Non-Roster AAA Umps Get Call in Final Days of Spring

Several non-roster AAA umpires joined Spring Training as the annual MLB March tune-up entered its final week.

Then-AA Umpire Max Guyll ejects Bryce
Harper during a 2011 Eastern League game.

For clarity's sake, these are non-Spring Training roster invites—MiLB call-ups Ryan Blakney, Ryan Goodman, Nick Lentz, Carlos Torres, and Doug Vines have been working the full slate in Arizona and Florida alongside their sleeve-numbered colleagues. Having concluded their 2015 Minor League Spring Training meetings, the following umpires have been given Major League pre-season opportunities (this list will be updated as the final week of Spring Training progresses):

Florida - Grapefruit League
Brian De Brauwere (AAA Affiliation: International League) - 4/4
Ramon DeJesus (AAA Affiliation: Pacific Coast League) - 4/2, 4/4
Max Guyll (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 3/28
Tom Honec (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 4/3
Brandon Henson (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 4/2, 4/3
Robert Moreno (AAA Affiliation: IL) - 4/2
Roberto Ortiz (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/2

Arizona - Cactus League
Eric Arenn (AAA Affiliation: None) - 3/29
Joseph Born (AAA Affiliation: International League) - 3/29, 4/4
William "Billy" Cunha (AAA Affiliation: Pacific Coast League) - 4/2
Travis Eggert (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 3/28, 4/3
Spencer Flynn (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/1
Kolin Kline (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/4
Shaun Lampe (AAA Affiliation: PCL; was on the 2014 Spring Training roster) - 3/28, 4/4
Nick Mahrley (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 4/3, 4/4
Jeff Morrow (AAA Affiliation: PCL; was on the 2014 Spring Training roster) - 3/29
Alex Ortiz (AAA Affiliation: PCL; was on the 2014 Spring Training roster) - 3/28
Alberto Ruiz (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 3/29, 4/1, 4/3
Greg Stanzak (AAA Affiliation: PCL) - 3/28

All Saturday, March 28 non-roster invitees were assigned to the home plate umpire position.
Umpires on all other days were assigned to various roles (plate/bases).

MiLB Announces Umpire Department Name Changes

Minor League Baseball announced name changes for its umpiring properties based in Florida. According to Director (and former MiLB ump himself) Dusty Dellinger, "We wanted to capitalize on the established brand of Minor League Baseball to help provide a clearer identity within the baseball industry."

The new MiLB umpire logos (Photo: MiLB.com)

The Umpire School changed its name to the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy, which both confirms the institution's association with Minor League Baseball and delineates the purpose of the Academy, which is to train umpires. "Academy" comes from the former Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring name. With JEAPU de-certified, MiLB hired Evans as Umpire Advisor this past offseason, effectively making the newly named MiLB Umpire Training Academy the new JEAPU. The name also differentiates MiLB's holding from the Wendelstedt School.

Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. changed its name to Minor League Baseball Umpire Development, which also uses the MiLB name to align itself with the league it serves while using "development" to depict what its purpose is, though the jury's still out on whether MiLBUD is a better acronym than PBUC.

The Umpire Training Academy also changed its website address to www.milbumpireacademy.com.

News: MiLB announces changes to umpire entities (Minor League Baseball)

Derryl Cousins Arrested in Arizona for Extreme DUI

Retired MLB umpire Derryl Cousins was arrested in Arizona last week on suspicion of extreme DUI, reports the Los Angeles Daily News. Cousins graduated from the LA-area El Segundo High School and El Camino College.

Former MLBU Derryl Cousins in 2009

According to a police report filed in Scottsdale, AZ, Cousins was driving slowly and drifting over lane dividers in downtown at 2:22 a.m. on March 18. The report states that Cousins registered a blood alcohol reading .220 at the scene and subsequently blew a BAC as high as .231 at the booking station, which is nearly four times over the legal limit. According to Arizona state law, this qualifies for the charge of extreme DUI; Cousins was released on $2,000 bail and will be assigned a future court date. Extreme DUI is classified as a misdemeanor.

The officer noted that Cousins was polite throughout the traffic stop, arrest and booking process, stating, "I'm a law-abiding citizen, I've just been drinking too much."

Cousins retired from baseball in 2013 following 34 years of Major League service and 4,496 MLB games worked. The veteran crew chief officiated 3 All-Star Games, 5 Division Series, 7 League Championship Series and 3 World Series; he ejected 118 players, coaches and managers in his time on the field.

News: Retired MLB umpire Derryl Cousins arrested on Extreme DUI in Arizona (LA Daily News)

MLB Ejections S-4-7: Tom Woodring (S1-4; 4 D'Backs)

HP Umpire Tom Woodring ejected Diamondbacks pitcher Allen Webster, Manager Chip Hale, pitcher Derek Eitel and Bench Coach Glenn Sherlock for throwing at Dodgers batters Justin Turner and Dillon Moyer in the bottom of the 5th and 8th innings, respectively, of the Diamondbacks-Dodgers game. In the 1st inning, Dodgers pitcher Chris Anderson hit Diamondbacks batter Mark Trumbo and Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson hit Dodgers batter Turner with inside fastballs, leading to Woodring issuing warnings to both teams. In the 5th, with warnings in effect, Dodgers lead-off batter Turner took a 2-0 fastball from D'Backs pitcher Webster for a hit-by-pitch, and was injured and left the game as a result. In the 8th, Dodgers batter Dillon Moyer took a first-pitch fastball from D'Backs pitcher Eitel for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate both HBPs were inside (pitch f/x unavailable), the calls were irrecusable. At the time of the 5th inning ejections, the Dodgers were leading, 4-1. At the time of the 8th inning ejections, the game was tied, 4-4. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

These are Tom Woodring (75)'s first, second, third and fourth ejections of 2015 Spring Training.
Tom Woodring now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 0 Spring Training = 0).
Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 0 Irrecusable/ST = 0).

These are the 3rd and 4th player ejections of Spring Training.
This is the 2nd Manager ejection of Spring Training.
These are the D'Backs' 1st-4th ejections of the preseason, 1st in the Cactus League (ARI 4, SEA 1).
This is Allen Webster's first career MLB ejection.
This is Chip Hale's first ejection since May 30, 2013 (Brian Knight; QOC = Y [Fan Interference]).
This is Derek Eitel's first career MLB ejection.
This is Glenn Sherlock's first career MLB ejection.
These are Tom Woodring's first ejections since May 7, 2014 (Rick Renteria; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (Cactus League Spring Training), 3/23/15
Video: Woodring issues warnings to both benches as Turner gets hit in the 1st inning (LAD)
Video: Turner is drilled by Webster's inside pitch, drawing heave-hos and a game-ending injury (LAD)
Video: Bean ball war claims Moyer's back, prompting two more Arizona dismissals (LAD)