1B Umpire Laz Diaz ejected Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez for arguing a out call in
the top of the 9th inning of the Braves-Marlins game.
With none out and two on, Braves batter Jason Heyward grounded into a double play, Marlins second
baseman Emilio Bonifacio to shortstop Jose Reyes to first baseman Carlos
Lee. Braves R2 Michael Bourn to 3rd. R1 Martin Prado out at 2nd. Replays indicate that Heyward successfully touched first base prior to Carlos Lee catching the ball on first base, the call was incorrect. At
the time of the
ejection, the Marlins were leading, 2-0. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 2-1.
This is Laz Diaz (63)'s second ejection of 2012.
Laz Diaz now has -4 points in the UEFL (-2 Previous + 2 MLB + -4
Incorrect Call = -4).
Crew Chief Tim Welke now has 0 points in the UEFL's Crew division (0 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 0).
UEFL Standings Update
This is the 95th ejection of 2012.
This is the 48th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is Fredi Gonzalez's second ejection of 2012, and his first since May 7th (Chris Conroy; QOC = Irrecusable).
This is Laz Diaz's first ejection since May 17th (Bob Melvin; QOC = Incorrect).
This is the Atlanta Braves' fourth ejection of 2012.
Wrap: Braves at Marlins 7/23/12
Video: Heyward called out on the back end of a double play; Gonzalez and Diaz argue vehemently before Gonzalez is tossed
Video: Animated Laz Diaz ejects Animated Fredi Gonzalez
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29 comments :
Instant replay needed badly. Horrible call.
How do you miss that call??!!
He just did. If it wee easy anybody could be a MLB umpire... What a bunch of armchair officials posting comments!
"How do you miss that call?"
Why? Because Laz Diaz, as much as I think he is in the lower half of umpiring when it comes to ability, is a human being. This play is VERY close. Not as close (a "tie") as the Greinke play last week was, but damn close.
"Instant replay needed badly. Horrible call. "
Introducing instant replay for calls like this would lead to a myriad of dubious endeavors. I agree instant replay is needed, but what comes next - instant replay for balls and strikes?
Dang, every ejection since Gorman (90) has been "incorrect" including the irrescuable. Rough string of calls for umps the past few days?
close play wrong call... he seemed really far away or is it me.... hard to gauge the sound from that far
Tough call on a close play. A pretty heated argument, and manager is booted. The only thing really wrong with this is Laz Diaz looks pretty hot, with all the pointing and gesturing...but I guess it's hard to keep your cool in these late-game tight situations.
Braves announcers kept going back to positioning by Diaz (edge of outfield )...which really had nothing to do with it .. Pretty obvious miss and possibly Diaz had pre-determined call .. I know a lot of umpires that would take pride in getting an out there too
This is the best arguement in a while. Who would of thought it would of been from Laz Diaz. There havent been to many entertaining ejections this year. These kind of calls are missed daily from little league all the way up to the bigs. Its not as easy as it looks.
Reminds me of a close play I had at first yesterday, although mine was a third out of an inning with nobody on. I'm still convinced I got mine correct, but every ump is sure they had the correct call at the time. Who knows what replay would have shown me. As for anyone (Anon 7:17, Anon 7:32) who calls this a "horrible" call, or can't understand how this was missed, has never umped a game in real time. FYI guys, it is easier to see who got there first when it is slowed way down, and you get multiple looks at it. In real time, with one shot, things happen, that's how the world works.
I have umpired some Minor Baseball and have enjoyed (for the most part) reading the discussions on here. I wanted to ask the real umpires (no armchairs please) if an umpire is being evaluated and got into it with Gonzalez like this, would he be reprimanded? I have more experience reffing hockey than umpiring, but we are told to not engage coaches losing their minds like that, and then we chuck them usually without much discussion at all. I understand umpiring it doesn't work this way, but is Diaz's demeanor acceptable?
Thanks for the comments on here.
Thought he was a little further from the play than he probably would have liked. Not an easy call, but he kicked it, and let Fredi know that he thought he had a better view from where he was standing, and was adamant about it; but same thing with all previous ejections from Laz this year; adamant, but wrong.
@Eric, it depends on the umpire. Nothing's going to happen to Diaz in this situation.
I agree that Laz is probably too far away. This play started with a runner on first, wouldn't he have started much closer to the bag, to guard against the pickoff? I don't understand how he got that far back.
Last week I saw another play where he did this. He was on third, and a runner on second stole. Laz seemed like he got to the play really late, partly because he didn't seem to read the play and partly because he was a long way back. It made the call look more questionable than it should have been.
I just want to say, that Paul Emmel did a great job sunday night yes he miss a couple of calls for Haren, but he could've thrown out Mike Scoisca and Tori hunter. Good Job to keeping your cool, a guy known for a quick hook, fact!! Kept his cool, on national t.v. Tori did show him up though, Emmel was annoyed. Emmel above average umpire, i love is stance, very different.
we didn't get baker ejecting crawford???????????
Im still waiting on You Bruce Dreckman, where are you good umpire. Get well soon its been forever.
In real time, my reaction was "safe, not even close", but in slo-mo, it looked REALLY close. From my comfy armchair, I would like to add to the chorus of posters who are questioning Diaz's distance from the play. If an umpiring school student took this position during an angle-distance drill, the instructors would make him "step it off" so he would realize how far he was from the play.
Hey, anyone else notice Estabrook gently encouraging Heyward to go back to the dugout?
Laz is starting to get a bad reputation. Or maybe he already had one and its getting worse. But, If you go back to the incident with Russel Martin earlier this year its staring to look like Laz is letting his Big League status get to his head. Could also be the fact he reminds me of my old Drill Sargent and so I can't possibly have a good opinion of him.
There are two things about the rest of the crew I notice, one bad and one good. During the argument, Mike Estabrook was the one who broke up the argumentand got Jason Heyward and Terry Pendleton away from Diaz. Good job by Estabrook in keeping order. However, HORRIBLE JOB by Tim Welke and Paul Schreiber maintaining order. Especially Welke, he is the frrickin' Crew Chief and he lets Estabrook a Triple A Call-Up do his dirty work. It is really pathetic on him and Schreiber's part that neither had the decency to help Diaz out. I like Tim Welke a lot, but he has had some really lazy moments this year and it would not surprise if he missed the Playoffs this season. On the ohter hand, Good job Mike Estabrook. You noticed your cremmates were not going to help Laz out so you took the liberty to do so. These are not things the average person notices or cares about, but I can gurantee you evaluators pay attention to these things.
he is a former marine and says taking crap off his drill sgt has given him thick skin for umpiring. i think it has also given him an attitude that wants to retaliate on others because he couldn't back then. you're not suppose to now either laz, wait yes you can, because your not held accountable like you were as a marine. we are getting closer to holding them accountable but he came in when there was no accountability.
Laz Diaz might not eject often, but he does seem to have a knack for getting animated during arguments.
"I have umpired some Minor Baseball and have enjoyed (for the most part) reading the discussions on here. I wanted to ask the real umpires (no armchairs please) if an umpire is being evaluated and got into it with Gonzalez like this, would he be reprimanded? I have more experience reffing hockey than umpiring, but we are told to not engage coaches losing their minds like that, and then we chuck them usually without much discussion at all. I understand umpiring it doesn't work this way, but is Diaz's demeanor acceptable? "
I'd imagine that one gets more of a long leash in MLB. If I did this at the level I umpire, I would be accosted by my peers (and rightfully so). Of course, there is not millions of dollars riding on the games I officiate - baseball OR soccer!
Laz has had one tough start to the series- totally blown call on play at plate Tuesday (today) as well- Ozzie came out but not for long
"Don't tell me where I need to be!" -Laz Diaz
It's pretty clear that Fredi thought Laz was too far away, and he let Laz know about it.
Russ, my apologies for calling you out here, as that is not my intention, but it seems that weekly someone is complaining about crew chiefs or other umpires not jumping in the middle of an argument. The reason they don't is because it is not necessary, and is more likely to escalate a confrontation than "restore order."
There was no need to "get Heyward and Pendleton away from Diaz.". In the beginning of the video, you can see Pendleton in the background. He is one step away from the gravel and no where near Diaz. He isn't even looking at Diaz. Heyward said a couple of words, but walked up and stood directly behind Gonzalez to do it. He didn't lunge or try to get to Diaz. He just stood behind Gonzalez and said what he had to say. Pendleton walked up to get him back, presumably to keep him from saying something to get himself ejected. Heyward backed up at Pendleton's urging.
Neither Estabrook's presence nor his intervention was necessary. The Crew-Chief-as-beer-joint-bouncer mentality is dangerous. Welke and Schrieber got it right.
On another note, Laz Diaz needs to find somewhere other than the manager's face to stick his finger during these arguments. He isn't the only one who does this, but it is not a smart thing to do.
It is only a matter of time before one of these guys, in the heat of the moment, inadvertently strikes a manager's face. When it happens, it will not be pretty if the manager instinctively responds by exercising his God-given, natural, and legally authorized right to use reasonable force to repel a harmful or offensive touching to his person.
To avoid this risk, is it too much to ask umpires like Laz Diaz to get some control over their emotions and keep their fingers in their pockets?
@ Curt Crowley
When was the last time an umpire used his "God-given, natural, and legally authorized right to use reasonable force to repel a harmful or offensive touching to his person?" I understand your point, and pointing in someone's face is not a good idea anyway, but it works both ways.
UmpsRule, I used that lofty phrase kind of tongue in cheek, because it sounded more polite than saying "when a manager slaps the s--- out of him."
Frankly, it would be a bad day if either party was in that position. One would think that the pallone-rose incident would have ended the practice.
Agree with you that it works both ways. If a manager or player jabs an umpire in the face with his finger, then the umpire should use some force to stop it. No one should have to stand there and get assaulted.
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