2013 UEFL Awards: Most Improved Umpire: CB Bucknor

2013 UEFL Awards: Most Improved Umpire of the Year: CB Bucknor (54)
Voting Results (min. 10%): Bucknor (15%), Bob Davidson (14%), Brian Knight (10%).

CB Bucknor is the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League's 2013 most improved umpire of the year. In his 15th Major League Baseball umpiring season, Bucknor finished 2013 with four ejections; Bucknor ejected two times in 2012. For CB, the road to a strong season started early in Cincinnati when he employed proper mechanics and patience to properly rule Angels runner Albert Pujols at home plate. Bucknor also had the first ejection of 2013: Irrecusable Ejection 001 for a repeat visit argument (4/6). After his Ejection 035 (5/19), UEFL'ers commented on CB's trend of consistent and calm patience in seeing the play and executing the ejection, BT_Blue stating, "CB Bucknor... cool as the other side of the pillow!" In June, Hall of Fame Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully praised Bucknor after a tough appeal call at second base, noting: "A very, very good call by CB Bucknor, the umpire at second base. They always get boo'd at, but boy that was a great call by the umpire to spot [a failure to retouch second base]." For his efforts, Bucknor was awarded the 2013 American League Division Series, his first playoff assignment since 2009.

CB Bucknor now has 15 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (14 Previous + 1 Award = 15).
The next postseason award, Fill-In of the Year, will be released tomorrow.