mlb umpire assignments 2021 playoffs

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Umpire crew announced for NLCS

MLB announced the umpires that will work the NLCS between the Dodgers and Braves.

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The umpire crew was announced for the National League Championship Series between the Braves and Dodgers. Here’s how it shapes out.

Jerry Meals will be the crew chief, his third career LCS. The rest of the crew features Jordan Baker, Lance Barksdale, Mark Carlson, Tripp Gibson, James Hoye and Todd Tichenor. Meals, Baker, Carlson and Hoye worked the AL Wild Card Game earlier this Postseason.

According to Major League Baseball, each of the seven umpires assigned to the LCS crews could receive one plate assignment during the series. Each umpire will be in reserve during the game prior to their scheduled plate duties.

For example, Baker will not be on the field in Game 1 of the NLCS.

You can see the full list of umpires and their postseason experience below. Underneath will be a graphic that shows how the umpires will rotate throughout the series and who to expect behind the plate for each game.

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MLB reveals umpire assignments for wild-card, divisional rounds

Here are the umpiring crews for the wild-card and divisional round playoff games..

Major League Baseball announced umpiring assignments for the wild-card and divisional playoff rounds Monday. Here they are:

Reds - Pirates wild-card game: Joe West (home plate), Dale Scott, Dan Iassogna, Rob Drake, Tim Timmons and Lance Barksdale.

Rays Texas Rangers - Indians wild-card game: Gerry Davis (home plate), Ted Barrett, Mike Everitt, Greg Gibson, Phil Cuzzi and Brian Knight.

Reds/Pirates- Cardinals NLDS: Jerry Layne (crew chief), Wally Bell, Sam Holbrook, Jim Joyce, Paul Nauert and Tony Randazzo.

Dodgers - Braves NLDS: John Hirschbeck (crew chief), Laz Diaz, Marvin Hudson, Bill Miller, Tim Welke and Hunter Wendelstedt.

Rays/Indians- Red Sox ALDS: Dana DeMuth (crew chief), Eric Cooper, Paul Emmel, Chris Guccione, Larry Vanover and Mike Winters.

Tigers - Athletics ALDS: Gary Darling (crew chief), CB Bucknor, Mike DiMuro, Tom Hallion, Jim Reynolds and Mark Wegner.

I'm not going to nitpick these selections, but I can't believe Bucknor got an assignment. I feel like you could poll players, managers, coaches, front office personnel, media, fans, etc. and the answer would always be the same: Bucknor is generally regarded as the worst umpire in Major League Baseball. It's hard to trust the evaluation process if he's getting a postseason series.

On the bright side, he's doing the Tigers series. An epic Jim Leyland meltdown could be on the menu.

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Here are your wild card and division series umpire assignments.

• Craig Calcaterra ,
• Craig Calcaterra

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 8: Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez signals during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 8, 2011 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 1-0. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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Back in July Angel Hernandez filed a discrimination lawsuit against Major League Baseball claiming that he was passed up for promotion and postseason assignments. That’s still pending, but in the meantime he’ll be working the postseason this year. At least part of it, as he’s been assigned to handle the Red Sox-Astros Division Series. That, and all of the other umpire assignments for the Wild Card and first round of the playoffs were announced yesterday.

Among some of our other favorite umps, Laz Diaz gets the Cubs-Nats series. Joe West gets nothing, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be back for the League Championship Series or World Series. We are never too far from getting some Joe West in our lives.

Here are the assignments. Lodge your complaints in the comments, where Major League Baseball will get right on them, I am certain.

Follow @craigcalcaterra

You probably haven't heard of MLB's most accurate umpire

Umpires don't get into the game for love. Only the perceived worst draw recognition. 

Pat Hoberg could be on his way to changing that. 

The 35-year-old is the highest-rated home-plate umpire, enjoying a 96.1% accuracy rate on his balls and strikes calls, according to Umpire Scorecards. 

Perhaps more notably, he has become a needed antidote to what we'll call Angel Hernandez Derangement Syndrome – the low-hanging fruit of umpire-bashing that has hatched dozens of social-media accounts aimed at amplifying the men in blue at their worst. 

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT: Here's why players are coming to the defense of MLB umpires

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

JOE MADDON OUT: Angels fire manager amid 12-game losing streak

Umpire Scorecards aims for a more holistic approach, building an evaluation system that takes game data a step further by simulating the likeliest outcomes of a pitch, in hopes of creating a tool fairer than instant Statcast outcomes and perhaps less forgiving than MLB's internal ump reviews.

Through it all, an evolution has taken place: Some fans looking to validate their frustration with 29-year-veteran Hernandez have stumbled upon another realization: 

A lot of these guys are really good – none better than Hoberg. 

"He's suddenly gotten this following," says Ethan Singer, co-founder of Umpire Scorecards. "He’s got memes about him. People like him a lot." 

And why not? Hoberg leads MLB umpires with an accuracy rating of 96.4% on ball-strike calls, and three umpires have matched his MLB-best 94.9% consistency rating. Umpires, like the players they govern, can get better with age and Hoberg appears to be entering a sweet spot in his career. 

He has received postseason crew assignments for three consecutive seasons, including the 2021 NLCS, and a career dream came true when he was named to the crew that called the "Field of Dreams" game in his native Iowa last August. 

Now, he's one of five major league umps hitting at least 95% accuracy this year – that's 143 of 150 correct calls in a typical game - and perhaps will be beneficiaries of an era where scrutiny of umps - and publicly-available analysis - has never been higher. 

"There hasn't been any oxygen for these umpires that are performing well," says Singer. "We take the approach of little to no commentary, and treat the data as is.

"I hope people in the umpiring community appreciate."

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Barksdale, Hoye, Iassogna and Porter will be the umpire crew chiefs for Wild Card Series

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro, left, talks to second base umpire James Hoye during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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NEW YORK (AP) — Lance Barksdale, James Hoye, Dan Iassogna and Alan Porter will be the umpire crew chiefs for baseball’s Wild Card Series this week.

Barksdale will work the Texas Rangers’ series at the Tampa Bay Rays and be at second base for the opener Tuesday. He will be joined for Game 1 by Carlos Torres behind the plate, Tripp Gibson at first, Adrian Johnson at third, Adam Beck in left and Alex Tosi in right.

Umpires rotate from right field to left and then clockwise around the bases starting at third, meaning an umpire who is at second for the opener will be behind the plate for a potential third game of the best-of-three Wild Card Series.

Hoye will work the Miami Marlins’ games at the Philadelphia Phillies and be at second for the opener, when Stu Scheurwater is behind the plate, Doug Eddings at first, Marvin Hudson at third, Jordan Baker in left and Edwin Moscoso in right.

Iassogna will officiate the Toronto Blue Jays’ series at the Minnesota Twins and will start at third base and not call balls and strikes in the series. His crew opens with Andy Fletcher behind the plate, Adam Hamari at first, Mike Muchlinski at second, Mark Wegner in left and Jeremie Rehak in right.

Porter will work the Arizona Diamondbacks’ series at the Milwaukee Brewers and will be at second for the opener, joined by Mark Ripperger behind the plate, Dan Bellino at first, Mike Estabrook at third, Chris Segal in left and Sean Barber in right.

Barber, Beck, Moscoso and Tosi will be making their postseason debuts.

Ryan Blakney, Rob Drake, Nick Mahrley and Brennan Miller will be the replay umpires at the video center in the commissioner’s office.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

2021 MLB Umpire Power Rankings: First Third of the Season

Welcome to the first installment of the 2021 MLB Umpire Power Rankings, covering the first third of the season’s games. You may have clicked on these rankings wondering, “Why does anyone care about who the best and worst umpires in the game are? It’s the players on the field that win or lose the game.” Well, Umpires dictate the strike zone, sometimes inconsistently, so due to human error, certain teams gain a quantifiable advantage over the course of the game. Thanks to data compiled by Ethan Singer, owner and operator of @UmpScorecards , fans can see how each home plate umpire performed over the course of every individual MLB game. The home plate umpire’s number one job is to accurately call balls and strikes, however, calls can be missed, so fans would hope that the umpire is at least consistent in their calls so that no team gets a sizeable advantage throughout the game.

To determine the best and worst umpires, I looked at umpires that have called at least 1000 pitches this season through May 31, 2021, and looked at who had the best and worst accuracy as well as which umpires favored a team the least and most. Umpires still play a big role in today’s game, so it’s important that we hold the bad ones accountable for their mistakes and acknowledge the best umpires in the majors for their excellent work.

Here are the top five and bottom five of the 80 qualifying umpires for the first third of the season.

• Accuracy: 95.4%
• Avg. Favor: 0.27 runs

Easily the best qualifying umpire so far this season, the 39-year-old Gibson not only boasts the highest accuracy in the majors among qualifying umpires, his average favor is third-lowest with 0.27 runs. His best outing came on May 25, 2021, with the Giants taking on the Diamondbacks in Arizona. For the game, Tripp had a 97.2 percent accuracy and his favor was a perfect 0.00, meaning that his calls didn’t benefit either team in the slightest. Give this man a raise and some more playoff assignments.

• Accuracy: 95.1%
• Avg. Favor: 0.40 runs

An 11-year veteran behind the plate, Porter, 43, is having a very good start to the 2021 season. Boasting two games with a 96.5 percent accuracy rate just shows how good his eye is behind the plate. However, his best game came on April 28, 2021, when the Nationals took on the Blue Jays. For the game, Porter had a 94.0 percent accuracy and an elite 0.05-run favor against the home team. Although he isn’t quite on Gibson’s level so far this season, he tops the next tier of great umpires.

• Accuracy: 95.0%
• Avg. Favor: 0.44 runs

The last of three qualifying umpires to have an accuracy of 95 percent or higher, James Hoye is the most senior of the five umpires in the top five, with 18 years of MLB umpiring experience. At 50-years-old, Hoye has a high average accuracy of 95.0 percent this season. His best game so far came on May 25, 2021, when the Mets took on the Cardinals in St. Louis. There, Hoye had a whopping 97.4 percent accuracy and a great 0.14-run favor for the home team. Already having received nine playoff assignments, if he keeps this up, he should be returning there in 2021.

• Accuracy: 94.7%

Already considered one of the best young umpires in the game, the 36-year-old Blakney starts his seventh season on a high note, tied for fifth in accuracy after 12 games umpired so far. His best game came on May 4, 2021, when the Tigers faced the Red Sox in Boston. He had a 95.0 percent accuracy and an elite 0.03-run favor against the home team. A great young umpire, he should get a playoff assignment if he keeps up his good reputation and performance so far this season.

• Accuracy: 94.6%
• Avg. Favor: 0.31 runs

The youngest umpire in the top five, and with the least amount of experience, Lentz, 31, is entering his fifth season as a major league umpire. He is tied for eighth in both average favor and accuracy in the majors. His best game came on April 17, 2021, for the Pirates-Padres game in San Diego. There, he had a good 0.20-run favor against the home team but a great 97.8 percent accuracy. Although he has drawn the ire of some managers in the past , he is having a great start to his 2021 campaign.

• Accuracy: 91.6%
• Avg. Favor: 0.55 runs

Leading off for the underperforming group, Larry Vanover, 65, is a long-time veteran of the sport, umpiring in the majors every year since 1991, except for 2000 and 2001. Over his long career, he has received eight postseason assignments, including the World Series in 2016. Unfortunately, his accuracy being at 91.6 percent this season is not good enough. In his worst games this season, he had an 87.4 percent accuracy in his April 16, 2021, game featuring the Diamondbacks vs. the Nationals, and on May 15, 2021, umpiring the Royals-White Sox game, he ended up favoring the away team with a favor of 1.27 runs.

• Accuracy: 91.4%

The second-most experienced person on this list, O’Nora, 58, has almost 30 years under his belt. Unfortunately, all that that experience hasn’t helped him this season, as he has the second-lowest accuracy among qualifying umpires. In 10 games, he’s had seven with an accuracy percentage of less than 92.0. His worst outing was his latest on May 29, 2021, when he umpired a game between the Pirates and the Rockies in Colorado. There, he had a bad accuracy of 87.2 percent and his favor in the game was 1.86 runs based on his calls. Just a really rough outing for him.

• Accuracy: 91.5%
• Avg. Favor: 0.37 runs

Kulpa, 52, has umpired major league games since 1998 and has worked 14 postseason assignments in his career. Unfortunately, that hasn’t helped him this year either since in four of his 12 games this year, he has a pitch called accuracy of less than 90.0 percent. His worst outing was on May 1, 2021, featuring the Red Sox visiting the Rangers, where he had an atrocious accuracy of 84.8 percent, getting a total of 23 pitches called wrong throughout the game.

• Accuracy: 91.8%
• Avg. Favor: 0.70 runs

Gibson, 52, actually has the highest accuracy of the bottom-five qualifying umpires (not a great accomplishment), but the reason he is the 79th qualifying umpire is because of his high average favor. He has the third-highest average favor of all qualifying umpires, behind Chad Fairchild (0.75 runs), and Jim Reynolds (0.73 runs). Coupling his favor with his poor accuracy and his 24 years of experience, he should be held to a higher standard based on how he’s performing. His worst outing so far came on May 16, 2021, in a game featuring the Cardinals and the Padres, in which he had a low accuracy of 88.2 percent and a favor for the hometown Padres of 1.23 runs for the game.

• Accuracy: 91.3%
• Avg. Favor: 0.42 runs

Not much to like about Rob Drake’s umpiring so far this season. Drake, 52, has umpired in the major leagues since 1999, and is flat-out not performing up to the level of his peers. In nine games this season, Drake hasn’t had an accuracy percentage at or above 93.5 percent. He consistently sits in the low nineties, with five of his nine performances grading out below 91 percent. He has had some games with good favor, including three games with a favor of less than 0.10 runs, but he’s also had some bad favor games, with two games above 1.00 runs; his 1.44-run away team favor on April 29, 2021, in a game where the Yankees traveled to face the Orioles in Baltimore. For an umpire that has had eight postseason assignments, he needs to be much better than how he has been performing.

Jonathan Hoffman

Related articles, 2023 pitcher power rankings – first half, 2023 pitcher power rankings – welcome to june, 2023 pitcher power rankings – end of april, 2022 pitcher power rankings – all-star break, leave a reply cancel reply.

Red Sox vs. Astros score: Live ALCS updates, highlights as Framber Valdez, Yordan Alvarez power Houston to Game 5 win

52 New Updates

The Houston Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-1 on Wednesday night to take 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series. Framber Valdez went eight innings and held the Red Sox to three hits. Yordan Alvarez smacked a solo home run and a two-run double and Yuli Gurriel put up a trio of hits and RBIs to help power a Houston offense that piled up 11 hits. Game 6 is Friday in Houston. Nathan Eovaldi and Luis Garcia are the likely starters. Check out all of our Game 5 coverage below.

