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Thursday, October 18, 2018

Froemming - Machado Should Have Been Ejected

Former 37-year MLB umpire Bruce Froemming, who has officiated the third-most postseason games behind Gerry Davis (NLCS) and Joe West (ALCS), admitted he was "disappointed" that Davis' crew failed to eject Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado Tuesday night for kicking Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar, or otherwise impose on-field discipline or communication as to address Machado's unsporting conduct.
Related PostA Kick Too Far? Manny Machado's History of Misconduct (10/17/18).

Froemming said he would have tossed Manny.
Froemming would know—he and Jerry Crawford are tied for the most National League Championship Series appearances of all-time with 10 NLCS assignments. He, West, and Klem are also the only three Major League umpires with more than 5,000 games of regular season experience (Froemming worked 5,163).

In an interview with Milwaukee's WTMJ-4, Froemming said, "I was disappointed to be honest about it...you didn't see anything done," and told the local news outlet that if he had been on the field, Machado would have been ejected, but, ever-true to the educational role associated with a name that once shared a place with Joe Brinkman atop the "Brinkman-Froemming Umpire School" name, turned his condemnation and dismay into a teachable moment:
It was flagrant and as an official, it's your job to protect the other players and what he did with Aguilar was uncalled for...For trying to hurt another individual you could eject them, absolutely. 
After his retirement from on-field officiating, Froemming joined MLB's Umpiring Department in 2008 as a Special Assistant to the Vice President (at the time, VP of Umpiring Mike Port, until that position was eliminated). Froemming's last season in the position was 2016 and the present VPs of record that oversee umpires are Peter Woodfork (Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations) and, naturally, Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre (formerly Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations). More on the umpiring department's current supervisory structure and the former role held by then-disciplinarian Joe Garagiola at the following link.
Related PostCC Meta Game - Is Open Season on Umpires MLB Ploy? (10/10/18).

MLB opted to fine Machado $10,000 for his actions. With Machado earning $16 million in 2018, this $10,000 fine represents 0.0625% of Machado's yearly wage (prior to endorsements). In other words, for a person earning a $50,000 annual income, a 0.0625% fine corresponds to a financial penalty of $31.25.

As we've stated several times, fines alone are fairly meaningless to players already drawing exorbitant salaries. As Carlos Gomez said last month, "If they want to fine me, it's fine. I'm rich."
Related PostFined - Carlos Gomez to Appeal Financial Penalty (9/25/18).

Alternate Link: Froemming discusses umpire responsibility and the Machado play (TMJ4)

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