A Look at Crew Chief Replay Review Statistics

Here at Closecallsports, replay guru TMAC has watched every single replay, charting each one since the inception of expanded video review. Besides needing a hobby, over the next few weeks TMAC will share that data with you in three parts. The first analysis was of all the MiLB Call-up umpires.  For that data look here: https://www.closecallsports.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-call-up-umpire-hiring-outlook.html

We now turn our attention to MLB crew chiefs. SPOILER ALERT: There may be some newly promoted names in the following list! We will formally announce the new chiefs at a later date.

In 2022 there were 670 calls overturned (OT) by the replay system, or one in every 3.63 games.  Remember there are four umpires assigned to regular season affairs so that comes to one OT, every 14.5 games as the average for each umpire.  If 14.5 is the barometer, you will notice some better and some not quite up to the MLB average.

We will sort each crew chief in two ways!  The top chart is by games worked and the lower is by fewest overturns per game.  There is no analysis on total replay reviews.  We only concentrate on overturned calls.  Over the long haul, OTs are the best way to determine who has the best judgement on calls not only that are eligible for replay review, but decisions that encompass all aspects of the game with the exception of handling situations and balls and strikes! For consistency, we have included postseason games and overturns.  Exhibition games are not counted.    

Bill Miller: 1059 Games/65 OTs Overturn Rate 1 in 16.3 games

Laz Diaz: 1050/55 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/19.1

Marvin Hudson: 1042/72 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/14.5

Alan Porter: 1030/62 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/16.6

Chris Conroy: 1029/84 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/12.3

Alfonso Marquez: 1026/54 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/19

Lance Barksdale: 1026/58 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/17.7

Mark Carlson: 1024/67 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/15.3 

Jeff Nelson: 1015/55 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/18.5

Dan Bellino: 1012/66 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/15.3

Todd Tichenor: 1005/64 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/15.7

Adrian Johnson: 999/72 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/13.9

James Hoye: 996/73 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/13.6

Dan Iassogna: 939/82 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/11.5

Mark Wegner: 933/64 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/14.6

Larry Vanover: 926/85 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/10.9

Ron Kulpa: 906/69 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/13.1

Paul Emmel: 669/47 OTs: Overturn Rate 1/14.2

Jerry Layne: 588/47 OT: Overturn Rate 1/12.5

CREW CHIEFS RANKED 

1) Laz Diaz: Overturn Rate 1 Overturn per 19.1 Games (1/19.1)

2) Alfonso Marquez : 1/19

3) Jeff Nelson: 1/18.5

4) Lance Barksdale: 1/17.7

5) Alan Porter: 1/16.6

6) Bill Miller: 1/16.3

7) Todd Tichenor: 1/15.7

8) Dan Bellino: 1/15.3 (15.33)

9) Mark Carlson: 1/15.3 (15.28)

10) Mark Wegner: 1/14.6

11) Marvin Hudson: 1/14.5

12) Paul Emmel: 1/14.2

13) Adrian Johnson: 1/13.9

14) James Hoye: 1/13.6

15) Ron Kulpa: 1/13.1

16) Jerry Layne: 1/12.5

17) Chris Conroy: 1/12.3

18) Dan Iassogna: 1/11.5 

19) Larry Vanover: 1/10.9

Notes: 

- When replay Expanded Paul Emmel was one of the best umpires by the numbers.  From 2014-2015 he was at one OT for every 31.5 games.

- Jerry Layne wasn’t overturned from 2019-2021, but only worked 35 games over that span.

- If it wasn’t for a down 2022 season, Alan Porter would be tops on this list with a rate of 1/20.6

- Only three umpires on chart can claim they have never been overturned more than ten times in a season: Jeff Nelson, Lance Barksdale, and Todd Tichenor

- Over the past four campaigns Laz Diaz is OT’d once every 22.7 games, also the best among Crew Chiefs

We’ve looked at the Crew Chiefs and the New Hires.  Next time, we’ll look at everyone else!  Be Kind!