![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKlJIOSSEhKJb1yMkD7vyzhMbLtn0dV0OSKiujihFeEeEU2bBObbY2BLWepptUn9B5uiI6ayVQfaeYjts5cbjltwKi_YoqU4ZZUKnxQjU1KIlq7AAZc_vn1CfEJwFkgDYqXsOqbUIE4o/s1600/dream-series-danley.png)
Kerwin Danley: In a recently-published video from the 2018 Dream Series, MLB umpire Kerwin Danley spoke alongside former pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to a group of high school athletes about officiating, and complaints about balls and strikes, which have increased dramatically since the adoption of expanded replay review
It's the pitching coaches first. Hitting coaches, you don't hear from them that much, unless...you're having a bad day, then you hear from them.The data support Danley's observation: just two hitting coaches were ejected in 2017, compared to seven pitching coaches.
![]() |
MLB Umpire Mike Muchlinski is in Arizona. |
We prepare every day to get every call right. Realistically, that's not going to happen, so it's a good thing to be able to fix the big errors, especially when it comes to a decision that affects the outcome of a game.
![]() |
MLB Umpire Tim Timmons is in Florida. |
Explained Timmons concerning the villainy of the umpire, "the jeers pay the bills." As Muchlinski stated in Arizona, the downside of professional umpiring is the time spent away from family.
![]() |
MLB Umpire Ted Barrett is in Arizona. |
Related Post: Spring Feature - Ted Barrett Interviewed During Game (3/16/18).
Barrett foresees that MLB will tie up any loose ends concerning mound visits by Opening Day. For example, when a catcher took a foul ball off his mask in late February, the plate umpire charged the defensive team with a mound visit because the pitcher had walked to home plate to check on his battery mate. Although MLB still hasn't formally addressed that specific play, the League has issued clarification that a catcher visiting the mound to buy an injured umpire some time after a similar foul ball situation would not be deemed a mound visit.
Related Post: So it Begins - Mound Visit Charged on Injury Timeout (2/27/18).
Regarding replay, Barrett likened having a call of his overturned to that of a batter striking out: "Anytime you fail, that's tough. You have to get over it. And it's not just when the game is on the line: I would feel bad if I cost a guy a base hit."
![]() |
Certain strike zone plots can be misleading. |
Related Post: MLB Ejection P-2 - Mike Winters (2; Joe Maddon) (10/14/17).
If it's blatant, I'll call it. Otherwise, replay will do the overturning.Improved technology has also led to electronic (albeit faulty) ball/strike calculations, which have most popularly spawned a series of statistical umpire rankings, although the tech used from one system to the next may not be consistent (nor accurate). Instead, Barrett relies on the innovation to help with reviewing technique, such as positioning or stance consideration: "It's a never-ending self-analysis."
Related Post: Analyzing Strike Zone Analysis - Not So Easy or Simple (10/27/16).
Finally, Barrett discussed fans, how he generally tunes them out, and how the World Umpires Association turned to Twitter (@MLBaseballUmps) to try and get the umpires' viewpoint out into a world that hasn't always allowed sports officials to speak up.
For instance, the WUA used the account to communicate the circumstances surrounding its white wristband protest of escalating verbal attacks and the Commissioner's deficient response to such unsportsmanlike acts during the 2017 season.
Related Post: WUA-MLB Relations Deteriorate with New Umpire Protest (8/19/17).
The protest lasted all of one day before Commissioner Rob Manfred agreed to meet with the umpires. Barrett serves on the WUA Governing Board.
Related Post: WUA Secures Commissioner Meeting, Suspends Protest (8/20/17).
Barrett wanted to make it known that despite popular grumblings to the contrary, umpires are held to standard:
That's the biggest thing I want to get across to people that say, "Big league umpires have no accountability." Every play and pitch we call is analyzed. We get reviewed on everything. It's not always public, just like internal things with players and teams aren't always public. We make every effort to be at our best.Videos (3x) and Source Links as follows:
Alternate Link: Kerwin Danley talks coach complaints during the 2018 Dream Series (MLB)
Alternate Link: Mike Muchlinski discusses his experience during the Cactus League (WCPO)
Alternate Link: Tim Timmons describes his pre-season preparation at the Grapefruit League (FOX-4)
Link: Ted Barrett Interview with ESPN (3/20/18).
0 comments :
Post a Comment