2015 UEFL Appeals Board Election

Welcome to the 2015 UEFL Appeals Board election. Pursuant to UEFL Rule 6-4-a, the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League has established an Appeals Board that shall routinely rule on issues of Quality of Correctness. Comprised of a roster of nine voting members, including both Commissioners and seven at-large volunteers, a pre-season nomination and election process has been established to complete this year's Board.

Listed in random order, the following two UEFL'ers have been nominated for and are seeking election to the 2015 UEFL Appeals Board. Voting closes at 11:59 PM PDT on Friday, March 27, 2015 (voting is now closed). Candidate statements are available on Page 7 of the March 2015 issue of The Left Field Corner:

MLB Ejection S-3: Ben May (S1; Alex Claudio)

HP Umpire Ben May ejected Rangers pitcher Alex Claudio for throwing at Mariners batter Jesus Sucre in the top of the 7th inning of the Mariners-Rangers game. With none out and none on, Sucre took a first-pitch fastball from Claudio for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside (pitch f/x unavailable) and was the third hit batsman of the game, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Mariners were leading, 3-2. The contest ultimately ended in a 4-4 tie.

This is Ben May (97)'s first ejection of 2015.
Ben May now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 0 [Spring Training Ejection] = 0).
Crew Chief Jordan Baker now has 0 points in Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 Spring Training = 0).

This is the 3rd ejection of the 2015 MLB Spring Training Preseason.
This is the 2nd player ejection of Spring Training. Prior to ejection, Claudio's line was 0.0IP, HBP.
This is the Mariners' 1st ejection of the preseason, 1st in the Cactus League (SEA 1, Others 0).
This is Alex Claudio's first career MLB ejection.
This is Ben May's first ejection since August 28, 2014 (Chris Coghlan; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Seattle Mariners vs. Texas Rangers (Cactus League Spring Training), 3/20/15
Video: After drilling Sucre, Claudio is tossed for intentionally throwing at a batter (N/A)

Off Bereavement, Sam Holbrook Returns to the Field

Veteran MLB umpire Sam Holbrook returned from the bereavement list to officiate his first Spring Training game since 2013 following the February 10, 2014 death of his wife, Laura "Susie" Glass. Susie, who was diagnosed with cancer during the 2010 preseason, was 47 years old. Holbrook returned to the field during Friday's Phillies-Pirates Grapefruit League game as a field umpire (starting at third base).

Holbrook has been assigned to chief John Hirschbeck's crew for the 2015 regular season (link: 2015 crew list). Like Holbrook, Hirschbeck is returning from the bereavement list this season, having suffered the loss of his son Michael in April 2014.

MLB Ejection S-2: Joe West (S1; AJ Pierzynski)

HP Umpire Joe West ejected Braves catcher AJ Pierzynski for arguing a ball three call in the top of the 6th inning of the Yankees-Braves game. With none out and two on, Yankees batter Brian McCann took a 2-0 fastball from Braves pitcher Arodys Vizcaino for a called third ball. It was the 11th consecutive ball of the inning. Replays indicate the pitch was located near the lower bound of the strike zone (pitch f/x unavailable), the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 7-3. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 12-5.

This is Joe West (22)'s first ejection of 2015.
Joe West now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 0 [Spring Training Ejection] = 0).
Crew Chief Joe West now has 0 points in Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 Spring Training = 0).

This is the 2nd ejection of the 2015 MLB Spring Training Preseason.
This is the 1st player ejection of Spring Training. Prior to ejection, Pierzynski was 1-2 in the contest.
This is the Braves' 2nd ejection of the preseason, 1st in the Grapefruit League (ATL 2, Others 0).
This is A.J. Pierzynski's first ejection since June 4, 2014 (Quinn Wolcott; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Joe West's first ejection since September 14, 2014 (Jonathan Papelbon; QOC = U [lewdness]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves (Grapefruit Spring Training), 3/18/15
Video: West tosses Pierzynski, explaining to Fredi, "we need a new catcher; he's done" (ATL)