides due to beanballs, then BR and 1b for mc) and had attracted a bit of a "Dirty Harry" rep.

That definately figured into it - I thought, "SH*#, if I throw out the CENTER FIELDER..."

So, comments appreciated. Since then, we have a new UIC and Commissioner anyways, so resume ejections. :banghead: