Will Bankrupt FTX Patches Disappear from Ump Uniforms?

MLB's first-ever umpire patch partner FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, filed for bankruptcy just 18 months after signing a sponsorship deal with Major League Baseball and replacing uniform sleeve real estate previously occupied by memorial patches honoring fallen umpires. Does FTX's bankrupcy failure mean that the patches will disappear and umpires will get their beloved left sleeves (and right chests) back?

According to Columbia University's Joe Favorito, it's a distinct possibility: "If there's no company, the branding goes away"...but with precedent to sell ad space already established, what ill-fated financial alchemy tech company will take doomed-to-fail FTX's place?

Video as follows:

Teachable Tripp - Moving to a Tricky Double Whacker

Tmac's Teachable Moment this Thursday features 1B Umpire Tripp Gibson moving to adjust his position as Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins stretches to catch a throw wide of first base as Nationals batter-runner Joey Meneses arrives at the bag.

The key to officiating this play is to read the fielder, in this case Hoskins. As the play develops, Hoskins appears poised to lunge into foul territory to try and field the throw, which tells U1 Gibson to similarly move toward foul territory in order to officiate the pulled foot vs tagged base aspect of the play.

By virtue of attaining a keyhole angle to see the foot and base interaction, Gibson is able to rule the runner safe by virtue of a pulled foot.

Video as follows:

2022 CCS Year-End Umpire Awards Nominations Open

Close Call Sports announces its annual Umpire Ejection Fantasy League Postseason Awards and opens nominations and elections at this time. You may vote for 7 different award categories. Reply to this post if you wish to campaign for or explain why you chose a certain umpire for a specific award.

Link to Postseason Awards Ballot (also appears below):

a. Umpire of the Year (min. 1 / max. 1 umpire) +5

b. Promising Umpire of the Year (min. 1 / max. 2) +3

c. Bernice Gera Honorable Umpire (min. 0 / max. 1) +2

d. Fill-In Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1) +2

e. Most Improved Umpire (min. 0 / max. 1) +1

f. Crew Chief of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1) +1

g. Best Ejection of the Year (min. 0 / max. 2) +1

h. Most Disappointing Season (min. 0 / max. 1) -1

An eligible umpire may be selected for as many or as few awards as that umpire is eligible for; Ballots will be accepted until 11:59pm on Wednesday, November 16, with awards distribution beginning shortly thereafter.

Ballot as follows:

Teachable Taking a Pulled Foot at 1st Base

This Teachable Moment features 1B Umpire Lance Barksdale officiating a pulled foot out/safe play at first base as Oakland shortstop Nick Allen successfully throws out Angels batter Luis Rengifo at first base. Challenged by Los Angeles, this call would ultimately stand on Replay Review.

Key to this play is how Barksdale sets himself and remains stationary as the play arrives at first base, watching the first baseman's feet, knowing that with the ball already caught well before the runner's arrival, the play will come down to whether or not the first baseman pulled his foot off the base in order to field the throw, and, if so, whether the pulled foot would be able to return to touch first base prior to the runner's arrival.

Video as follows: