1B Umpire Ed Rapuano ejected Tigers Manager Jim Leyland for arguing an out call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Blue Jays-Tigers game. With none out and one on, Tigers batter Andy Dirks bunted a 1-0 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Jason Frasor for a sacrifice bunt, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Adam Lind. Rapuano initially indicated Dirks was safe, but after a brief consultation with HP Umpire Alfonso Marquez, Rapuano changed his call to out. Replays indicate Lind received the ball and tagged first base prior to Dirks' arrival, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 2-2. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 4-2.
This is Ed Rapuano (19)'s first ejection of 2011.
Ed Rapuano now has 4 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4)
Ed Rapuano is owned by BSBALLUMP, who is now in 1st place in the UEFL with 22 points.
Ed Rapuano is owned as a Secondary Umpire by whenindoubt55, who is now tied for 21st place in the UEFL with 5 points.
*This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.g.
This is the 90th ejection of 2011.
This is the 47th Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Jim Leyland's first ejection of 2011.
Wrap: TOR & DET 6/27/11 Wrap
Video: Leyland ejected for arguing an overturned call
Rapuano must have had a complete brain fart on this one. Leyland's antics, though, are hilarious.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what happened to Rapuano, but certainly some epic antics from Leyland! That was just great.
ReplyDeleteI would literally pay money to hear the conversation between Leyland and Rapuano.
ReplyDeleteI watched this without sound (the girlfriend is asleep) so I have no idea what the commentators said.
ReplyDeleteBut just from the visual, I see Rapuano making a very unsure call, Farrell asking for a completely justified appeal, two umpires getting it right, and Leyland making an utterly shameful display of himself. There is no way that call required that kind of time. I didn't watch the game, so perhaps he was complaining about other calls also, but a simple explanation here should have solved everything. As bad as Rapuano's initial call looked, Leyland looked ten times worse.
Can't wait to actually hear this one in the morning.
The commentators started laughing at Leyland by the end of it all. Even mentioned Rapuano might have had a Jim Joyce moment (it was in Detroit, after all). But mostly, the commentators thought Leyland was being completely ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI made out "I f***ed up" from Rapuano and "That's not my f***ing problem!" from Leyland. I wish they would turn up those on-field mics just a bit louder. That conversation had to have been priceless.
ReplyDeleteRapuano is a tool. At the end he has to be restrained like usual. Lucky he had two good umpires in Marquez and Bell to clean up his mess.
ReplyDeleteThat was Brian O'Nora who took charge, and got Leyland and Rapuano separated, not Wally Bell.
ReplyDeleteTotally unnecessary display by Leyland, especially in a situation where the umpire is admitting that he screwed up. But I do have to admit, it was pretty entertaining to watch. Jimmy must have wanted to get an early jump on the post game meal or something, cause it seemed like he wanted to get thrown out there.
Jimmy and Eddie. Both are great.
ReplyDeleteAnd whoever called Rapuano a tool go look at the Haller/Weaver video.
Eddie doesnt have many ejections, but (to steal a phrase from all announcers) "gets his moneys worth" as well.
Get em' Eddie
I could make out, "I don't give a flying f***", from Leyland, and "The whole f***ing stadium knows he was out", by Rapuano.
ReplyDeleteHow about the work by Brian O'Nora in ending that argument? It says something when the second in command to the crew chief has to stop the CC from arguing with the ejected manager. O'Nora has had a real solid season and is gunning for the next CC job that opens up
ReplyDeleteWow, Rapuano really did F-up. Some of the worse ho-hum mechanics of the worst rec league umpire you will ever see. The only part of that I like is where he got himself set to view the play. Other than that was the most relaxed and lazy movement out there. Total brain fart.
ReplyDeleteI would much rather have an umpire sell a call then some ho-hum, "i guess he's safe" type call.
Leyland was absolutely hilarious up to the point he got ejected. After that, I think the league needs to start sanctioning offenders for delaying games.
Frankly, the whole thing is a little disturbing.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a big miss from Rapuano, that is just doesn't make sense. The delay and the mechanics are not even close to what Ed does. This is more than just a loss of concentration...he almost seems surprised.
Whatever it was, he seemed to get over it fast enough to vehemently engage with Leyland.
@Anoymous 7:13am:
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on Brian O'Nora. I think he's become one of the great, up and coming umpires in the game. He seems to be solid in everything he does. Maybe he should have become crew chief instead of Rapuano, lol.
But there will be some more openings coming up, and I would hope O'Nora will be among those considered.
I seem to remember Jim Leyland wanting Jim Joyce to ask for help on a very similar play but with no perfect game and when they didn't change it he was just as pissed which is why Jim Leylang is GARBAGE
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty clear to me that Rap loses sight of the ball. he appears to looks to his left trying to find the ball then when he sees the 1st baseman has the ball he signals the 1st baseman was off the bag.... This is actually a very intelligent mechanic. If he rules off the bag then gets help they can change the call. It would be unprecedented to reverse a simple out/safe at first base (this excludes swipe tags)... Rap is quick on his feet in signaling off the bag.... Why he lost the ball is simple, he's staring through the first baseman. Mistakes happen. Take a look at Rap's ball strike charts and you will realize he is a very good umpire... But then again all of you guys wish you could make mistakes like he does.
ReplyDeleteRemember guys n gals when umpires make mistakes like this there is usually a reason behind it.
Gotta love the stepping in by O'Nora. He and Larry Vanover are two guys that I have noticed that may be next on tap for a cc. Is Bill Hohn coming back next year?
ReplyDeleteThe REAL reason Eddie dumped Leyland was because Leyland signalled the out with his thumb extended...Never with the thumb, always with the fist.
ReplyDeleteFirst post ever here. As an ump, I love the site. Here's my take: Why is it that guys are allowed in MLB to act like complete idiots, delay the game, stick around after they've been ejected, and generally be jerks with little or no consequences other than the ejection? One thing we can be absolutely certain of--if the situation had been reversed, Leyland would be crying, "Get help; get the call right!" And he would have been outraged if the obviously terrible call had not been reversed.
ReplyDeleteRapuano: The whole f***ing stadium knows he was out.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Ed, cause you didn't know that two minutes ago.
Ah, Ed. If you're going to go bill to bill with a manager, you might want to use your base cap when you can. Just an idea.
ReplyDeletetmac - someone on here finally nailed it. If you actually know what you're looking at here, and clearly most of you don't, you realize that Ed has the quick wit to realize "I think I kicked the $#!t out of this one" and signal off the bag since he can get help on an off the bag call, but not a simple safe/out call (and if you don't understand that part of it then that's not my problem). We've all kicked the $#!t out of something that, on video, and even our partner's head, there is no way we should have missed it. Credit goes to Ed here for thinking on his feet to at least have the option to get the crew together and get the play right. That's why he does what he does, and we sit here reading about it and criticizing something we know very little about, compared to him, on UEFL.
ReplyDelete@tmac GREAT job pointing out what Ed did. thanks.
ReplyDelete@ Anons Thanks Just trying to help out whenever i can.
ReplyDeleteAlso here's a great call made by Rap.... NOt sure where to post it. YOU may need to watch it a few times to see the flinch.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16617855
@tmac - At the risk of a 'me too' moment, I agree with your assessment on the outcome and how it got there.
ReplyDeleteHowever, from the angle, and Rapuano's positioning (which, I agree was not only spot on, but how he got there should be included in every amateur umpire training manual) it looks like he did have a clear visual shot at the ball and just kicked it.
That extra pause during the 'no call' portion prior to the initial 'safe' call was him clearly mentally processing how to get out of the situation with as little damage as possible. I don't know that I would have had the panache to have done it that way necessarily, but then again, I don't do pro ball for a living, either.
I'm wondering, though, if making the off-the-bag call, getting it argued and then going for help vs. just going for help was that much of difference. In principle (and if I recall correctly from the PBUC manual) 'going for help' in anything but a clearly missed situation is definitely not the desired or appropriate approach, I'm wondering if this was 'missed enough' to make going for help immediately viable.
Probably not, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.
I also agree on the balk call - brilliant. I hadn't been Rapuano fan, particularly, in the past. I'm becoming one now.
@ Dave D: Excellent points... But umpires are not supposed to change no swipe tag judgement calls at first. It is not a precedent that is needed or wanted to be changed. It would lead to chaeos. The only way he could logically get the call changed was to signal the pulled foot. He was going to get this call argued with any kind of safe call. b/c well he was out by a full step!
ReplyDelete