This is Jeff Nelson (45)'s third ejection of 2012.
Jeff Nelson now has -2 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has 0 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 0).
UEFL Standings Update
This is the 115th ejection of 2012.
This is the 47th player ejection of 2012.
This is the Cubs' 4th ejection of 2012, T-2nd in the NL Central (MIL 5; CHC, HOU, PIT 4; STL 3; CIN 2).
This is Steve Clevenger's first career ejection.
This is Jeff Nelson's first ejection since June 14 (Alex Rios; QOC = Incorrect).
Wrap: Reds at Cubs, 8/9/12
Video: Clevenger takes a called strike followed by a called ball, provides commentary and is ejected (UEFL)
Video: After questioning Nelson's strike zone & consistency, Clevenger receives the heave-ho
Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball
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| Because Clevenger was ejected during the middle of his at-bat, the above plot lists Castillo as the batter. Castillo entered the contest to complete this at-bat, striking out after facing three Leake pitches. |
42 comments :
Don't blame him...........those pitches were both outside. Usually Nelson is better than that.
Clevenger fact check: Those pitches were not in "the same g'damn spot." One was far outside (the ball); the other, yes, was also out (the strike), but not as egregiously outside as the ball.
Props to the Wrigley field organist for playing "We can work it out" during the ejection. That's how to be MLB-level, not by playing three blind mice.
Anon 8:44 I agree with you about the organist.
But, your "fact check" is irrelevant. It does not matter if they were in the same spot. They were out of the strike zone.
Players and managers at all levels love to use the "same spot" argument. I have never once seen two pitches in the same at-bat end up in the exact same spot. I'd be surprised if two pitches in the whole game ended up in the exact same spot.
Doesn't change that these pitches in particular were all well outside, though.
Bad Calls, easy ejection
Clevenger: "That was the same god damn spot! The same goddamn spot!"
Organst: "We can work it out! We can work it out!"
Jeff Nelson: "No we can't, you're gone!"
Challenge.
Jeff doesn't miss any pitch's. The batter got ejected after a correct ball call.
@Big Marc: Are you saying the second pitch, the one that was called a strike, wasn't outside?
This challenge has been summarily denied. Because the second pitch of the at-bat was incorrectly ruled a strike, it is eligible for QOC consideration, regardless of its timing in relation to the third pitch ball call. The Original Ruling has been affirmed as "Incorrect."
Relevant UEFL Rules
6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): "pitches with an absolute px value greater than 0.935 may be deemed a ball."
6-5-c: "Quality of Correctness only applies to ... any pitch called during that at bat."
All around Jeff is a good umpire- but he has had some tough times behind the plate this year- Red Sox at Rays- Red Sox and Royals just inconsistent strike zones- calling a pitch 3 inches of the plate a ball and the next pitch calling it a strike
Why does he always seem to be switching crews he went from Tschida's crew to a crew with Reynolds, DiMuro and Hoye and know in the windy city he is with Porter, Kulpa and Wolf
Jeff is switching crews due to be named "acting crew chief" while the regular crew chief is on vacation. Great umpire, and leader!
Fine ump and easy ejection.
I know that nobody pays to see the umpires, but what is it going to take to get players to understand you can't argue balls and strikes. I think the league needs to levy a 5-figure fine any time a player stops play to create a scene over balls and strikes.
Think of it like this, what if we start ejecting pitchers who toss a couple of bad pitches in a row; or toss a guy who gets rung up looking too many times. Wouldn't that be fair? Oh, wait, they're human. We can't do that--yet we can back out of the box and yell at an ump for a missed ball or strike? Grow up!!!
@ anon 9:00 - you're logic is flawed.
There are mechanisms that allow coaches to go out and correct pitchers who are struggling. Batters can go back and watch video or talk to the hitting coach. If nothing changes and they still struggle, they get reprimanded and maybe even sent to the minors. If you want to pull the umpires into a comparison, then do it. If an umpire continually misses calls after further instruction, etc., then reprimand them and send them down. I'm not talking about bang, bang plays, close strikes, etc. I'm talking about repeated clear errors. We hear that there are checks and balances in place for these umpires, but it is not transparent enough. We hear about a few here and there. But you can't argue balls and strikes, can't protest judgment calls, umpires conveniently "not available for comment" after a controversial call, etc. I'm sure I just woke up the umpire apologists, but say what you want, that's the way it is.
To stay on point with this EJ, the strike call was awful. Does the ump deserve to go down to the minors? Probably not. Should he let the opposing batter (who has also been catching for 5 innings) tell him he is not being consistent? YES! Anybody who says otherwise needs to get their pride under control.
Before the grammar police get me: I meant "your" not, "you're."
"Clevenger fact check: Those pitches were not in "the same g'damn spot." One was far outside (the ball); the other, yes, was also out (the strike), but not as egregiously outside as the ball.
Props to the Wrigley field organist for playing "We can work it out" during the ejection. That's how to be MLB-level, not by playing three blind mice. "
Actually 3 blind mice was played at the minor league level, and admittedly I got a chuckle out of it. That shit does not bother me, I am not sure why. Yet I get irritated over other petty shit. Go figure.
And Clevenger was wrong about the location, but man, for THAT AT-BAT it looked like a junior league strike zone. However, it is difficult to determine based on that stupid pitch tracker. Maybe I am the only one who gets driven nuts by that, but isn't it based on where the ball is caught? And all 3 of those pitches tailed to the right. Might not have been that far off....But everyone has off nights and no one is perfect. As Lenny said in a the Grimey episode, "That's why pencils have erasers."
"Before the grammar police get me: I meant "your" not, "you're." "
I'm a professional writer and certified ELA teacher and it did not bother me. This ain't English class, and is a rather embiggened cromulent discussion.
In professional baseball you never want to tell a player how to do their job as an umpire BUT there is a way to communicate as a player. Clevenger yelling at the umpire is not the way to do that. If the crowd mic pics up what you're saying you're not being respectful AND you're disputing balls and strikes. EASY ej.
On the other hand you can do both and nobody in the park knows what you're saying he'd have still been in the game. There was a time when a batter would NEVER turn his head around to talk to an umpire but rather look down or towards the pitcher. Pretty simple from a professional perspective to not let this go on. Good to see there are still some MLB umpires with a backbone after watching Naurt and Welke the past few days.
@ DDFD 9:54,
I don't think you qualify as the "grammar police" since your reply contained an error in the first sentence.
Mad props on "embiggened," though! :-)
As far as this ejection, it just confused me. I agree with Clevenger about the inconsistency, but was it possible he was barking about other calls throughout the game (I didn't watch the game)? It just seems odd to start chirping after the "ball" call rather than the pretty bad "strike" call...
Just out of curiosity, I'd like to know what are some opinions as to the umps that might be in for a big finish ejection-wise? I'd have to say that my nominees would be Tichenor, West, Wendelstedt, and Knight.
Also, of the umps that are ejection-less to this point, which is the most surprising? Hernandez, Kulpa, Guccione, Layne, Estabrook, Rapuano, Cuzzi or someone else?
To answer your questions umpsrule, I agree with you on West. I think he will have at least 2-3 more ejections this season. There are playoff chases coming up and coaches and players will start to get more fired up and say the wrong things and Joe West will have none of it.
As for your second question, I am most surprised about Guccione and Fletcher. Gooch usually wil only have about 2-3 ejections per year but can usually get pretty riled up during those arguments. I am surprised about Fletcher because he usually has around 4 ejections per season and he is on West's crew.
I will add a third question of my own. Who has more ejctions than you thought they would? My answer to that is Tschida with 4 and Gorman with 2. Those 2 surprise me the most.
Can anyone tell me which umpires are coming back from injury. i.e Rapuano, Dreckman, Miller. etc.