Game 5 reads

• Yordan Alvarez powers the Astros to the cusp of another AL pennant with Game 5 barrage (Jake Kaplan)
• On Framber Valdez’s shoulders, the Astros are on the brink of a pennant (Britt Ghiroli)
• It’s finally time to give up on the Red Sox. Which probably means they’ll win it all (Chad Jennings)
• A Cinderella team for so long, Red Sox now on the verge of an incongruous collapse (Steve Buckley)
• A leg adjustment on the mound helps Chris Sale excel, but Red Sox drop second straight (Jen McCaffrey)
• After questionable decisions in Games 4 and 5, Alex Cora’s postseason mystique has taken a hit (Ken Rosenthal)

Background reading

Why the Red Sox front office gathers in the stands at Fenway during postseason games

• With little margin for error, top Red Sox arms can’t get the job done
• Red Sox slip from October perfection back to August sloppiness in Game 4 loss
• Dire circumstances? Astros dramatically alter ALCS against the Red Sox
• 2021 MLB playoff picks: Expert predictions for ALCS and NLCS games from The Athletic ’s baseball staff
• Insiders’ picks for the MLB League Championship Series: Coaches, players and scouts make their predictions

(Photo of Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley and Carlos Correa: Mary DeCicco / MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Game 5 umpire assignments

Bill Miller is the crew chief for the 2021 ALCS, which marks the eighth League Championship Series assignment of his career and his first since the 2019 NLCS, when he was also crew chief.

HP: Dan Iassogna

1B: Alan Porter

2B: David Rackley

3B: Rob Drake

LF: Bill Miller

RF: Laz Diaz

Reserve: Jim Wolf

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Player stats and tidbits

• Carlos Correa 's lead-off double in the ninth of Game 4 was his 33rd career postseason extra-base hit. Correa, 27, has tallied the most extra-base hits by a player younger than 30, breaking the tie with Derek Jeter.
• Yuli Gurriel has recorded 60 career postseason hits, extending his MLB record among Cuban-born players.
• The Red Sox have smashed 21 home runs through their first nine games of the 2021 playoffs. That's the second-most across a team's first nine games, behind only the 2004 Astros (22).
• Over Kiké Hernández 's last seven games, he has scored eight runs and recorded 18 hits, four doubles, five home runs and nine RBIs. His 18 hits are a playoff record for any seven-game span in MLB history.
• Rafael Devers is riding an eight-game hitting streak. He has seven runs, 11 hits, four home runs and 11 RBIs in that span. He joins Manny Ramirez (2007), David Ortiz (2004) and John Valentin (1999) as Boston players to record at least 11 hits, four home runs and 11 RBIs across an eight-game span in a postseason.
• Alex Bregman , 27, has hit 12 career postseason home runs. That is the fifth-most in postseason history among players younger than 28, trailing Correa (18), Albert Pujols (13), Manny Ramirez (13) and Corey Seager (13). Bregman's 34 RBIs are fourth-most among the same group of players. Bregman has logged the second-most home runs by a third baseman in playoff history, behind only Justin Turner (13).

ALCS: Houston Astros (+105) at Boston Red Sox (-125)

Series: Tied 2-2

Series odds: Astros -135, Red Sox +115

Game 5 pitching matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA)

Over/under: 9.5

Writer picks

C. Trent Rosecrans: Red Sox

Andy McCullough: Astros

Eno Sarris: Astros

Nick Groke: Red Sox

Sahadev Sharma: Red Sox

Back before sports betting was “legal,” it was simply encouraged in my Ohio hometown, Steubenville. We had bookie joints dotted across the city and down the highway. It was an area known for vice, with hometown heroes like Jimmy the Greek and Dean Martin. Both a famous NFL head coach and the funder of my post-grad scholarship told me they went there in their college days for the red-light district.

My favorite spot was Lane’s Lounge in Mingo Junction, in the shadow of a steel mill. Lane would put out hot dogs and Cokes on Saturday mornings and we would watch the early games on a medium-sized TV on a cart. We’d bet $11 two-teamers (the $1 was the 10 percent juice that went to the house, win or lose) to win $40. The bets were placed on little notepads with a slip of carbon paper to make the receipt that you’d keep.

I remember standing next to a woman in her 50s one afternoon as she bet the board in rapid-fire fashion. “What does she know about this Navy game?” I wondered. Then again, what did any of us know?

Years later, when I was in college and my brother was the high-school gambler, we talked about implementing a system at another gambling establishment where more people sat around and talked. We would eavesdrop on the conversations and figure out who was the public favorite and then fade them. Nowadays, fading the public is easy to do with all of the information available. But 20 years ago, life was a little simpler.

It’s safe to say Eno Sarris would’ve stood out in the crowd in these spots. Not a lot of brainiacs with craft-beer fetishes in these back rooms. But in going through his recent predictions, it’s also safe to say he’s ripe for fading. Eno is 1-3 predicting games this series, having lost three in a row. He’s taking the Astros today. I’m not saying what you should do with that information, but I will tell you the late owner of Lane’s Lounge had a lake house with a sign that matched his Mingo location: “Lane’s Lake.” Picking games is difficult and you need every edge you can get. — Jon Greenberg

Series notes and history

• This is the seventh time the ALCS has been tied at 2-2 since the best-of-seven format was established in 1985. In five of those six previous series, the team that won Game 5 went on to win the series. The outlier? The 2017 Astros, who defeated the Yankees in seven games.
• The Red Sox are now 3-8 in Game 4 of the ALCS. They have been tied 2-2 in the ALCS two previous times: In 2013 against the Tigers and in 2003 against the Yankees. They beat Detroit to advance to the World Series and lost to the Yankees in seven.
• The Astros are now 3-2 in Game 4 of the ALCS. This is their second time tied at 2-2 in the ALCS. In 2017, Houston lost Game 4 but wound up knocking out the Yankees in seven games.

Highlights, tidbits and notes from Game 4

• The Astros’ breakthrough, though, would not have been possible without the performance of their bullpen, which held the Red Sox to two hits between the second and eighth innings. Before the game, manager Dusty Baker did not rule out using Valdez in relief if the situation dictated, knowing such a move would have wrecked any pitching plan he had devised for Game 5 and beyond. But starting with lefty Brooks Raley, who responded from a 27-pitch outing the previous night by striking out Kiké Hernández on a 3-2 curve and then retiring Rafael Devers on a fly ball to escape a first-and-second jam in the second, the ’pen was nearly perfect.

Righty Cristian Javier made the longest and most meaningful contribution, a three-inning effort that ended only when he issued a leadoff walk to Hunter Renfroe in the sixth. Javier threw 57 pitches, matching his highest total since June 3, shortly after he moved from the rotation to the bullpen. Read more.

• The pitch of the night was Nathan Eovaldi’s two-out, two-strike curveball to Jason Castro. It seemed to hit the top of the zone, and Eovaldi strutted off the mound as soon as it landed in Christian Vázquez’s mitt. Eovaldi clearly thought it was an inning-ending strikeout that would keep the game tied at 2. Most everyone in Fenway Park seemed to agree, but home plate umpire Laz Díaz called it a ball. Two pitches later, Castro hit the go-ahead single. The strike zone was a point of contention much of the night — Red Sox manager Cora adamantly argued a strike call against J.D. Martinez earlier in the game — but a game in the hands of the umpires is a game that could go either way, and the Red Sox kept Game 4 hanging on too thin a piece of thread. Read more.

• Astros' Jason Castro after his Game 4 heroics: “I think I’ve found my routine that I’ve been happy with in game, knowing when to get some swings in and when to get loose. I’ve been really happy with some of the swing adjustments I’ve made and just the way I’ve been able to repeat it I think has been the biggest thing. I’ve formulated a nice game plan in my mind based on who’s out on the mound. It’s something I’ve had to get used to, but I’ve been pretty comfortable with the way things have been going.” Read more.

• A Red Sox offense that had been so prolific for much of the postseason flatlined on Tuesday, collecting just two runs on five hits. Xander Bogaerts’ first-inning, two-run homer produced the only Boston runs on a night where the Astros used five arms out of the bullpen after starter Zack Greinke recorded four outs. Against the piecemeal Astros bullpen, the Red Sox were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, left 11 men on base and had runners on in all but one inning. The Red Sox drew seven walks but weren’t able to capitalize. Read more.

Dire circumstances? Astros brush them aside and dramatically alter ALCS against the Red Sox

Top three hitters in the Astros’ order revived? Check. Five relievers combining for 7 2/3 scoreless innings after Zack Greinke pitched a dismal 1 1/3? Check. Order restored to the Astros’ pitching staff, which appeared only 24 hours before to be on the verge of chaos? Put a check there, too, even if the starters have combined for just 6 2/3 innings in four games. By staying away from Framber Valdez on Tuesday night, the Astros can start him in Game 5 on Wednesday on normal rest, with Luis Garcia and others in reserve.

In short, Game 4 of the ALCS could not have been much better for the Astros, and in Game 5 they will face Chris Sale, who has pitched a combined 3 2/3 innings in his two postseason starts. The series, tied at two games each, is now guaranteed to return to Minute Maid Park for Game 6 and possibly Game 7 — a remarkable turn of events considering the Astros’ win probability entering the eighth inning was only 25 percent, their chances of winning the series even lower.

Read Ken Rosenthal's full column.

A quick glance at Field Box 44 behind home plate during this series with the Astros might appear to show a regular group of fans taking in postseason baseball at Fenway Park.

But the roughly 30-person pack is far from ordinary. Blending into the crowd is the scout who helped identify a young Rafael Devers in the Dominican Republic; a former scouting director responsible for drafting Tanner Houck and Christian Vazquez; an analyst who played a key role in crunching the numbers on Kiké Hernandez flourishing in an everyday role; and a pro scout who envisioned Kyle Schwarber making an impact as a trade-deadline pickup.

Throughout the season, Field Box 44, otherwise known as the scout section at Fenway (the section of seats portioned off for pro scouts from opposing teams in town for advance work) typically houses two rows of scouts from other clubs, along with a handful of Red Sox front office personnel.

But the postseason is different.

Come October, the section expands to five or six rows and serves as the gathering place for much of the Red Sox brain trust, who take in the games together as a bonding experience after a long season. The group includes VP of pro scouting Gus Quattlebaum, VP of scouting Mike Rikard, director of pro scouting Harrison Slutsky, director of amateur scouting Paul Toboni, director of major league operations Mike Regan, coordinator of major league operations Alex Gimenez, director of international scouting Rolando Pino, director of baseball analytics Joe McDonald along with several other scouts, analysts, player development personnel and baseball operations staffers.

It even includes general manager Brian O’Halloran.

“There’s always something to be worked on,” said Regan, who started with the team in 2010 as an intern. “But there’s definitely an understanding once the playoff games start, the common denominator with all of us in baseball operations is all of us love baseball so what better way to feed that passion than sit down and watch every pitch of a playoff game?”

Read Jen McCaffrey's full feature.

(Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)

Game 5 starting pitching matchup: LHP Framber Valdez vs. LHP Chris Sale

Lhp framber valdez (0-0, 7.71 era this postseason; 11-6, 3.14 era regular season).

Valdez vs. Red Sox hitters this season (including postseason): Rafael Devers 4-8, Kiké Hernández 3-9, Christian Arroyo 2-7, Xander Bogaerts 1-5, Bobby Dalbec 0-6, J.D. Martinez 2-7, Hunter Renfroe 1-7, Christian Vázquez 1-6, Alex Verdugo 1-5, Kyle Schwarber 0-2, Kevin Plawecki 1-1

Valdez vs. Red Sox this regular season: 2-0, 1.26 ERA, 2 G (2 GS), 14 1/3 IP, 10 H, 2 R (both earned), 2 BB, 18 K, 11.3 K/9, 0.837 WHIP

Valdez at Fenway Park this season: 1-0, 1.23 ERA, 1 G (1 GS), 7 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 8 K, 9.8 K/9, 0.682 WHIP

Valdez last time out vs. Red Sox: ALCS Game 1. 2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 HR, 3 BB, 2 K, 64 pitches (35 strikes)

Valdez this postseason: 0-0, 7.71 ERA, 2 G (2 GS), 7 IP, 13 H, 7 R (6 ER), 1 HR, 4 BB, 8 K, 133 pitches (59 percent strikes)

Valdez postseason career: 3-1, 3.19 ERA, 6 G (5 GS), 31 IP, 27 H, 12 R (11 ER), 4 HR, 14 BB, 34 K, 9.9 K/9, 1.323 WHIP

• Scouting Framber Valdez: The story behind the Astros’ little-known left-hander
• The hidden talent of Astros starter Framber Valdez

LHP Chris Sale (0-0, 14.73 ERA this postseason; 5-1, 3.16 ERA this regular season)

Sale vs. Astros hitters this postseason: Jose Altuve 0-1, Yordan Alvarez 1-1, Michael Brantley 0-2, Alex Bregman 1-2, Carlos Correa 1-2, Kyle Tucker 0-2, Yuli Gurriel 1-1, Martín Maldonado 0-0, Chas McCormick 1-1

Sale vs. Astros this regular season: Did not face Houston in the regular season.

Sale at Fenway Park this regular season: 5-0, 2.48 ERA, 6 G (6 GS), 29 IP, 31 H, 12 R (8 ER), 4 HR, 6 BB, 36 K, 11.2 K/9, 1.276 WHIP

Sale last time out vs. Astros: ALCS Game 1. 2 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R (earned), 0 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, 61 pitches (37 strikes)

Sale this postseason: 0-0, 14.73 ERA, 2 G (2 GS), 3 2/3 IP, 9 H, 6 R (all earned), 1 HR, 2 BB, 4 K, 91 pitches (63 percent strikes)

Sale postseason career: 1-2, 6.91 ERA, 9 G (6 GS), 28 2/3 IP, 33 H, 22 R (all earned), 6 HR, 11 BB, 40 K, 12.6 K/9, 1.535 WHIP

• Chris Sale still isn’t himself, and Red Sox bullpen can’t quite pick up slack in ALCS Game 1
• Nathan Eovaldi’s keen eye might help Chris Sale return to form for Red Sox

How the Red Sox got here

• Red Sox offense disappears in tough luck Game 4 loss that ties the series
• For Red Sox, little things adding up to big moments: ‘It’s relentless’
• Eduardo Rodriguez impresses in six-inning start, but Alex Cora still wants humility from Red Sox
• With a ‘Do your job’ mentality echoing the Patriot Way, Red Sox having their moment in Boston
• Unprecedented pair of early inning grand slams lift Red Sox in pivotal Game 2 of ALCS
• Red Sox ace Nathan Eovaldi wins again as Alex Cora’s calculated pitching plan works out
• Underdogs no more, Red Sox play with a chip on their shoulder they developed back in April
• An adjustment in the batter’s box has helped Kiké Hernández turn Ruthian this postseason
• Even in a loss, the playoff legend of Kiké Hernández grows
• Beyond Kiké Hernández’s heroics, Red Sox offense falls flat in Game 1 loss
• ‘Old school’ Red Sox advance because they worked on little things until they got them right
• The Red Sox just ran through a wall for Alex Cora. Or maybe it just felt like they did.
• Depth and flexibility preached by Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox send them to the ALCS
• Buckley: Lucky? Sure. Funny? Maybe. But the 2021 Red Sox are getting it done when they have to
• Nick Pivetta keeps delivering — and exulting — in big moments for Red Sox: ‘He’s full tilt all the time’
• Christian Vázquez displays his surprising clutch skills as Red Sox pull ahead in ALDS
• No experience required: Rookie Tanner Houck rises to the occasion again to lift Red Sox in Game 2
• Alex Cora’s dugout message after an early deficit propelled Red Sox to Game 2 win
• Hobbled but unbowed, J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers are delivering when Red Sox need them most
• Missed opportunities at the plate plague Red Sox in lopsided Game 1 loss to Rays
• His last Red Sox start? Eduardo Rodriguez leaves with unfinished business in disappointing Game 1
• In pulling Nathan Eovaldi, Alex Cora’s bullpen management again proving stressful, but successful
• Tested all season, Red Sox deliver when it counts to knock out Yankees in wild-card game

Other features

• He wanted to be Rick Porcello, and wear his No. 22. Now Garrett Whitlock has Porcello’s respect, and soon maybe his number
• Whenever the Red Sox have something to celebrate, they turn to their own cake boss, Bekah Eovaldi
• Red Sox can forget the ‘house money’ talk. ALCS vs. Astros is winnable for Boston
• Are the Red Sox ahead of schedule? That’s not how Chaim Bloom looks at this postseason run
• How the Red Sox came to believe they were a playoff team way back in spring training
• The Red Sox brought in Kyle Schwarber for his offense, but his voice has made an impact as well
• How an early August hitting session with Kyle Schwarber turned Bobby Dalbec’s season around
• When Red Sox relievers need a little inspiration, all they have to do is look at the bullpen walls
• Just … breathe? Red Sox believe deep breathing ritual may be key to focus at the plate, and Rafael Devers is all in
• Inside Garrett Whitlock’s long road to recovery that led him to the Red Sox
• The personalities behind the scenes: Alex Verdugo breaks down the Red Sox clubhouse

How the Astros got here

• Astros’ unlikely hero Jason Castro opens the ninth-inning floodgates in a Game 4 romp
• Dire circumstances? Astros brush them aside in Game 4 and dramatically alter ALCS against the Red Sox
• Astros pitchers got crushed again by the Red Sox in Game 3 — could they unknowingly be tipping pitches?
• The Astros could ill afford José Urquidy’s Game 3 blowup, and now they turn to Zack Greinke (and Cristian Javier) for Game 4
• With the Astros’ pitching plans in tatters, what’s their blueprint for these next three games in Boston?
• Astros relievers carry the load in Game 1 victory over Red Sox: ‘They gave us a chance to come back’
• Despite being part of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, Carlos Correa should hit it big in free agency
• Astros advance to fifth consecutive ALCS: What we learned from their series win against the White Sox
• Dusty Baker’s bullpen management cost the Astros in their Game 3 loss to the White Sox
• Astros’ relentless offense lays waste to White Sox bullpen for 2-0 ALDS lead: ‘It happens fast’
• Like it or not, the Astros are at it again in October as they take Game 1 from White Sox
• How Lance McCullers Jr. set the tone for the Astros in their ALDS Game 1 win: ‘Be overwhelming in the zone’
• Astros’ Dusty Baker on another winning season, another uncertain juncture: ‘I believe in perseverance’
• ‘What makes him special is his curiosity’: At age 72, the Dusty Baker story is still being written
• Inside Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker’s quiet breakout: Quesadillas, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and tons of hard contact

POV: Bad Umpiring Hurt Baseball in 2021, Especially in the Playoffs. It’s Time for Change

When it comes to calling balls and strikes, MLB picks umpires based on seniority over performance, a practice that must stop, Questrom professor argues

Red Sox pitcher Nate Eovaldi appeared to be the victim of a missed third strike call by low-performing umpire Laz Diaz in a key moment in the 2021 playoffs. Photo by Kyodo via AP Images

When it comes to calling balls and strikes, MLB picks umpires based on seniority over performance, a practice that must stop, Questrom’s Mark Williams says

Mark t. williams.

The 117th World Series is now behind us, with victory going to the tenacious Atlanta Braves, their first title since 1995. While different teams may win the trophy, one constant remains—bad pitch calling behind home plate. Players and fans deserve better, especially with so much riding on every pitch come playoff time.

After conducting a detailed performance study for the 2021 regular season, analyzing over 353,000 pitches, covering 2,430 games, there were a troubling 29,101 incorrect ball and strike calls made, equating to 12 times per game, or 1.3 per inning. On average, full-time umpires got it wrong 8.3 percent of the time, while younger call-up (substitute) umpires got it wrong 7.9 percent of the time. During the postseason and through the World Series, when the stakes are the highest and every pitch matters the most, Major League Baseball continues to allow second-rate umpires to officiate the biggest moments. The two best teams made it to the 2021 World Series, but unfortunately the best umpires did not. Of the seven umpires chosen , none were ranked in the top 10 for pitch-calling accuracy, and in fact, many ranked in the bottom quartile.

Home plate umpires exert the greatest influence on the game, judging every pitch that’s not hit. For the 2021 season, there were 74 full-time and 25 call-up umpires. The average age of full-time umpires was 49. The youngest (Nic Lentz) was 31 and the oldest (Joe West), 69. Interestingly, when rating pitch-calling performance, younger umpires tended to be higher performers.

Which makes sense, as this demanding job requires strong reflexes, eyesight, and physical stamina. The top-10 ball-strike callers averaged 5 years of experience, whereas the bottom 10 averaged 22 years behind the plate.

Prior to each opening day, MLB assigns 19 crews of four umpires. Based in part on seniority, one umpire is appointed crew chief. Crews work each game, assuming one of four field positions (except for the World Series, when seven umps are utilized). Though it seems counterintuitive, each game, crew members rotate positions clockwise—from base umpire to home plate duties—regardless of their pitch-calling ability. This is a major flaw, since we know that MLB umpires are not equal in their ball-strike accuracy. Some are better at field positions and others are best behind the plate. This rotation approach is relatively new. In the earlier days of the sport, there was specialization, and home plate duties were the purview of the most experienced umpires.

Last season, full-time umpires, on average, worked the plate 26 times and judged 3,840 pitches each, while call-up umps, on average, worked the plate 19 times and each judged 2,766 pitches; collectively, these umpires made over 29,000 bad calls. For this work, senior umpires can make $450,000 or more—not including the perks of postseason work.

Each year, the ball-strike calling of the top umpires continues to get stronger. However, the problem is that the lower performers are allowed to continue to work the plate. At some point, just like athletes, plate umpires hit their peak. Yet this reality appears to be ignored by MLB.

If pitch-calling accuracy demonstrated over the course of the regular season is not the primary criteria for working the big game, then what is? Mark T. Williams

There is a stark difference between the very top and very bottom performers. Here is one example: Tripp Gibson, age 40, who won UmpScores 2021 Umpire of the Year award, had an impressive regular season bad call ratio of only 6.43 percent, missing under nine calls per game. But, at the other end of the spectrum, Ed Hickox, age 59, had a bad call ratio of 10.82 percent, missing a staggering 16.3 calls per game, almost twice as many as Gibson. Why is that sizable error rate acceptable to MLB?

These two individuals are not outliers. When comparing the top and bottom 10 pitch callers, a deep accuracy divide remains. For 2021, the top 10 (average age 36) made bad calls only 6.89 percent of the time, or 9.8 per game. The bottom 10 (average age 56) made bad calls 10 percent of the time, or 14.71 per game. This staggering 45 percent swing in accuracy reinforces the fact that it matters who is behind home plate.

Bad plate calls also tilt the advantage to the pitcher or to the batter. Among MLB umpires, not only is there extreme variability in pitch-calling accuracy, certain umpires are notoriously bad at ball-strike calling during critical-count situations, such as 3-2, 2-2, 3-0, 0-2, and 1-2.

One bad plate call can dramatically change offensive opportunities. For example, on a 1-1 count, batters tend to hit .332, but on a 1-2 count, this advantage drops to .160. On an 0-2 count, the advantage drops to .156, which is why batters attempt to avoid two strike situations. When umpires make ball-strike errors, game odds and outcomes change.

Before the go-ahead base hit, this was the 1-2 pitch to Castro. pic.twitter.com/3PVLW8FFnt — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2021

Just ask Boston Red Sox ace pitcher Nate Eovaldi. During the critical game 4 of the American League playoffs between the Houston Astros and the Red Sox, plate official Laz Diaz missed an astonishing 21 ball-strike calls. In a key moment, Eovaldi was facing batter Jason Castro with two on and two outs, with the Red Sox holding a 2-1 series lead and home park advantage. The batter count was 1-2 (advantage to the pitcher), Eovaldi threw a curve ball for a strike that would have ended the inning, tied 2-2. Instead, Diaz called it a ball and two pitches later Castro hit a run-scoring single that blew the game wide open. Ultimately, the Red Sox also lost the series and a chance to advance to the Fall Classic. 

Poor pitch calling by Laz Diaz should not have come as a surprise to the MLB, players, or fans. For the entire 2021 season, the 58-year-old umpire had been a bottom quartile performer, ranking only 64/74, with a bad call ratio of 9.55 percent, over 14 bad calls per game. The fact that MLB handpicked Diaz to umpire in the postseason is baffling, and the league must be held more accountable for allowing subpar officiating behind the plate.

If pitch-calling accuracy demonstrated over the course of the regular season is not the primary criteria for working the big game, then what is? Looking at the average age of top-performing umpires and the ones chosen for the 2021 World Series, it is clear that MLB and the union don’t utilize a merit-based system, but instead reward seniority over ability. This is a fundamental flaw.

The debate will rage on about whether robot umpires should be deployed to improve plate umpire accuracy. In the interim, there are incremental steps that MLB should make that could greatly reduce pitch-calling error rates and adverse impact on the game, and improve player and fan experience.

First, MLB should rethink their crew assignments, the outdated rotation system, and allow only the top ball-strike callers to specialize behind home plate. Baseball is a sport of specialization, so why shouldn’t this also be applied to home plate umpires? Adopting such an approach would allow the other umpires to focus primarily on base umpiring.

Second, umpires picked for the World Series should be at the top of their game. Choosing seniority over performance needs to stop. Working the postseason should be a privilege earned by umpires (young or old) that demonstrate strong pitch-calling performance over the regular season, and not a perk driven by seniority.

Third, MLB needs to recruit and promote stronger pitch callers, acknowledge peaking behind home plate, and weed out underperformers sooner. Higher standards should be used when determining who gains the privilege to work the plate. Major League Baseball Umpires Association also needs to wake up and realize that bad plate calls tarnish the profession, hurt the game, and diminish fan experience. 

The number of full-time umpires is capped at 74, and with only a few new slots coming open each season, new talent is shut out until older, lower-performing umpires are retired. As extensive data from my original 2019 research showed (further supported this past season), umpires, like athletes, peak. Umpires such as Joe West, age 69, a perennial underperformer, who only after 44 years, is now retiring, should not have been allowed to continue to work the plate. Laz Diaz has also demonstrated his plate-calling duties should end. And it’s time MLB let new talent flourish.

Mark T. Williams (Questrom’93) is a recipient of the James E. Freeman Lecturer Chair. He is the founder of UmpScores , a performance app dedicated to providing baseball fans with home plate umpire statistics, analysis, and ratings.

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Mark T. Williams is a BU Questrom School of Business executive-in-residence and a master lecturer in finance and holds the James E. Freeman Lecturer Chair. He is the founder of UmpScores, a performance app used to measure MLB umpire accuracy. Profile

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There are 8 comments on POV: Bad Umpiring Hurt Baseball in 2021, Especially in the Playoffs. It’s Time for Change

The numbers don’t lie. Thank you Professor Williams for quantifying this matter and taking the subjectivity and favoritism out of it. How can fans, players, owners and the league let this continue? It’s time for a complete overhaul. What could possibly be the argument for not having the most accurate umpires calling the playoffs. “Seniority” is a hogwash answer. Maybe their drop in performance has to do with bias or arrogance over stamina. Regardless. We deserve better while Professor Williams deserves a Major League style signing bonus from MLB for logically exposing this bad judgement. Hey MLB, it your turn! Chop chop.

Someone’s bias is showing here. The author of this article may have a head for business, but he has zero feel for umpiring, and he shows little understanding of what actually constitutes umpiring excellence, for which there are many more criteria to be considered than mere pitch-calling accuracy.

It’s always easier to criticize umpires for their deficiencies and “notoriously bad” calls than it is to put things in perspective and admit that if an umpire’s bad call turns a potential 2-2 strikeout situation into a 3-2 full count and the batter hits the next pitch out of the park, the home run is attributable much more to what the pitcher did when he served up a big fat 3-2 meatball than to the umpire’s inaccurate call of the previous pitch. Full disclosure, I’ve been umpiring more than forty years and I’ve made my share of bad calls out there – any umpire worth their salt has – and I always tell players if they don’t want umpires to make calls, good or bad, that have an adverse effect on the outcome of a game, don’t put them in a position where that can happen. For every “bad call” behind the plate, I guarantee you, there are two fielding errors, three mental mistakes, a couple of hit batters, four passed balls, and numerous strikeouts by batters. Yet none of this enters into the author’s discussion of “competence” or “second rate” performance here except as it applies to umpires. Failure is baked into a player’s productivity when “success” is measured by doing well only three out of every ten times, and this standard seldom invokes complaints about incompetence – except when it’s weaponized against umpires.

Williams’ opinions are just that: opinions, backed up by more opinions. He pretties up his opinions with fractions and footnotes and fairy tales about umpires’ clockwise rotations around the bases from one game to the next, bizarrely stating that they’re “relatively new. In the earlier days of the sport, there was specialization, and home plate duties were the purview of the most experienced umpires.” Hogwash. Even the great Bill Klem, who according to (apocryphal) legend worked only the plate during his 37 years in the major leagues, did not “specialize” in plate work; that’s an absurd assertion on its face. Since the advent of professional umpire schools, umpires being prepared for pro ball are NEVER encouraged to “specialize,” nor should they be. The author’s insights into how umpires are trained and assigned, how crews work as a team, and what actually makes an individual umpire great regardless of some “score” on a website, are, by all indications, corrupted by his implicit bias toward umpires, at least the human ones.

If anyone is showing bias here, it’s you Mr. Barber.

Absolutely, David, and I fully disclosed it early on in my comment. I feel no shame in supporting umpires or in providing a counterpoint to Mark Williams’ thoughts on umpires by pointing out that his perspective on what constitutes bad umpiring is as skewed by HIS obvious bias, not to mention his seriously deficient knowledge of umpiring history, as mine is by having spent the last forty years fighting the perceptions featured in this article of umpires as incompetent buffoons whose only virtue lies in our willingness to be punching bags for every armchair analysts’ criticisms, most of which are based on emotion and a lack of rules knowledge as opposed to any objective evaluation of umpire performance.

Baseball is a game that recognizes failure as a measure of greatness for every participant except umpires. If an umpire had a .300 “call” average, he or she would either be in for some serious re-training, or looking for another way to spend a few hours on the weekends. Is it too much to ask that baseball researchers and analysts keep things in perspective when griping about how bad the umpires are? I just don’t get how constantly slamming umpires and insinuating that very few are even halfway competent adds anything to the overall enjoyment of baseball, the game, the sport, the spectacle. Major league umpires, certainly, don’t get there without years of practice, persistence, and the constant pursuit of perfection even if that’s an impossible standard. The rest of us who umpire non-professional games – youth leagues, high school, college, adult leagues, travel leagues, international competitions, et al. – devote ourselves to doing the best job we can out there behind the plate as well as on the bases, and we don’t go around complaining about how bad the players are because they occasionally drop an easy fly ball or kick a grounder or strike out three times in a game. Yet we know we have to tolerate the uninformed, angry opinions of spectators and announcers given free rein to express their displeasure toward umpires, while all we have is our dignity and our dedication to doing the best job we can out there. There’s no statistic to measure that, and all I ask is that readers keep it in mind when reading articles like this one.

And by the way, I’m Perry, and I’m fine with that as a form of address, but definitely not with “Mr.” “Your Highness” is also an acceptable alternate.

Thanks for writing this and helping me feel better about how the season ended for the Sox. But…

The strongest argument here is that, like players, umpires in the post-season should be the best performers. That said, the quest for perfection may be a fool’s errand, depending on what we fans want the game to be. If we want perfect accuracy in judging pitches the obvious solution would be to use computer/video to call the balls and strikes.

But this is a game. For fun. Yes I realize it is a business but I like it because it is a fun game to watch. And sometimes the fun happens when things go wrong. Yeah I was upset about Laz Diaz’ call. I was there. Mad at him. Wanting the ump to be thrown out. Wondering how he got the job. Chuckling when the drunk fans teased him incessantly about later obvious calls (e.g. ball hits batter – ‘hey Laz, maybe that was a strike?’).. Much like applies to players sometimes, and managers’ calls. And rooting big for the Sox. All part of the game. And some of its most memorable moments.

Although I think video review has its place for some rare difficult to call plays that are critical, I prefer that most of the game be played by humans, with mistakes factored into the equation.

So let’s get the best players and umps into the post-season (realizing those things are not so reliably measured – after all, most good players end up in a narrow range of batting averages by the end of the season [the 400s and the 100s of June end up in the 200s]). And then have fun with the game!

Professor Williams, I am interested if you have information regarding accuracy of strike calls based on the catchers behind the plate? As a former catcher, pitch framing was one of, if not the most, important aspects of my game. Building relationships with umpires and presenting the ball in deceptive ways gave my pitchers a lot of strike calls. I’m just curious as to how much this plays into the accuracy of the umpire’s calls.

Very insightful comments above. While I agree with many of the author’s contentions, it was quite obvious that this whole opinion piece would have never been written had the Red Sox won the 2021 World Series. I’m guessing that, coincidentally, the statistics will “prove” that the umpires were spot-on in the postseasons of 2018, 2013, 2007 and 2004, not to mention 1918, 1916, 1915, 1912 and even the very first World Series in 1903, when the Sox were known as the Americans. And no, I’m not a Yankees fan.

They’re just plain awful. I don’t have a favorite team but I do enjoy a good game. This is hard because the umpires miss soo many calls. I have to change the channel sometimes it’s so bad. Just love the game and it should be more professionally called for what they are paid good job or just plain awful. Just sayin.

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Major League Umpires 2000 - 2024

Yearly Crews / Post Season Crews / All-Star Game Umps

2023 Post-Season Umpires / 2023 WS Umpires All-Time World Series Umps / 1999 Resigned Umpires

2024 MLB Umpire Crews

2023 mlb umpire crews.

2023 Crew Chiefs

Jerry Layne, Jeff Nelson, Bill Miller, Larry Vanover, Paul Emmel, Mark Wegner, Alfonso Marquez, Dan Iassongna, Mark Carlson, Las Diaz, Ron Kulpa, Marvin Hudson, Lance Barksdale, James Hoyle, Adrian Johnson, Dan Bellino, Todd, Tichenor, Alan Porter, Chris Conroy

MLB announced that 10 umpires have been promoted to the full-time Major League staff.  The newest members are Erich Bacchus , Adam Beck , Nestor Ceja , Shane Livensparger , Nick Mahrley , Brennan Miller , Malachi Moore , Edwin Moscoso , Alex Tosi & Junior Valentine .

Well-respected crew chiefs Ted Barrett, Greg Gibson, Tom Hallion, Sam Holbrook, Jerry Meals, Jim Reynolds and Bill Welke are among the group to retire, while Marty Foster, Paul Nauert & Tim Timmons will join them.

2023 Postseason Umpires

July 11, 2023, T-Moble Park, Seattle, WA NL-3 AL-2

HP: Tim Tischner-cc 1B: Quinn Wolcott 2B: Tripp Gibson 3B: Stu Scheurwater LF: Ryan Blakney RF: Ramon De Jesus Replay Official: Jim Wolf

2022 Postseason Umpires

Al wild card (seattle mariners @ toronto bluye jays), al wild card (cleveland guardians @ tampa bay rays), nl wild card (philadelphia phillies @ st louis cardinals), nl wild card (san diego padres @ ny mets), 92nd all-star game.

July 19, 2022, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA AL-3 NL-2

HP: Bill Miller-cc 1B: Lance Barksdale 2B: Mark Ripperger 3B: Will Little LF: Gabe Morales RF: Carlos Torres Replay Official: Brian Knight

2022 MLB Umpire Crews

Major League Baseball announced that five umpires have been promoted to the full-time Major League staff. The newest members are umpires Ryan Additon, Sean Barber, John Libka, Ben May and Roberto Ortiz , who becomes the first Puerto Rican-born umpire ever to join the Major League staff.

Appointment of Crew Chiefs

Each year the Office of the Commissioner shall appoint an umpire to act as the Crew Chief for each of the crews formed for the championship season. While the Office of the Commissioner may consider seniority along with other factors that it may deem appropriate when exercising its appointment discretion, seniority shall not control in the Office of the Commissioner's choice of Crew Chiefs.  The Crew Chief shall coordinate and direct his crew's compliance with the Office of the Commissioner's rules and policies. Other Crew Chief responsibilities include: leading periodic discussions and reviews of situations, plays and rules with his crew; generally directing the work of the other umpires on the crew, with particular emphasis on uniformity in dealing with unique situations; assigning responsibilities for maintaining time limits during the game; ensuring the timely filing of all required crew reports for incidents such as ejections, brawls and protested games and reporting to the Office of Commissioner any irregularity in field conditions at any ballpark

2021 MLB Umpire Crews

91st all-star game.

July 13, 2021, Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia Moved due to voter suppression,Coors Field, Colorado AL-5 NL-2

HP: Tom Hallion-cc 1B: CB Bucknor 2B: Chris Guccione 3B: Lance Barret LF: David Rackley RF: Adam Hamari Replay Official: Greg Gibson

2021 Postseason Umpires

Al wild card (new york yankees @ boston red sox), nl wild card (st louis cardinals @ los angeles dodgers), alds: tampa bay rays vs. boston red sox.

Game 1 | Umpire | Previous Postseason Assignments HP Dan Bellino 1 WC, 6 DS, 1 LCS 1B D.J. Reyburn 1 WC, 2 DS 2B Sam Holbrook (CC) 1 WC, 6 DS, 4 LCS, 3 WS 3B Ron Kulpa 1 WC, 11 DS, 3 LCS, 1 WS LF Greg Gibson 3 WC, 9 DS, 5 LCS, 1 WS RF Brian Knight 2 WC, 3 DS

ALDS: HOUSTON ASTROS VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Game 1 | Umpire | Previous Postseason Assignments HP Adam Hamari 2 WC 1B Chris Conroy 2 WC, 1 DS, 2 LCS 2B Tom Hallion (CC) 9 DS, 5 LCS, 1 WS 3B Vic Carapazza 1 WC, 4 DS, 1 LCS LF Chad Fairchild 1 WC, 5 DS, 2 LCS, 1 WS RF Lance Barrett 2 WC, 1 DS

Nlds: san francisco giants vs. los angeles dodgers.

Game 1 | Umpire | Previous Postseason Assignments HP Carlos Torres 2 WC 1B Angel Hernandez 11 DS, 8 LCS, 2 WS 2B Ted Barrett (CC) 5 WC, 11 DS, 9 LCS, 4 WS 3B Pat Hoberg 2 WC, 1 DS, 1 LCS LF Doug Eddings 2 WC, 5 DS, 1 LCS, 1 WS RF Gabe Morales 2 WC

NLDS: MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS. ATLANTA BRAVES

Game 1 | Umpire | Previous Postseason Assignments HP Mike Estabrook 1 WC, 1 DS 1B Mike Muchlinski 1 WC, 2 DS, 1 LCS 2B Alfonso Marquez (CC) 2 WC, 10 DS, 5 LCS, 3 WS 3B Tony Randazzo 7 DS, 2 LCS, 1 WS LF Will Little 3 WC, 2 DS, 1 LCS RF Quinn Wolcott 2 WC, 2 DS Replay officials: Fieldin Culbreth, CB Bucknor, Chris Guccione, Adrian Johnson.

ALCS: HOUSTON ASTROS VS. BOSTON RED SOX

Game 1 | Umpire | Previous Postseason Assignments HP David Rackley 4 WC, 1 DS 1B Bill Miller (CC) 6 WC, 9 DS, 7 LCS, 4 WS 2B Laz Diaz 2 WC, 7 DS, 3 LCS, 3 WS 3B Dan Iassogna 3 WC, 6 DS, 5 LCS, 2 WS LF Jim Wolf 3 WC, 5 DS, 4 LCS, 2 WS RF Alan Porter 3 WC, 5 DS, 2 LCS, 1 WS Reserve Rob Drake 3 WC, 2 DS, 3 LCS

NLCS: ATLANTA BRAVES VS LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Game 1 | Umpire | Previous Postseason Assignments HP Tripp Gibson 3 WC, 2 DS 1B Jerry Meals (CC) 2 WC, 9 DS, 2 LCS, 2 WS 2B James Hoye 4 WC, 3 DS, 2 LCS, 1 WS 3B Mark Carlson 2 WC, 5 DS, 5 LCS, 2 WS LF Lance Barksdale 3 WC, 5 DS, 2 LCS, 1 WS RF Todd Tichenor 2 WC, 5 DS, 1 LCS, 1 WS Reserve Jordan Baker 3 WC, 1 DS Replay officials: Cory Blaser, Marvin Hudson, Nic Lentz

THE HOUSTON ASTROS VS. THE ATLANTA BRAVES

HP Chris Conroy 1B Tom Hallion (CC) 2B Dan Bellino 3B Ted Barrett LF Mike Muchlinski RF Alfonso Marquez Reserve Ron Kulpa Replay officials: Pat Hoberg, Tim Timmons

Modified 2020 MLB Umpire Crews

2020 opt out list:.

Barry, Scott | Culbreth, Fieldin | Cuzzi, Phil | Danley, Kerwin | Davis, Gerry | Dreckman, Bruce | Gorman, Brian | Hallion, Tom | Holbrook, Sam | Layne, Jerry | O'Nora, Brian | Winters, Mike

Summer Camp 2.0 Umpire Roster

2020 mlb umpire crews.

Before COVID-19 delayed Opening Day, the originally-drafted 2020 MLB umpire crew list features 76 umpires in 19 crews. MLB may reshuffle these crews due to coronavirus restrictions, or assign umpires or crew chiefs regionally as the season begins in modified form, providing agreement is reached with the player's association.

2020 MLB Spring Training Roster

2020 postseason umpires, 2019 mlb umpire crews.

90th All-Star Game July 9, 2019, Progressive Field,Cleveland, Ohio AL-4 NL-3

HP: Mark Wegner-cc 1B: Brian O'Nora 2B: Phil Cuzzi 3B: Tim Timmons LF: D.J. Reyburn RF: Jordan Baker Replay Official: Feildin Culbreth

2019 Postseason Umpires

NL Wild Card (Milwaukee Brewers @ Washington Nationals) HP: Mike Everitt 1B: Kerwin Danley 2B: Jeff Nelson-cc 3B: Cory Blaser LF: David Rackley RF: Carlos Torres AL Wild Card (Tampa Bay Rays @ Oakland Athletics) HP: Chad Fairchild 1B: Fieldin Culbreth 2B: Bill Miller-cc 3B: Chris Guccine LF: Lance Barrett RF: Adam Hamari Wild Card Replay Officials: Laz Diaz & Dan Iassogna

NLDS A (St. Louis Cardnials @ Atlanta Braves) HP: Pat Hoberg 1B: Alan Porter 2B: Sam Holbrook-cc 3B: Jim Wolf LF: Tom Hallion RF: Ed Hickox NLDS B (Washington Nationals @ LA Dodgers) HP: Will Little 1B: Jordan Baker 2B: Ted Barrett-cc 3B: Doug Eddings LF: Alfonso Marquez RF: Tripp Gibson ALDS A (Minnesota Twins @ NY Yankees) HP: Manny Gonzalez 1B: Todd Tischner 2B: Gary Cederstrom-cc 3B: Lance Barksdale LF: Eric Cooper RF: Adrian Johnson ALDS B (Tampa Bay Rays @ Houston Astros) HP: John Tumpane 1B: Bruce Dreckman 2B: Mark Wegner-cc 3B: James Hoye LF: Jerry Meals RF: DJ Reyburn ALDS/NLDS Replay Officials: Ron Kulpa, Gabe Morales, Paul Nauert & Brian O’Nora

ALCS: NY Yankees @ Houston Astros HP: Bill Welke (Replay Games 3-7) 1B: Cory Blaser (Game 2 HP ) 2B: Jeff Nelson -cc (Game 3 HP) replaced by Mike Everitt due to injury for game 4+ 3B: Dan Bellino (Game 4 HP ) LF: Kerwin Danley (Game 5 HP ) RF: Mark Carlson (Game 6 HP ) Replay: Marvin Hudson (On Field Games 3-7, Game 7 HP )

NLCS: Washington Nationals @ St. Louis Cardnials HP: Mike Muchlinski (Replay Games 3-7 ) 1B: Chris Conroy (Game 2 HP ) 2B: Bill Miller -cc  (Game 3 HP ) 3B: Phil Cuzzi (Game 4 HP ) LF: Chad Fairchild (Game 5 HP ) RF: Fieldin Culbreth ( G ame 6 HP ) Replay: Chris Guccione (On Field Games 3-7, Game 7 HP ) Replay Assistant, ALCS & NLCS: David Rackley

Washington Nationals @ Houston Astros HP: Alan Porter 1B: Doug Eddings (Game 2 HP) 2B: Gary Cederstrom-cc (Game 3 HP) 3B: James Hoye (Game 4 HP) LF: Lance Barksdale (Game 5 HP) RF: Sam Holbrook (Game 6 HP) Replay: Jim Wolf (Game 7 HP) Replay Assistant: Jerry Meals

2018 MLB Umpire Crews February, 2018

2018 mlb spring training roster.

89th All-Star Game July 17, 2018, Nationals Park, Washington, DC AL-8 NL-6, 10 innings

HP: Ted Barrett (crew chief): 3rd AS Game. 1B: Jim Reynolds: 2nd AS Game. 2B:Alfonso Marquez: 2nd AS Game. 3B:Andy Fletcher: 2nd AS Game. LF:Mike Muchlinski: 1st AS Game. RF:Cory Blaser: 1st AS Game. Replay Official:Marvin Hudson

2018 Postseason Umpires

NL Wild Card (Colorado Rockies @ Chicago Cubs) HP: Chris Guccione 1B: Mark Wegner 2B: Bill Miller-cc 3B: James Hoye LF: Tripp Gibson RF: Gabe Morales AL Wild Card (Oakland Athletics @ NY Yankees) HP: Jim Wolf 1B: Greg Gibson 2B: Gerry Davis-cc 3B: Alan Porter LF: Will Little RF: Pat Hoberg Wild Card Replay Officials: Ed Hickox & Sam Holbrook

LA Dodgers @ Boston RedSox

HP: Tim Timmons (Game 1 HP) 1B: Kerwin Danley (Game 2 HP) 2B: Ted Barrett-cc ( Game 3 HP) 3B: Chad Fairchild (Game 4 HP) LF: Jeff Nelson (Game 5 HP) RF: Jim Reynolds (Game 6 HP) Replay: Fieldin Culbreth (Game 7 HP) Replay Assistant, Chris Conroy

2017 MLB Umpire Crews February, 2017

New Hires: Adam Hamari, Gabe Morales, Pat Hoberg, Carlos Torres

2017 MLB Spring Training Roster

88th All-Star Game July 11, 2017, Marlins Park, Miami, Florida AL-2 NL-1, 10 innings

HP: Joe West (crew chief): 3rd AS Game. 1B: Angel Hernandez: 3rd AS Game. 2B: Mark Carlson: 2nd AS Game. 3B: Chris Conroy: 1st AS Game. LF: Manny Gonzalez: 1st AS Game. RF: Mike Estabrook: 1st AS Game. Replay Official: Doug Eddings: 1st AS Game Replay.

2017 Postseason Umpires

The Replay Official does not join the on field crew for the Wild Card or Division Series games AL Wild Card A: Minnesota Twins @ NY Yankees HP: Alfonso Marquez 1B: Mike Winters, CC 2B: Eric Cooper 3B: Lance Barksdale LF: Tripp Gibson RF: John Tumpane NL Wild Card B: Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks HP: Jim Reynolds 1B: Gary Cederstrom, CC 2B: Mark Carlson 3B: Chris Guccione LF: Jordan Baker RF: David Rackley Wild Card Game Replay Officials: Mike Muchlinski and Bill Welke ALDS A: NY Yankees / Cleveland Indians HP: Vic Caparazza 1B: Dan Iasogna 2B: Dana DeMuth, CC 3B: Brian O'Nora LF: Jeff Nelson RF: Adrian Johnson ALDS B: Boston Red Sox / Houston Astros HP: Dan Bellino 1B: Angel Hernandez 2B: Ted Barrett, CC 3B: Mark Wegner LF: Mike Everitt RF: Marty Foster NLDS A: NL Arizona Diamonbacks / LA Dodgers HP: Paul Nauert 1B: Phil Cuzzi 2B: Gerry Davis, CC 3B: Alan Porter LF: Bill Miller RF: Quinn Wolcott NLDS B: Chicago Cubs / Washington Nationals HP: Cory Blaser 1B: Ron Kulpa 2B: Fieldin Culbreth 3B: Laz Diaz LF: Jerry Layne, CC RF: Will Little Replay Officials: Greg Gibson, Tom Hallion, James Hoye, Tim Timmons

ALCS: NY Yankees / Houston Astros HP: Chad Fairchild (replay review games 3-7) 1B: Hunter Wendelstedt 2B: Gary Cederstrom, CC 3B: Chris Guccione LF: Jerry Meals RF: Jim Reynolds Replay Review: Mark Carlson (on field games 3-7) NLCS: Chicago Cubs / Los Angeles Dodgers HP: Lance Barksdale (replay review games 3-7) 1B: Todd Tichenor 2B: Mike Winters, CC 3B: Jim Wolf LF: Bill Welke RF: Alfonso Marquez Replay Review: Eric Cooper (on field games 3-7) Replay Assistant, AL & NLCS: Mike Muchlinski

Houston Astros @ LA Dodgers HP: Phil Cuzzi, replay review games 3-7 1B: Paul Nauert 2B: Gerry Davis, CC 3B: Laz Diaz LF: Bill Miller RF: Dan Iassogna Replay: Mark Wegner, on field games 3-7 Replay Assistant, Tripp Gibson

2016 MLB Umpire Crews April, 2016

2016 mlb spring training roster.

MLB Officially Hires John Tumpane to Full-Time Staff

87th All-Star Game July 12, 2016, Petco Park, San Diego, California AL-4 NL-2

HP: Mike Winters , (crew chief): 4th All-Star Game. 1B: Kerwin Danley: 2nd All-Star Game. 2B: Marty Foster: 2nd All-Star Game 3B: Bill Welke: 2nd All-Star Game. LF: Adrian Johnson: 1st All-Star Game. RF: Dan Bellino: 1st All-Star Game. Replay: Sam Holbrook: 1st ASG as Replay, 2nd overall

2016 Postseason Umpires

2015 mlb umpire crews march 14, 2015.

Larry Vanover & Jerry Meals have been promoted to Crew Chief. New-hire assignments: Will Little -> Davis. Tripp Gibson -> Gorman. Mark Ripperger -> Kellogg. Promotions to the Umpire 2 (backup crew chief) position: Phil Cuzzi, Paul Nauert, Mark Carlson. Note that individual crews are usually sorted by Major League service time (see Jerry Layne's crew for an exception; Bob Davidson has more service time [25 years] than Hunter Wendelstedt [15]); hence an umpire on a crew with the third-most service time in 2014 who now has the second-most service time on this crew in 2015 will be said to have been "promoted" to the second spot. Pursuant to terms of the WUA-MLB collective bargaining agreement, all 76 umpiring slots across 19 crews have been filled (+2 over 2014). There are no permanent (AAA Rover) positions in 2015.

2015 MLB Spring Training Umpire Roster

MiLB invites dropped by six (from 2014), while full-time MLB umpires increased by two. Bruce Dreckman, John Hirschbeck and Sam Holbrook are returning, Tim McClelland is not. Angel Campos (11 years of Triple-A experience; MLB 2007-2012, 2014) has been released. Umpires who appeared on the 2014 Spring Training MiLB invitee list, but who have been cut for the 2015 preseason are: Allen Bailey, Angel Campos, Shaun Lampe, Jeff Morrow, Brad Myers, Alex Ortiz, and David Soucy. Of these 2014 invitees cut from the 2015 invite list, Shaun Lampe, Jeff Morrow, and Alex Ortiz have been assigned to the 2015 Pacific Coast League. Brad Myers and David Soucy were IL Umpires in 2014. (Baseball switched Campos to the 2014 IL after several years in the PCL.)

Longtime umpire Tim McClelland has retired, and Major League Baseball has hired three umps full time for the upcoming season. MLB announced the moves Friday. The 63-year-old McClelland is perhaps best known for being the plate umpire who called George Brett out in the "Pine Tar Game" in 1983, prompting the eventual Hall of Famer to run out of the Kansas City dugout in a rage to argue. McClelland worked in the majors for more than 32 years, was a crew chief and handled the World Series four times. He was noted for the exceptionally slow manner in which he called strikes. McClelland worked more than 4,200 games, including 94 in the postseason. He was second among umpires in experience, behind only 37-year vet Joe West.

MLB Hires Tripp Gibson, Mark Ripperger, Will Little

86th all-star game july 14, 2015, great american ballpark, cincinnati, ohio al-6 nl-3.

HP:Tim Welke, crew chief 1B: Jerry Meals 2B: Paul Schrieber 3B:Ron Kulpa LF: James Hoye RF: Alan Porter Replay: Brian Gorman

2015 Postseason Umpires

AL Wild Card Eric Cooper, Paul Emmel, Ted Barret, Bill Miller, Chris Conroy, Manny Gonzalez

NL Wild Card Jeff Nelson, Hunter Wendelstat, John Hirshbeck, Jim Reynolds, Mike Estabrook, Cory Blaser

Replay officials for wild card games: Dan Issogna and Mark Wegner

AL Division Series Lance Barksdale, Angel Hernandez, Mike Everitt, Ron Kulpa, Gerry Davis, Todd Tishnor James Hoye, Vic Carpezza, Alfonso Marquez, Marvin Hudson, Dale Scott, Dan Bellino

NL Division Series Phil Cuzzi, Bill Welke, Mike Winters, Mark Carlson, Dana DeMuth , Brian Knight Alan Porter, Jim Wolf, Greg Gibson, Chris Guccione, Gary Cederstrom , Chad Fairchild

Replay officials for division series: Kerwin Danley, Paul Nauert, Brian O'Nora and Tim Welke

AL Championship Series HP: Tony Randazzo* 1B: Laz Diaz 2B: John Hirschbeck 3B: Hunter Wendelstedt LF: Dan Iassogna RF: Jeff Nelson Replay: Jim Reynolds* Replay Assistant: Mike Estabrook *Tony Randazzo will work with the on-field crew for Games 1 and 2 and then serve as Replay Official for Games 3-7. Jim Reynolds will serve as Replay Official for Games 1 and 2 and then assume Randazzo's role as LF Umpire for Game 3, remaining with the crew through the remainder of the series.

Nl championship series hp: rob drake* 1b: tim timmons 2b: ted barrett 3b: paul emmel lf: eric cooper rf: bill miller replay: mark wegner* replay assistant: mike estabrook *rob drake will be the replay official for games 3-7 while wegner will join the on-field crew for games 3-7., 2014 mlb umpire crews march 24, 2014,   tim mcclelland and gary darling began the season on the dl. gary darling retired in july, 2014 and is replaced by quinn wolcott., shuffling of umpires will take place early this season. for example, chris conroy will be begin his season with acting crew chief jerry meals in crew j. when gary darling returns to crew chief service mid-season, conroy will return to gary cederstrom's crew i (for aaa rover ) and meals will slide to crew j's umpire 2 position. new chiefs' crews: jeff nelson (crew a) and bill miller (crew b) acting crew chiefs: larry vanover (crew f, for tim mcclelland) and jerry meals (crew j, for gary darling).

28 MiLB Umpires, 74 MLB Umpires: 102 Total Umpires

MLB Hires Seven New Umpires, Names a Director of Instant Replay

MLB announced that seven umpires have been named to the full-time Major League Umpiring staff. In addition, as another part of this season’s expansion of instant replay, the Office of the Commissioner has appointed Justin Klemm as Director of Instant Replay.

Klemm, a former minor league umpire and minor league umpire administrator, will report to Peter Woodfork, MLB’s Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations, which I assume means Joe Torre will be relieved of even more uncomfortable press conferences when things go awry. Klemm will be based at the headquarters of MLB Advanced Media, which will serve as the Replay Command Center.

Two additional four-man umpiring crews will be hired and umpires will be rotated through New York to review video feeds. Every ballpark will have a designated communication location near home plate. There, the crew chief and at least one other Major League umpire will have access to a hard-wired headset connected to the Replay Command Center. The decision of the replay official in New York will be final.

Here is the rundown of the seven new MLB umpires, all of whom have had callups as replacement / fill-ins in the past.

Jordan Baker - Baker, 32, has been an umpire in the Minor Leagues since the 2005 season. In 2013, he worked in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Baker worked his first game in the Majors on June 24, 2012 and overall, he has been a part of 199 regular season Major League games.

Lance Barrett – Barrett, 29, has been a Minor League umpire since 2003. He is now the youngest full-time Major League Umpire. In 2013, he worked in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Barrett debuted in the Majors on October 1, 2010 and he has worked 237 big-league games.

Cory Blaser – Blaser, 32, has been an umpire in the Minor Leagues since the 2002 season. In 2013, he worked in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Blaser made his Major League debut on April 24, 2010 and he has worked 346 Major League games.

Mike Estabrook – Estabrook, 37, has umpired professionally since 1999. In 2013, he was on the staff of the Triple-A International League. Estabrook’s first Major League game was on May 7, 2006, and he has been assigned to 698 Major League games.

Mike Muchlinski – Muchlinski, 36, has been a Minor League umpire since 1999. In 2013, he worked in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Muchlinski made his Major League debut on April 24, 2006, and he has worked 569 Major League games.

David Rackley – Rackley, 32, has been an umpire in the Minor Leagues since the 2001 season. In 2013, he was on the staff of the Triple-A International League. Rackley had his first Major League game on August 13, 2010, and he has been on the field for 165 Major League games overall.

D.J. Reyburn – Reyburn, 37, has umpired in the Minors since 2000. In 2013, he worked in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He has worked 440 Major League games since his debut on June 10, 2008.

85th All-Star Game July 15, 2014, Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota AL-5 NL-3

HP: Gary Cederstrom, crew chief 1B: Jeff Nelson 2B: Bob Davidson 3B:Scott Barry LF: Todd Tichenor RF: Vic Carrapazza Replay: Jerry Layne

2014 Postseason Umpires

AL Wild Card Gerry Davis, James Hoye, Dan Iassogna, Bill Miller, Todd Tichenor, Bill Welke Replay Officials: Phil Cuzzi & Tim Timmons

NL Wild Card Joe West , Doug Eddings, Paul Emmel, Andy Fletcher, Brian Gorman, Mark Wegner Replay Officials: Phil Cuzzi & Tim Timmons

AL Division Series Ted Barrett , Lance Barksdale, Chris Guccione, Paul Nauert, Jeff Nelson, Jim Reynolds Replay Officials: CB Bucknor, Chris Conroy, Ed Hickox, Brian O'Nora

Jeff Kellogg, Scott Barry, Dan Bellino, Fieldin Culbreth, Paul Schrieber, Jim Wolf Replay Officials: CB Bucknor, Chris Conroy, Ed Hickox, Brian O'Nora

NL Division Series Mike Winters, Vic Carapazza, Laz Diaz, Tom Hallion, Brian Knight, Hunter Wendelstedt Replay Officials: CB Bucknor, Chris Conroy, Ed Hickox, Brian O'Nora

Dale Scott, Jerry Meals, Rob Drake, Eric Cooper, Jerry Layne, Alan Porter Replay Officials: CB Bucknor, Chris Conroy, Ed Hickox, Brian O'Nora

AL Championship Series HP: Tim Timmons (Games 1 & 2, then Replay) 1B: Marvin Hudson 2B: Joe West 3B: Ron Kulpa LF: Mark Wegner RF: Brian Gorman Replay: Paul Emmel (Games 1 & 2, then LF) Replay Assistant (Not Assigned to the Field of Play): Todd Tichenor

NL Championship Series HP: Phil Cuzzi (Games 1 & 2, then Replay) 1B: Bill Welke 2B: Gerry Davis 3B: Mark Carlson LF: Greg Gibson RF: Bill Miller Replay: Dan Iassogna (Games 1 & 2, then LF) Replay: Assistant (Not Assigned to the Field of Play): Todd Tichenor

HP: Jerry Meals (Games 1-2, then Replay) 1B: Eric Cooper 2B: Jim Reynolds 3B: Ted Barrett LF: Hunter Wendelstedt RF: Jeff Kellogg Replay: Jeff Nelson(Games 1-2, then LF) Replay Assistant: Brian O'Nora.

2014 MLB-Japan All-Star Series Umpires

Mlb all-stars vs hanshin-yomiuri, exhibition game: hp: fumihiro yoshimoto (jpn) 1b: chris conroy (usa) 2b: hideto fuke (jpn) 3b: mike winters (usa) mlb all-stars vs samurai japan (japanese national team), game 1: hp: chris conroy (usa) 1b: takanori yamamoto (jpn) 2b: jerry layne (usa) 3b: katsumi manabe, game 2: hp: shoji arisumi (jpn) 1b: jerry layne (usa) 2b: chikara tsugawa (jpn) 3b: chris conroy (usa), 2013 mlb umpire crews.

Major League Baseball announced the changes to the Major League Umpiring staff for the 2013 regular season. The changes include three new crew chiefs and three new full-time Major League Umpires.

