Plate Meeting Podcast - Episode 9 - Pro Ump Camp

In this ninth episode of The Plate Meeting, a LF Umpire Podcast from CloseCallSports.com, we interview Ron Teague and Kevin Winn, American Association and CanAm umpire supervisors who attend the Pro Umpire Camp.

A former MiLB official, Ronnie Teague is the Director of Umpires for the American Association. While on the field of affiliated ball, Ron was the umpire who famously called two pace-of-play (batter's box violation) strikes to punch out a minor league batter and stood in for one of Joe Mikulik's patented temper tantrums. We talk about these plays and more on the show.

Kevin Winn is the Executive Director for the Can-Am League, who several years ago saw an alumnus—Will Little—make it to the MLB level, the first CamAm product to crack the majors, followed shortly by fellow alum Adam Hamari. Winn was the Director of Umpires on duty who supervised Hamari and Little in the CanAm.

Pro Umpire Camp (proumpirecamp.com) helps umpires gain experience as they advance in all levels of baseball from Little League to the Minor Leagues, offering classroom and on-field education and instruction regarding the three-umpire system, video analysis, and a chance to be seen by independent league decision-makers, including the American Association, CanAm, Atlantic, and Pecos Leagues.

Sponsored Link: ProUmpireCamp.com.

Click the below play (▶) button to listen to "Episode 9 - Pro Umpire Camp with Ron Teague and Kevin Winn" or visit the show online at https://anchor.fm/the-plate-meeting. The Plate Meeting is also available on iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Google, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and several other podcast apps.


Alternate Link: Episode 9 - Pro Umpire Camp with Ron Teague and Kevin Winn.

Additional Links, Videos, and Other Media:
The following section contains relevant links, notes, and additional material that correlate with conversations during the show. Click the following related video/article links to be taken to that relevant item.

The Plate Meeting is brought to you by OSIP, where Outstanding Sportsmanship Is Paramount.

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Related Link #1 (14:30): Minor Teague Ball: The One Pitch Strikeout and Ejection (8/4/13).
Related Video #1 (14:30): Ron Teague ejects Vinnie Catricala after one-pitch SO in Texas.
Related Link #2 (16:45): MiLB Ejection: Ron Teague (Joe Mikulik) (7/7/15).
Related Link #3 (25:00): Featured MiLB Ejection - Ron Teague (2 Aces, 1st Inning) (4/19/16).
Sponsored Link: ProUmpireCamp.com.

Follow us on Twitter 🐦 (@UmpireEjections) and like on Facebook 👍 (/UmpireEjections).

Former MLB & Canadian HOF Umpire Jim McKean Dies

28-year AL and MLB umpire Jim McKean died Thursday morning at the age of 73. The Montreal, Canada native began his career in the Florida State League in 1970, joined the American League staff care of the International League in 1973, retired in 2001, and joined the MLB office as a supervisor in 2002. He officiated three AL Division Series (1981, 95, 99), five AL Championship Series (1977, 83, 87, 91, 98), and three World Series (1979, 85, 95). He concluded his big league career with 62 ejections

As the last full-time full-time Canadian on the Major League staff until Stu Scheurwater's hiring in 2018 (British Columbia-raised MLB umpire Ian Lamplugh [2002] was born in England), McKean received a slew of honours. He was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2004, received the NDG Baseball (Montreal's version of Little League) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and, most recently, entered the Florida State League Hall of Fame in November 2018.
Related Post: Jim McKean Inducted into FSL Hall of Fame (11/13/18).

McKean also officiated junior hockey and played in the Canadian Football League (quarterback/punter) in the mid-1960s, winning the CFL's Grey Cup with the championship Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1966.

McKean (1945-2019) was 73 years old.

We spoke with Dale Scott about Jim McKean, whom he worked with during their time together in the American League. That minisode of the Plate Meeting Podcast is available as follows:

Colombia Ejection - Manager Attacks Umpire Prochoron

Colombian League Manager José Mosquera of Los Toros de Sincelejo attacked umpire Johan Prochorón after being ejected during the Colombia Béisbol championship series, repeatedly pushing the LCBP official after a ball/strike dispute didn't go his way, ultimately resulting in a team-led assault on the six-umpire officiating crew during which multiple players also physically charged the umpires.

HP Umpire Johan Prochorón ejected Toros Bench Coach Jorge Cortés, Manager José Mosquera, pitcher Samuel Gervacio, and catcher Juan Camilo Zabala (balls/strikes & fighting/Unsportsmanlike-NEC) in the top of the 7th inning of the Caimanes-Toros game. With two out and one on (R3) in the top of the 7th inning, Caimanes de Barranquilla batter Christian Correa hit the 0-0 pitch from Toros pitcher Jose Ortega on a ground ball to left field, driving in baserunner R3 Audy Ciriaco from third base. Following the RBI single, Prochorón ejected Cortés from the dugout and eventually ejected Mosquera as Mosquera arrived at home plate to argue.

Immediately after Prochorón signaled the ejection, Mosquera attacked the plate umpire, repeatedly pushing him.

After covering home plate with dirt and throwing first base onto the infield, los Toros returned to the dugout and threw equipment, including bats, helmets, and other projectiles, onto the playing field, as the Toros' mascot (a bull) pawed at the warning track dirt and signaled toward the umpires, simulating an impending attack of his own.

As the umpires waited for the ejected parties to leave the field and dugout, Prochorón ejected Gervacio from the dugout, sparking another bench-clearing incident during which Gervacio elbowed a field umpire and Zabala battered the plate umpire.

As a result of the repeated attacks, the umpires left the field and suspended the game, ultimately returning to resume the championship-deciding affair some 90 minutes later, after all ejected persons had left the field.

At the time of the ejections, los Caimanes were leading, 8-3. Los Caimanes ultimately won the contest, 13-4, thus clinching Colombian league title.

Wrap: Caimanes de Barranquilla vs. Toros de Sincelejo (Colombia Final), 1/20/19 | Video as follows:

Plate Meeting Podcast - Call for ?s - Rich Garcia

We're pleased to announce our upcoming Plate Meeting podcast here at CloseCallSports.com with guest Rich Garcia, a 25-year AL umpire veteran with 3,398 regular season games, 104 ejections, three Division Series, five League Championship Series, and four World Series to his name. Submit your questions here at CloseCallSports.com or, if you have the Achor.fm mobile app, you can send us a voice message via our Plate Meeting podcast profile.

Garcia began his professional career in the 1970 Florida State League, working his way through the Southern and International Leagues before his 1975 American League debut. Ejecting Billy Martin just three games into his major league career, Garcia went toe-to-toe with the likes of Earl Weaver, Whitey Herzog, Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, Lou Piniella, and Joe Torre before stepping off the field in 1999.

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The Plate Meeting, a Left Field Umpire Podcast is CCS's official audio show where we talk umpiring with umpires, and discuss officiating related issues, including analysis or other conversation pertaining to plays, ejections, rules, and more.

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