Where is Hunter Wendelstedt? Tom Hallion? Kerwin Danely, all the regulars are gone. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are all probably using up there 6 weeks of vacation! They will all be back in september I hope.
Danley and Wendlestedt have been out for several weeks. Hallion worked last week so this is likely a vacation week.
"You can't argue balls and strikes." Uh, yes you can. We just happen to officiate the sport where we can instantly toss you for saying I have a poor strike zone :( "You're being mean, my feelings are hurt, you're outta here!" No other sport is there this little replay, and this much authority to control the game. Not just the pace or behavior, but the outcome. Get with it baseball.
You people defending poor umpiring make me feel really good about the quality of umping you're doing out there.
@Anon 6:34: You've got the strangest definition of "defending" that I have ever seen in my life. Attempting to explain why an umpire makes the calls he makes and trying to figure out why he missed them is not "defending". Attempting to explain whether or not the player's actions were worthy of an ejection is not "defending".
And regarding arguing, the rule book allows the umpire to eject any player, manager, or coach for arguing a judgement call of any sort. So yes, you can argue balls and strikes. Until you're told not to. Then you can't.
And how is baseball the only sport where the officials have the authority to control the outcome of the game? Have you never watched another sport?
@ Russ
I must agree with you about Gorman and Tschida. I might also add Laz Diaz (2), Dale Scott (3), Gary Darling (5) and maybe Dan Iassogna (4).
Speaking of Dale Scott, he has left the Arizona-Washington game.
King Felix is not liking Mike Everett strikezone, it is so small!!!!!!!!!
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120810&content_id=36488244&vkey=news_was&c_id=was
CCS Dale Scott's injury, wow like getting punched by mike tyson said nats announcers.
First you got miller hit in the face in oakland, now cc scott in Arizona, this crew is losing experience fast!!!!
It's now a three man crew, CB is now CC i think, iasonga at 1st Dj rookie at 3rd, possible ejections. 2nd base no umpire, they will rotate accordingly. Wasn't there a game cupile years ago that two umps left the same game in toronto. Was it crawford and Hallion?
My initial impression was that Jeff Nelson should grow a pair and develop some thicker skin. However, my opinion changed after reading tmac's comment. If Cavenger had left out the words "god damn," he likely could have argued his point and stayed in the game. Taking it easy on the profanity would have gone a long way here. I'm not saying Cavenger shouldn't have complained, but cursing the man over missing one god d*** pitch is overkill.
CB Bucknor is now the Crew Chief? That is a scary thought
So curt 1st has the impression that Jeff should grow a pair and get thicker skin, but quickly changes his mind after reading tmac's post. You do understand that Jeff's actions never changed during your thought process? I think that really speaks volumes as to how you form your sometimes interesting opinions. On your own you were unable to place yourself in similar shoes, you were unable to have insight into the situation at hand. It was anothers opinion that gave you, your own. No originality, combined with mirroring others opinions are not useful when your trying to analize umpires.
i don't have a problem w/him arguing b/c based on what i saw, but you gotta leave the cursing out when talking about a call,
i know it's been a long season for the cubs, but i'm sure that'll get you tossed pretty quick,
I haven't posted a comment on this post yet, but watching BAPACop 'defend his defending' is hilarious.
@Anon 11:03: Do you anons even bother to read the comments, or do you just latch onto the last few? Find me one post on this page where I am defending the call.
These calls make me very sad. In the major leagues alone he has easily seen over 120,000 pitches (rough math giving him the benefit of the doubt-could be closer to 150k). He teaches future umpires too-apparently teaching them if it hits the spot the catcher sets up 6 inches off the plate it's a strike!
Anon 12:34, you are stupid. What it means is that I had one impression initially, that I read the comments as I usually do, and, upon reflection, changed my initial assessment. To reconsider one's position is probably a foreign concept to you (single A, right? Or just a wannabe that never was?). But here in the real world, it is both common and a good thing.
Oh and if you don't like my comments or don't find them useful, don't read them douchebag.
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