The three new crew chiefs are veteran Major League Umpires Jim Joyce (25 years), Ted Barrett (16 years) and Fieldin Culbreth (16 years). Barrett, 47, and Culbreth, 49, are now the youngest crew chiefs on the Major League staff. Barrett, who recently completed his Ph.D. in theology, has worked two World Series (2007, 2011), five League Championship Series, seven Division Series and one All-Star Game (2007) in his career. He is the only umpire in history to be the home plate umpire in two perfect games, among the three no-hitters he has worked overall (David Cone's 1999 perfect game, Ervin Santana's 2011 no-hitter and Matt Cain's 2012 perfect game). Culbreth, a former college baseball player at UNC-Charlotte, has been assigned to two World Series (2008, 2012), six LCS, five Division Series and one Midsummer Classic (2006). Joyce, 57, has worked two World Series (1999, 2001), four LCS, eight Division Series and three All-Star Games (1994, 2001, 2012). Barrett, Culbreth and Joyce replace retired crew chiefs Derryl Cousins, Ed Rapuano and Tim Tschida. The three new members of the full-time Major League Umpiring staff will be Vic Carapazza, Manny Gonzalez and Alan Porter. The 33-year-old Carapazza, who has worked in both Triple-A leagues, has been a Minor League Umpire since 2003. He has been assigned to Major League Spring Training since 2010 and has worked more than 300 regular season games since then as a call-up umpire at the Major League level. Gonzalez, 33, becomes the first full-time Venezuelan Major League Umpire in Major League history. He has umpired professionally since 2002, including in the Triple-A International League, and has worked Major League Spring Training since 2010. He has been on the field for 175 regular season games since becoming a fill-in umpire in the Majors. Porter, 35, has been a Minor League Umpire since 2002 and has worked Major League Spring Training since 2009. The former International League umpire has 300 games of regular season experience as a Major League call-up umpire since 2010.

2013 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpires worked the 2013 ML Spring Training

D.J. Reyburn, Jordan Baker, John Tumpane, Mike Muchlinski, Clint Fagan, Mike Estabrook, Angel Campos, David Rackley, Cory Blaser, Mark Ripperger, Lance Barrett, Mark Lollo, Chris Conroy, Toby Basner

84th All-Star Game July 16, 2013, Citi Field, Flushing, New York AL-3 NL-0

HP: John Hirschbeck , crew chief 1B: Wally Bell 2B: Larry Vanover 3B: Paul Emmel LF: Rob Drake RF: Chad Fairchild

2013 Postseason Umpires

AL Wild Card Gerry Davis , Ted Barrett, Mike Everitt, Greg Gibson, Phil Cuzzi, Brian Knight

NL Wild Card Joe West , Dale Scott, Dan Iassogna, Rob Drake, Tim Timmons, Lance Barksdale

AL Division Series Dana DeMuth , Eric Cooper, Paul Emmel, Chris Guccione, Larry Vanover, Mike Winters. Gary Dar ling, CB Bucknor, Mike DiMuro, Tom Hallion, Jim Reynolds, Mark Wegner

NL Division Series Jerry Layne , Wally Bell, Sam Holbrook, Jim Joyce, Paul Nauert, Tony Randazzo John Hirschbeck , Laz Diaz, Marvin Hudson, Bill Miller, Tim Welke, Hunter Wendelstedt

AL Championship Series Gerry Davis , Ted Barrett, Mike Everitt, Greg Gibson, Mark Carlson, Bruce Dreckman

NL Championship Series Joe West , Dale Scott, Rob Drake, Dan Iassogna, Ron Kulpa. Alfonso Marquez

John Hirschbeck , Dana DeMuth, Jim Joyce, Paul Emmel, Bill Miller, Mark Wegner

2012 MLB Umpire Crews

There is only one change in the mlb roster for 2012. bill hohn has retired after being on the disabled list for the entire 2011 season. todd tichenor, who has been a fill-in umpire for the past five seasons (495 games) will take his spot on the full-time umpire staff..

2012 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpires worked the 2012 ML Spring Training.

Jordan Baker, Stephen Barga, Lance Barrett, Toby Basner, Cory Blaser, Angel Campos, Vic Carapazza, Chris Conroy, Mike Estabrook, Clint Fagan, Tyler Funneman, Hal Gibson, Manny Gonzalez, Adam Hamari, Barry Larson, Mark Lollo, Eric Loveless, Mike Muchlimski, Alan Porter, David Rackley, D.J. Reyburn, Mark Ripperger, Chris Segal, John Tumpane, Chris Ward, Chad Whitson

83rd All-Star Game July 10, 2012, Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri NL-8 AL-0

2012 Postseason Umpires

AL Wild Card Gary Darling , Jerry Lane, Ted Barrett, Bill Miller, Greg Gibson, Chris Guccione

NL Wild Card Jeff Kellogg , Mike Winters, Gary Cederstom, Jeff Nelson, Sam Holbrook, Rob Drake

AL Division Series Dana DeMuth , Jim Reynolds, Mark Wegner, Eric Cooper, Wally Bell, Scott Barry Brian Gorman , Tony Randazzo, Angel Hernandez. Fieldin Culbreth, Mike Everitt, Mark Carlson

NL Division Series Gerry Davis , Phil Cuzzi, Brian O'Nora, Dan Iassogna, Tom Hallion, Chad Fairchild Joe West , Paul Emmel, Marvin Hudson, Jim Joyce, Alfonso Marquez, Ed Hickox

AL Championship Series Jeff Kellogg , Mike Winters, Gary Cederstom, Jeff Nelson, Sam Holbrook, Rob Drake

NL Championship Series Gary Darling , Jerry Layne, Ted Barrett, Bill Miller, Greg Gibson, Chris Guccione

Gerry Davis , Brian Gorman, Joe West, Fieldin Culbreth, Dan Iassogna, Brian O'Nora

2011 MLB Umpire Crews

According to a poll conducted by Sports Illustrated and a report from CBS Sports, big leaguers voted Jim Joyce the best umpire in the Major Leagues -- by a wide margin. He took 35 percent of the vote, followed by Tim McClelland (18 percent), Jim Wolf (7 percent), Laz Diaz (6 percent) and Joe West (5 percent). According to the CBS report, the poll was conducted in 2011 Spring Training and surveyed 237 players. Joyce gained notoriety and widespread publicity when he missed a call at first base in June of last season, costing Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Joyce received just as much attention following the incident for the manner in which he accepted responsibility, and the two moved forward. They've since written a book together on the subject.

ESPN also conducted a similar poll in 2010, asking players about the best and worst umpires in the game (it was done after the Galarraga incident) and, again, Joyce was voted best in baseball.

Injured Umpires

Recently, we have had a few individuals bringing up the fact many umpires have suffered injury and are not on the field.Mark Wegner injured his calf in May and had what was likely season-ending surgery. Mike Muchlinksi is currently filling in for Wegner. Unfortunately, the injury bug continues to strike. A look at some of these injuries: The July 4th Detroit Tigers broadcast reported that Jim Joyce is out for the season with a knee injury. Joyce had not umpired since June 9th. John Tumpane has received the fill-in role for Joyce. All-Star Game second base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt has not umpired since June 26th due to a head injury he suffered in that day in a game between the Indians and Giants. Wendelstedt took a ball off the side of the mask and continued the inning behind the plate, but after being evaluated by a trainer left. Paul Schrieber has not umpired since May 10th. He has been out with an undisclosed injury. Schrieber missed significant time in 2010 due to injury. Angel Campos has largely filled the duties for Schrieber in his absence. Lance Barksdale has been missing in action since June 5th. Filling in at times for Barksdale is Alan Porter. Paul Nauert has been out since June 12th, and since has had his spot filled by Vic Carapazza. John Hirschbeck has also been out since June 12th, his spot has been filled in by various umpires due to his Crew Chief status. Wally Bell has served as acting crew chief at times in Hirschbeck's absence. Tim Tschida has not umpired since June 16th, with Mike Estabrook filling the vacant spot on his crew. Jeff Nelson has filled in as acting crew chief. This is in addition to Todd Tichenor filling in all year for the injured Bill Hohn.

2011 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpires worked the 2011 ML Spring Training and can be called up for Major League duty during the season if needed.

Cory Blaser, Vic Carapazza, Mike Muchlinski, Mike Estabrook, D.J. Reyburn, Manny Gonzalez, Alan Porter, Chris Conroy, Angel Campos, Mark Ripperger, Todd Tichenor, David Rackley

82th All-Star Game July 12, 2011, Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona NL-5 AL-1

2011 Postseason Umpires

AL Division Series Gerry Davis , Tony Randazzo, Eric Cooper, Dan Iassogna, Ted Barrett, Bill Welke Dale Scott , Mark Carlson, Kerwin Danley, Greg Gibson, Brian Gorman, Marvin Hudson

NL Division Series Jerry Layne , Chris Guccione, Jerry Meals, Angel Hernandez, Gary Cederstrom, Chad Fairchild Joe West , Ron Kulpa, Alfonso Marquez, Bruce Dreckman, Jeff Kellogg, James Hoy

AL Championship Series Tim Welke , Larry Vanover, Jim Wolf, Fieldin Culbreth, Jeff Nelson, Tom Hallion

NL Championship Series Gary Darling , Tim Timmons, Sam Holbrook, Mike Everitt, Bill Miller, Mike Winters

Jerry Layne, Greg Gibson , Alfonso Marquez, Ron Kulpa, Ted Barrett, Gary Cederstrom

2010 MLB Umpire Crews April 20, 2010

2010 Minor League Call-Up Umpires

The following Minor League umpires worked the 2010 ML Spring Training and can be called up for Major League duty during the season if needed. Lance Barrett, Scott Barry, Damien Beal, Dan Belino, Cory Blaser, Angel Campos, Vic Carapazza, Chris Conroy, Mike Estabrook, Chad Fairchild, Manny Gonzalez, Brian Knight, Casey Moser, Mike Muchinski, Alan Porter, David Rackley, D.J. Reyburn, Mark Ripperger, Todd Tichenor, Chris Tiller, John Tumpane

81th All-Star Game July 13, 2010, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California NL-3 AL-1

HP: Mike Reilly , crew chief 1B: Mike Winters 2B: Brian O'Nora 3B: Laz Diaz LF: Bruce Dreckman RF: Jim Wolf

2010 Postseason Umpires

Division Series Jerry Crawford , Hunter Wendelstedt, Greg Gibson, Brian O'Nora, Gary Darling, Chris Guccione Dana DeMuth , Paul Nauert, Paul Emmel, Mike Winters, Jerry Layne, Ed Hickox John Hirshbeck , Bruce Dreckman, Sam Holbrook, Ed Rapuano, Gary Cederstrom, Rob Drake Tim Welke , Jim Wolf, Jerry Meals, Bill Miller, Jeff Kellogg, Mike DiMuro

NL Championship Series Randy Marsch , Gary Cederstrom, Tom Hallion, Ted Barrett, Bruce Dreckman, Sam Holbrook

AL Championship Series Tim McClelland , Dale Scott, Jerry Layne, Fieldin Culbreth, Laz Diaz, Bill Miller

John Hirschbeck, , Sam Holbrook, Bill Miller, Mike Winters, Jeff Kellogg, Gary Darling

2009 MLB Umpire Crews As of April 4, 2009

Crew chiefs in bold, uniform number to the left of name, years of ML service to the right.

2009 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpires worked the 2009 ML Spring Training and can be called up for Major League duty during the season if needed.

Crew Chiefs are noted in bold.

2008 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpires worked the 2008 ML Spring Training and can be called up for Major League duty during the season if needed.

79th  All-Star Game July 15, 2008, Yankee Stadium, New York, New York AL-4 NL-3 15 innings

HP -Derryl Cousins, crew chief 1B - Ed Rapuano 2B - Tom Hallion 3B - Mark Wegner LF - Greg Gibson RF - Phil Cuzzi

2007 Postseason Umpires

Division Series Gary Darling , Dan Iassogna, Brian Runge, Ted Barrett, Tim Tschida. CB Bucknor Dale Scott, Jim Reynolds, Chuck Meriwether, Jeff Kelogg, Derryl Cousins, Ed Hickox Bruce Froemming , Laz Diaz, Ron Kulpa, Fieldin Culbreth, Jerry Davis, Jim Wolf Sam Holbrook , Greg Gibson, Mike Everitt, Mike Reilly, Mark Carlson, Ed Montague

NL Championship Series Tim McClelland, Mark Wegner, Larry Vanover, Tom Hallion, Angel Hernandez, Jim Joyce

AL Championship Series Randy Marsch , Kerwin Danley, Brian Gorman, Paul Emmel, Gary Cederstrom, Dana DeMuth

Ed Montague (32 yrs), Laz Diaz,(9), Ted Barrett (11), Chuck Meriwether (16), Mike Everitt (9), Mike Reilly (31)

2007 MLB Umpire Crews As of March 1, 2007 88 umpires worked ML games in 2007 70 full-time staff, 18 AAA fill-ins

2007 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpires worked the 2007 ML Spring Training and can be called up for Major League duty during the season if needed:

78th All-Star Game July 10, 2007, AT&T Park, San Francisco, California AL-5 NL-4

HP - Bruce Froemming, crew chief 1B - Charlie Reliford 2B - Mike Winters 3B - Kerwin Danley LF - Ted Barrett RF - Bill Miller

2006 Postseason Umpires

Division Series Tim McClelland , Laz Diaz, Alfonso Marquez, Paul Emmel, Larry Poncino, Larry Vanover Gerry Davis , Bill Welke, Brian Gorman, Greg Gibson, Wally Bell, Marty Foster John Hirschbeck , Ted Barrett, Eric Cooper, Ron Kulpa, Mike Winters, Brian O'Nora Kerwin Danley , Mike Everitt, Ed Rapuano, Tim Tschida, Tony Randazzo, Randy Marsch

NL Championship Series Jerry Crawford , Hunter Wendelstedt, Derryl Cousins, Chuck Meriwether, Gary Cederstrom, Mike Reilly

AL Championship Series Tim Welke , Jim Joyce, Jerry Layne, Fieldin Culbreth, Jeff Kellogg, Gary Darling

2006 MLB Umpire Crews As of February 28, 2006

Crew Chiefs are noted in Bold.

2006 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpiresworked the 2006 ML Spring Training and can be called up for Major League duty during the season if needed:

HP - Jerry Crawford, crew chief 1B - Randy Marsh 2B - Fieldin Culbreth 3B - Jeff Nelson LF - Mike Everitt RF - Alfonso Marquez

2005 Postseason Umpires

Division Series Gary Darling, Jerry Meals, Derryl Cousins, Alfonso Marquez, Joe West, Jim Reynolds John Hirschbeck, Bill Miller, Mark Wegner, Mark Carlson, Mike Everitt, Dan Iassogna Ed Montague, Bill Hohn, Bruce Dreckman, Jerry Layne, Angel Hernandez, Tim Timmons Joe Brinkman, Marvin Hudson, Jeff Nelson, Gary Cederstrom, Eric Cooper, Sam Holbrook

NL Championship Series Tim McClelland, Greg Gibson, Wally Bell, Phil Cuzzi, Larry Poncino, Gerry Davis

AL Championship Series Jerry Crawford, Doug Eddings, Ted Barrett, Ron Kulpa, Ed Rapuano, Randy Marsh

2005 MLB Umpire Crews As of March 1, 2005

2005 Minor League Call-Up Umpires The following Minor League umpires worked at the 2005 ML Spring Training & can be called up for Major League duty if needed.

Armendariz, Ramon; Guccione, Chris; Aschwege, Dave; Hallion, Tom; Barksdale, Lance; Hickox, Ed; Davidson, Bob; Hoye, James; Dellinger, Dusty' Kelley, Kevin; Dowdy, Adam; Knight, Brian; Drake, Rob; Moser, Casey; Durfee, Peter; Muchlinski, Mike; Fairchild, Chad; Reininger, Travis; Fichter, Mike; Samuels, Jack; Fullwood, Troy

HP - Joe West, crew chief 1B - Tim Welke 2B - Eric Cooper 3B - Mike DiMuro LF - C.B. Bucknor RF - Andy Fletcher

2004 Postseason Umpires

Division Series Charlie Reliford, Mark Wegner, Brian Gorman, Mike Everitt, Jerry Crawford*, Paul Nouert Larry Young, Jerry Meals, Brian Runge, Gary Cederstrom, Ed Montague*, Kerwin Danley Dale Scott, Greg Gibson, Chuck Meriweather, Bruce Dreckman, Gerry Davis*, Brian O'Nora Tim McClelland, Phil Cuzzi, Wally Bell, Fieldin Culbreth, Joe Brinkman*, Tony Randazzo *denotes crew chief

NL Championship Series Tim Welke, Eric Cooper, Gary Darling, Mike Winters, Angel Hernandez, Ed Rapuano

AL Championship Series Randy Marsch, Jeff Nelson, John Hirschbeck, Jim Joyce, Jeff Kellogg, Joe West

2004 MLB Umpire Crews

Crew Chiefs are noted in Bold

75thAll-Star Game July 13, 2004, Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas AL-9 NL-4

HP - Ed Montague, crew chief 1B - John Hirschbeck 2B - Doug Eddings 3B - Jim Reynolds LF - Marvin Hudson RF - Sam Holbrook

2003 Postseason Umpires

Division Series Ed Montague , Ted Barrett, Paul Emmel, Gerry Davis, Jim Joyce, Bill Welke John Hirschbeck, Bill Miller, Brian Gorman, Larry Young, Ed Rapuano, Mark Wegner Bruce Froemming,Hunter Wendelstedt, Dale Scott, Gary Cederstrom, Jeff Kellogg, Phil Cuzzi Randy Marsh, Eric Cooper, Wally Bell, Gary Darling, Tim Welke, Greg Gibson 

NL Championship Series Jerry Crawford, Chuck Meriwether, Mike Reilly, Feildin Culbreth, Larry Vanover, Mike Everitt, Larry Poncino* *Jerry Crawford became ill during game one & was replaced for game two

AL Championship Series Tim McClelland, Terry Craft, Alfonso Marquez, Derryl Cousins, Joe West, Angel Hernandez

Randy Marsh, Larry Young, Gary Darling, Jeff Kellogg, Ed Rapuano, Tim Welke

2003 MLB Umpire Crews

Uniform number - Umpire Name (Bold represents Crew Chief / years of assignment) - Years of MLB experience.

AAA Reserve Umpires Lance Barksdale, Rob Drake, Mike Fichter, Chris Guccione, Matt Hollowell, Dan Iassogna, Jim Wolf

74th All-Star Game July 15, 2003, Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois AL-7 NL-6

HP - Tim McClelland, crew chief 1B - Larry Young 2B - Gary Darling 3B - Gary Cederstrom LF - Mark Carlson RF - Bill Welke

Crew Chiefs are noted in Bold. * - Indicates AAA Minor League umpires filling in for staff umpires on DL

73rd All-Star Game July 9, 2002: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 7-7 tie (11 innings)

HP - Gerry Davis, crew chief 1B - Tim Tschida 2B - Chuck Merriwether 3B - Jerry Meals LF - Marty Foster RF - Paul Emmel

2001 Postseason Umpires

Division Series Bruce Froemming , Chuck Meriwether, Mike Winters, Brian Gorman, Jim Joyce, Mike Everitt Steve Ripley , Ted Barrett, Kerwin Danley, Jerry Layne, Mark Hirschbeck, Ron Kulpa Randy Marsch , John Hirschbeck, Larry Young, Tim Tschida, Dale Scott, Alfonso Marquez Dana DeMuth , Jeff Nelson, Paul Schrieber, Rick Reed, Ed Rapuano, Greg Gibson

NL Championship Series Jerry Crawford , Jeff Kellogg, Angel Hernandez, Mike Reilly, Gerry Davis, Tim McClelland

AL Championship Series Ed Montague , Wally Bell, Gary Cederstrom, Charlie Reliford, John Shulock, Tim Welke

Dana DeMuth , Mark Hirschbeck, Steve Rippley, Jim Joyce, Ed Rapuano, Dale Scott

2001 MLB Umpire Crews Crew Chiefs in Bold with year of assignment in parentheses

72nd All-Star Game Umpires Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington: July 10, 2001 AL 4, NL 1

HP - Dana Demuth, crew chief 1B - Dale Scott 2B - Jim Joyce 3B - Jerry Layne LF - Ron Kulpa RF - Anthony Randazzo

2000 Postseason Umpires

Division Series J. Crawford, B. Gorman, R. Roe, M. DiMuro, R. Rieker, T. Craft M. Reilly, M. Winters, R. Reed, D. Eddings, C. Relifors, K. Danley T. McClelland, P. Schreiber, A. Clark, J. Nelson, T. Welke, C. Meriwether E. Montague, D. Morrison, L. Young, T. Barrett, J. Kellogg, G. Cederstrom

NL Championship Series B. Froemming, T. Tschida, E. Rapuano, D. Scott, D. Demuth, S. Ripley

AL Championship Series J. Hirschbeck, A. Hernandez, W. Bell, M. Hirschbeck, G. Davis, R. Marsh

Ed Montague, Charlie Reliford, Jeff Kellogg, Tim Welke, Tim McClelland, Jerry Crawford

2000 MLB Umpire Crews

Crew Chiefs in Bold with year of assignment in parentheses

AAA Reserve Umpires Lance Barksdale, Robb Cook, Rob Drake, Mike Fichter, Chris Guccione, Matt Hollowell, Morris Hodges, Dan Iassogna, Travis Katzenmeier, Justin Klemm, Ian Lamplugh, Scott Higgins, Scott Packard, Pat Spieler, Tim Timmons, Mike Van Vleet, Jim Wolf

71st  All-Star Game Umpires Atlanta, Georgia: July 11, 2000 AL 6, NL 3

HP - Mike Reilly, crew chief 1B - Mark Hirschbeck 2B - Wally Bell 3B - Paul Schrieber LF - Brian O'Nora RF - Laz Diaz

1999  Postseason Umpires

NL Wild Card Playoff Bruce Froemming, Gerry Davis, Mark Hirschbeck, Ed Rapuano, Rick Rieker, Jeff Nelson

NL Division Series Brian Gorman, Wally Bell, Mark Hirschbeck, Dana DeMuth, Randy Marsh, Paul Schrieber, Mike Winters, Charlie Williams, Rich Rieker, Gerry Davis, Bruce Froemming, Jerry Meals AL Division Series Jim Joyce, Chuck Meriwether, Tim Welke, Jim McKean, John Shulock, Durwood Merrill, Joe Brinkman, Derryl Cousins, John Hirschbeck, Mike Reilly, Rocky Roe, Larry Young NL Championship Series Ed Montague, Jeff Kellogg, Charlie Reliford, Ed Rapuano, Jerry Crawford, Jerry Layne

AL Championship Series Al Clark, Tim McClelland, Dan Morrison, Rick Reed, Tim Tschida, Dale Scott

Randy Marsh, Rocky Roe, Steve Rippley, Derryl Cousins, Gerry Davis, Jim Joyce 

NOTE: No newly hired umpires worked any postseason games.

70th  All-Star Game Umpires Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts: July 13, 1999 AL 4, NL 1

HP -  Jim Evans, crew chief 1B - Terry Tata 2B - Dale Ford 3B - Angel Hernandez LF - Mark Johnson RF - Larry Vanover

Resigned MLB Umpires

What happened to the 22?

Returned August, 2002 Bruce Dreckman Sam Holbrook Paul Nauert

Returned in 2007 Bob Davidson Tom Halion Ed Hickock

Never Rehired Jim Evans Dale Ford Rich Garcia Eric Gregg Mark Johnson Ken Kaiser Larry McCoy

Who's In & Who's Out Resignations took effect Sept. 2, 1999 and hiring took effect Sept. 1, 1999 (nu-non union; x-resigned, withdrew, then resigned again)

Umpire Professionalism / Steve's Umpire Tips / Umpire Communication

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• >> Sports
• >> Baseball

So you want to be a MLB umpire — it’s not that easy

Major League Baseball hosted a free umpire camp at Las Vegas Ballpark on Saturday, where 125 folks of all shapes and sizes and ages attended.

Gunner Lowe has a dream. He’s had it since he was 12 years old. Since he called whiffle ball games in the backyard of his house.

Since his youth baseball teammates made fun of him for it.

He wants to become a Major League umpire. He’s 18.

“I like being in charge,” Lowe said. “When a coach comes firing out of the dugout, I’m excited and ready for the moment. I sure hope that I get there one day. It’s the long-term goal.”

He isn’t alone.

Major League Baseball hosted a free umpire camp Saturday at Las Vegas Ballpark, where 125 folks of all shapes and sizes and ages congregated to sharpen their skills and learn from former MLB umpires and current supervisors.

Must be coachable

The goal: To not only instruct on how to successfully umpire at all levels, but to identity five to 10 prospects who might one day be calling balls and strikes at an MLB stadium nearest you.

Those selected will be tendered a scholarship for a prospect development camp in January in Vero Beach, Florida. They will be given every chance to begin their careers in the minor leagues and, much like the players they share a field with, advance to the highest of levels.

“The biggest thing you want to see is if someone is coachable,” said Cris Jones, MLB’s umpire supervisor. “We can’t make a major league umpire in four hours. You have to be disciplined and want to improve. We’re like a scout — we can draft them but not always develop them. It’s all dependent on the person.

“Coach them through mistakes and, if on the second or third rep they get it, then we know we have someone we can potentially mold into a professional umpire.”

There were three stations set up to teach different phases of calling a game, from the strike zone to fair/foul plays to a two-umpire system on double plays. Out. Safe. Proper positioning and footwork.

It was all covered.

There wasn’t one, however, for how to handle those ever-constant boos from the stands or, as Lowe puts it, a coach firing out of a dugout.

Guess you have to experience such things firsthand to know what it’s all about.

But not everyone in attendance had the goal of running onto a MLB field. Some have other dreams.

Rod Jackson is from Mesa, Arizona, and has been calling games for 25 years. He has worked some in spring training but prefers major college ball. He also knows the importance of such camps for a young umpire like Lowe. Understands how vital such instruction is.

“It gives them a heads-up on what to expect and what they look for so they can continue to learn,” Jackson said. “This is your base level. You just have to keep getting repetitions and coming to these camps and getting noticed. And, one day, you might get that call.”

Sense of humor

Lowe is from Payson, Utah — a good 30 minutes from Provo — and attends Southern Utah University. He has been booed before but insists he doesn’t let it affect him. He remains in the moment. He has called high school and some college fall ball games to date.

It’s always front and center. The dream.

“I just worry about what’s happening on the field,” Lowe said. “I never wanted to be a player. I’ve just wanted to be an umpire.”

It also helps to have a good sense of humor. As one former MLB umpire prepared to address the gathering Saturday, he was greeted with a robust round of applause.

“I’d feel more comfortable,” he said, “if you booed me.”

Contact Ed Graney at [email protected]. Follow @edgraney on X.

The city of Oakland is selling its share of the Coliseum — home to the departing Oakland Athletics — to a local Black development group for at least $105 million, Mayor Sheng Thao announced Wednesday.

The College of Southern Nevada, which features 20 players from the Las Vegas Valley, won 47 of its final 51 games to advance to the NJCAA World Series.

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper, who attended Las Vegas High School, made sure a New Jersey high school student had a date for his prom next month.

The nonrelocation agreement, presented to the stadium authority board Thursday afternoon, is the third of four major agreements that must be approved by the authority.

An independent baseball team is interested in buying 5,000 bleacher seats that were brought into Oakland Coliseum for Raiders games before the team moved to Las Vegas.

The Nevada Supreme Court rejected a teachers union effort to put public funding for the Oakland Athletics’ planned Las Vegas ballpark on November’s ballot.

Liberty got a clutch hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Las Vegas High in a Class 5A Southern Region baseball elimination game Tuesday.

The Oakland Athletics plan to build a ballpark on the site of the Tropicana, but Bally’s says where the stadium will sit on that site is still being determined.

The high school baseball playoffs begin Monday, and there will be a new Class 5A state champion after an eventful season on and off the field. Here’s a preview.

Millions of dollars stolen from Shohei Ohtani to pay his former interpreter’s gambling debt were funneled through Resorts World, according to ESPN.

Letting MLB umpires use PitchCom, finding the Phillies’ flowers and more ‘Sliders’

Welcome to Sliders, a weekly in-season  MLB  column that focuses on both the timely and timeless elements of baseball. 

Scott Servais spent 11 seasons as a major-league catcher, and sometimes, he tried to help the man hovering behind his back.

“If there were certain pitches that I knew would be tougher for the umpire to call, I would comment to him, ‘Hey, we’re gonna be doing a lot of this today,’” said Servais, now the manager of the Seattle Mariners . “Like if it was a lefty with a big slider or a hard cutter, I might say, ‘We’re gonna be running this in here a lot,’ just to give him a heads-up.”

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The idea was that if the umpire knew the pitcher’s intentions, he might reward him with more strike calls if he consistently executed his game plan. Now, with PitchCom, baseball has the technology to allow umpires to know the intention of every pitch. But umpires don’t use the device.

The Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa said last week that he thinks they should, and Servais acknowledged he’d never considered a modern application of his old technique. Yet the more he thought about the concept, the less he liked it.

“If you’re expecting a pitch to break a certain way and it’s not there — it’s still a strike, but you’re like, ‘No, it can’t be a strike because it was supposed to be over here,’” Servais said. “So maybe now they call it a ball. There may be some benefits to it and I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’d have to push back on Carlos in that regard.”

Correa raised the idea in Cleveland last weekend after some borderline ball-strike calls went against the Twins in a close loss to the Guardians . Correa is not a chronic complainer — he’s never been ejected — but thinks the PitchCom would help umpires call a more accurate zone.

“It just occurred to me because I was thinking during the game about that,” Correa told Dan Hayes of The Athletic . “If umpires knew what was coming, it would be a lot easier for them to call balls and strikes instead of just trying to guess what way the ball is going to go. I think it’s a great idea and something we need to talk about with the league and the Players Association, because we want everybody to get the right calls. I think that would help big time.”

The presence of the strike-zone box on TV allows every home viewer to be an instant critic, and may overstate the depth of the problem. According to TruMedia (using data from MLB ), umpires had a ball-strike accuracy rate of 92.5 percent through Wednesday, well above their overall average of 89.1 percent since 2008, when tracking began.

Then again, on pitches classified as “on the corners,” the accuracy rate dropped to 56.6 percent this season and fell to 45.9 percent for pitches on the corners with two strikes. Both figures are about 10 percent more accurate in 2024 than they have been across the 17 seasons of data — but there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

The Twins’ pitchers had the lowest walk rate in the majors through Wednesday, at 6.7 percent, with the Mariners just behind, at 7 percent. Their pitchers wouldn’t seem to have much of an issue with the strike zone, but even so, the Mariners’ pitchers seemed to like Correa’s idea.

Starter Bryce Miller : “I think it would help. Sometimes I think if the catcher’s set up for a certain location and we miss, it’s (automatically) a ball. But if (the umpire) knows a splitter’s coming, he should be looking at the bottom of the zone. So if you throw it there, it might help in getting that pitch.”

Reliever Gabe Speier : “I never even thought about it, but I think it would help umpires, for sure, if they knew what was coming. I think that’s a cool idea. I think that more balls are called strikes than strikes are called balls; more pitches off the plate are called strikes, it seems.”

Starter George Kirby : “I know what (he’s) saying — it probably would be a good idea. Sometimes they get fooled, it happens. But it might help the hitters if it’s loud enough that they could hear it. I wouldn’t like that.”

Former umpire Ted Barrett raised that issue too, saying that some umpires might need to crank up their earpiece, which would inadvertently give away the pitch to the hitter. But Barrett, who called games from 1994 to 2022, wouldn’t dismiss the idea entirely.

“Me personally, I never wanted to know; I didn’t have to hit, so I could wait to react after it’s received,” he said. “I would try it in a spring training game to see if it helped — but, man, you need a Batman utility belt now to keep everything in place.”

Mariners designated hitter Mitch Garver , who has caught more than 300 games in the majors, explained why the idea might have merit. Then he hit on the point that is said to most concern Major League Baseball.

“I’ve caught some guys with outlier stuff, and those are the pitches that really screw up the umpires — like the low-release fastball that rides the bottom of the zone and catches the lower half, or the sweeping breaking ball that comes all the way across the plate, it’s hard for them to see that cross,” Garver said.

“I’m trying to think of a negative to that (idea), and the only thing I could think of is that an opposing team might be able to relay the way a certain umpire sets up for a different pitch.”

If an umpire knows a splitter is coming, Garver added, he might crouch down a bit, expecting the pitch to be low. Likewise, he guessed, if a high fastball is on its way, he might stand more upright.

According to an MLB official, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal planning, the league has explored the idea but decided against implementing it. The reason is precisely what Garver mentioned: The league does not want to create another situation that could tempt teams to relay signals to the batter.

After the sign-stealing scandal involving Correa’s 2017 Astros team, anything that might lead to similar activity is a non-starter for MLB. So as intriguing as Correa’s concept might be, the inspiration for PitchCom’s existence is the same reason it won’t be given to umpires.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Since the Phillies opened Citizens Bank Park 20 years ago, the flower beds above the left field wall have been a charming little part of the scenery. The first homer there, by Bobby Abreu in 2004 , cleared the flowers. So did pitcher Joe Blanton’s homer in the 2008 World Series, and Bryce Harper’s “Bedlam at the Bank” blast in 2022.

But if April showers bring May flowers, then what happened to the floral arrangements in Philly? For TV viewers this season, it seems that the flowers are no more, replaced by a short orange billboard stretching above the length of the left field wall.

A recent visit to the park, however, revealed that the flowers never went anywhere at all. They’re just hidden by that billboard — which, ironically, advertises a “vegetation management” company that managed that vegetation right out of view.

This begs the question: Since the flowers never left, could they somehow become visible again to more than the few stadium sections angled just right? And are they actively being maintained, or just withering away? The flowers we spotted don’t exactly look ready for the Morris Arboretum .

The Phillies insist they haven’t forgotten about the flowers and are said to be considering various plans for what to do with them. Maybe they’ll have a pregame ceremony for their return, featuring former Phillies Kevin Flora, Erik Plantenberg and Pete Rose.

That’s for a later date, though. As for now — well, mum’s the word.

Five bits of ballpark wisdom

Oakland ’s lucas erceg on making the transition from hitting to pitching.

Lucas Erceg throws right-handed and bats left-handed, just like Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers . But while Ohtani has thrived as a two-way star — at least when major elbow surgeries don’t get in the way — a nagging issue kept Erceg from really trying.

“Every time I swung over a changeup, I would hyperextend my elbow,” Erceg said recently. “Then I’d get put back two days from outings because my elbow was sore. So it just didn’t translate.”

That was in Double A in the Milwaukee Brewers’ system in 2021, and it forced Erceg to shelve his .256 career average (with 55 homers) and dedicate himself fully to pitching. A former third baseman, he reached the majors last season with the Athletics, joining other active pitchers who started as position players in the minors, like Kenley Jansen of the Red Sox , Jose Cuas of the Cubs and Jordan Weems of the Nationals .

Erceg — who marks his first day of sobriety (June 10, 2020) on his glove — now serves as the primary setup man for Mason Miller , giving Oakland a pair of young, hard-throwing relievers who could appeal to contenders before the trade deadline. Here are some of his tips on how to make a successful transition to the mound.

1. Study up. “I had pitched in high school and college, but being reintroduced to it at the professional level was definitely different. I realized very quickly that pitching isn’t just throwing as hard as I can right down the middle, because guys at the pro level are getting paid to hit hard velo. So for me, it was just about really understanding that pitching is kind of the same as hitting — you’re just playing a chess game. The biggest improvement I’ve made is studying hitters and reading swings during the at-bat, making little changes according to the situation, doing my research on the hitters’ weak spots and how the things I do well blend with that.”

2. It’s not a bad outing if you learn from it. “At the beginning I didn’t have a lot of success — I was walking a lot of guys, and I would get behind (in) counts, throw my fastball for a double and I’d be like, ‘What’s going on?’ But the more reps I put on top of each other allowed me to understand that it doesn’t matter whether I do well or not, I am building my experience. In essence, I’m making sure that in every outing, I know what I did well, I know what I didn’t do well, and I can move forward.”

3. Train for durability. “Because last year was the most innings I’ve thrown in a season — including Triple A, about 70 — I knew this year I was either going to meet or exceed that. So I made sure that my mobility and conditioning, my everyday routine, was superior to weightlifting and strength. I did work on strength stuff, but my focus was to make sure I’m available every day, because availability was my best ability.”

4. There’s no such thing as a pitching slump. “It was definitely harder as a position player to keep a confident, positive mindset day in, day out. You go 0-for-4 with two punchies, you’re going home that day thinking, ‘I don’t want to drag that into tomorrow’ — and next thing you know, you’re dragging it into tomorrow. So that turns into a 10-day skid where you get one or two hits in 35 at-bats, and now you’re like, ‘Oh no.’ As a pitcher, say I had a bad outing yesterday. I end up throwing a lot of pitches, they’re high-stress, so I’m most likely down the next day. You have enough time to look at what you did right and wrong and prepare for your next outing, whereas hitting is basically every day. It was easier to kind of take each outing as its own little thing and not kind of compound it.”

5. The dream (of hitting) is over. “Let it rest peacefully. Yeah, I still think about how fun it would be to take BP and hit in a game, and do things at the big-league level as a position player. Even taking groundballs during BP would be really fun. I know I’m here for one reason and that’s pitching, putting up zeroes, so I don’t have any real visions of hitting. But do I think I could still do it? Absolutely.”

Off the Grid

A historical detour from the immaculate grid, moises alou, .300 career average, 300 home runs.

One of the fun parts of the Immaculate Grid is how it contextualizes the greatness of players we took for granted. On Monday, the game asked for a player with 300 career home runs and a .300 career average. It’s a surprisingly short list.

Of the 161 players with 300 career homers, only 27 also hit .300. That group includes 22 Hall of Famers and three players not yet eligible: Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Canó and the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman . The others are Manny Ramirez, whose candidacy is tainted by his PED suspensions, and Alou.

Players with .300 career average and 300 home runs:

This isn’t to say that Alou belongs in Cooperstown; he made one appearance on the ballot, in 2014, and got six votes of the 571 cast. But he made the All-Star team for five different teams (Expos, Marlins, Astros, Cubs and Giants ) and was such a skilled hitter that he never struck out more than 87 times in a season.

Alou was also one of the two biggest MVP snubs in World Series history (with David Price, who should have won over Steve Pearce for Boston in 2018). Playing for the Marlins against the Indians in 1997, Alou hit .321 and started the game-tying rally in the ninth inning of Game 7 off Jose Mesa. He also belted go-ahead three-run homers in Games 1 and 5, lifting Livan Hernandez to two wins.

That’s a wildly impactful performance, yet it was Hernandez, with a 5.27 ERA and more walks than strikeouts, who won the award. Alou later owned a racehorse named “The Real MVP.”

Classic Clip

Willie mays on “the donna reed show,” 1966.

Willie Mays made his debut for the New York Giants 73 years ago this weekend, starting three games in a row against the Phillies and going hitless at Connie Mack Stadium. He was despondent until manager Leo Durocher reassured him.

“I was crying,” Mays told his biographer, John Shea, for their book, “24,” in 2020. “I was upset. I wanted to go back to (Triple-A) Minneapolis. I told Leo this league might be too fast for me. He said, ‘Son, you’re my center fielder. You just go out and catch the ball. We’ll hit for you.’”

Turns out Mays could hit just fine: He homered off the great Warren Spahn in his first at-bat at the Polo Grounds on May 28, 1951, and was on his way to 660.

Some 15 years later, in San Francisco, Mays was a certified baseball legend coming off his second Most Valuable Player award — but in those days before free agency, he could still use some extra cash. Mays was friends with the actress Donna Reed and her husband, producer Tony Owen — and according to another biographer, James S. Hirsch, “they told him that whenever he needed money, he could come on ‘The Donna Reed Show.’”

Mays took them up on the offer and made three appearances, the last one coming on Jan. 29, 1966, in an episode titled “Calling Willie Mays.” In one scene, Mays asks a woman if she rooted for the Giants.

“Last season, I followed the Dodgers,” she admits, and Mays replies, “So did we.”

Here’s the full episode:

(Top photo of Carlos Correa: Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins / Getty Images)

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Tyler Kepner is a Senior Writer for The Athletic covering MLB. He previously worked for The New York Times, covering the Mets (2000-2001) and Yankees (2002-2009) and serving as national baseball columnist from 2010 to 2023. A Vanderbilt University graduate, he has covered the Angels for the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise and Mariners for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and began his career with a homemade baseball magazine in his native Philadelphia in the early 1990s. Tyler is the author of the best-selling “K: A History of Baseball In Ten Pitches” (2019) and “The Grandest Stage: A History of The World Series” (2022). Follow Tyler on Twitter @ TylerKepner

Seattle Mariners

New York Yankees

France hits go-ahead rbi single off holmes in four-run ninth as mariners stun yankees 5-4.

NEW YORK -- — Ty France hit a go-ahead RBI single in Seattle’s four-run ninth inning against reliever Clay Holmes , and the Mariners rallied to beat the New York Yankees 5-4 on Monday night.

The Mariners ended New York’s seven-game winning streak with the big inning against Holmes (1-1), who blew his second save in 15 chances.

“We’ve had a of lot crazy wins here, over the last seven, eight years that I’ve been here, but I don’t know of anything wilder than that one,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Tremendous effort by our guys just hanging in there.”

Luke Raley , who had two of Seattle’s three hits off starter Marcus Stroman , hit an infield single to Gleyber Torres and Julio Rodríguez scored on the second baseman’s error. Mitch Haniger followed with an RBI single and Dominic Canzone lifted a tying sacrifice fly to the warning track in right.

“I just think we never give in,” Raley said. “Obviously Holmes has been throwing the ball really well and we’re able to kind of dink and dunk them for a couple of runs. So always good wins to be able to do that.”

France followed by grounding a 2-0 sinker to right field for a 5-4 lead to give Seattle its second late comeback win on a 10-game trip two days after rallying in the eighth to beat Baltimore.

“Two good ball teams and obviously we see kind of where we stand and we can go out and beat these guys and just good confidence,” Raley said. “Coming in here it’s a tough place to play and just being able to walk away with the opening game of a series is great.”

Eduardo Bazardo (1-0) allowed an RBI single to Jon Berti in the bottom of the eighth that pushed New York’s lead to 4-1 before the comeback gave Seattle its second win in 23 games when trailing through eight.

Andrés Muñoz got the last three outs, stranding Juan Soto at first for his ninth save. Muñoz fanned Aaron Judge on a 100.8 mph fastball and finished it by retiring Alex Verdugo .

Verdugo drove in the first three runs for the Yankees, who were 28-0 when leading after eight. Verdugo hit a two-run single four batters in and added an RBI single in the fifth off Seattle starter Logan Gilbert .

Stroman allowed a run in 7 1/3 innings before Holmes was scored upon for the first time in 21 appearances this season. Holmes also had a 15 2/3 scoreless streak stopped and his season-opening streak of 20 straight appearances without allowing a run was the second-longest in team history behind Dellin Betances’ 26 straight outings to start 2015.

“It was one of those outings where I feel like my stuff was there,” Holmes said. “Maybe trying to go for a little too much chase with a couple of guys there. Some balls found some holes and it didn’t go our way there.”

It was the third time since joining the Yankees in a trade from the Pirates in July 2021 that Holmes allowed four runs.

“It just didn’t really bounce our way that inning,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Gilbert allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: INF J.P. Crawford was activated off the IL after missing 23 games with a strained right oblique and struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth . ... INF Jorge Polanco (hamstring tightness) missed his sixth straight game. ... INF/OF Sam Haggerty suffered a torn Achilles tendon in a collision with the center field fence during a game with Triple-A Tacoma over the weekend. Haggerty appeared in eight games and was optioned to the minors last week. ... INF Leo Rivas was optioned to Tacoma to make room for Crawford.

Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow nerve inflammation and edema) will face hitters for the first time on Tuesday since getting injured in mid-March. On Saturday, Cole threw his first bullpen session in which he sat down in the middle for a break simulating an inning. “I think bouncing back from the two-up bullpen with some guys standing in on him and I know feeling good yesterday coming in,” Boone said. “So yeah, we just want to continue to progress and continue to stack good days and that’s another step along the way of getting out there on the bump and facing hitters.” ... RHP Ian Hamilton was placed on the 7-day COVID-19 injured list after feeling ill before Sunday’s game and getting sent home. ... RHP Clayton Andrews had his contract selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre and RHP Colby White was designated for assignment.

Seattle RHP Bryan Woo (1-0, 0.93 ERA) opposes New York RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-1, 2.49) on Tuesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Series tied 2-2

Game information.

• Home Plate Umpire - Lance Barksdale
• First Base Umpire - D.J. Reyburn
• Second Base Umpire - Nic Lentz
• Third Base Umpire - Alex Mackay

2024 American League West Standings

2024 american league east standings, shota imanaga's path to top of chicago cubs pitching rotation, passan identifies the best new pitches of 2024 mlb season, phillies try to keep win streak alive against the rockies.

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Jahmai Jones is the invisible Yankee who might have the best seat in baseball

His cup of coffee with club appears to be ending with return of dj lemahieu, but he's not gloomy about it.

Jahmai Jones is a professional baseball player who rarely plays.

The 26-year-old has been on the Yankees' active roster since Opening Day and has tallied only 10 plate appearances over the past eight weeks. Very rarely are MLB players rostered for that long and utilized that infrequently.

The Yankees have played 52 games entering Friday; Jones has started just two of them. His first career home run came on Mother’s Day in one of those starts. Nine other times, he entered as a pinch-runner, pinch-hitter or defensive replacement. Most days, the upbeat, likable utilityman plays the role of baseball army reservist: prepared and waiting for a call unlikely to come.

Jahmai Jones blasts his first career home run! 2-0 Yanks pic.twitter.com/e1b5F5SNYu — Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 12, 2024

But a lack of playing opportunities doesn’t mean a lack of work. Jones still prepares, every single day, with the mentality that he’ll play that night. He says it’s the only way to stay fresh, to stay ready. And around the fourth or fifth inning of a game he’s not starting — which is most games — he’ll duck into the Yankees' subterranean batting cage to stretch, run and take some swings in case manager Aaron Boone calls his name.

And so most nights, Jones begins the game as a spectator, albeit one with great seats. From the top step of the dugout, his arms draped over the railing, he watches one of MLB’s most electrifying offenses go to work.

“As you can see, we roll out a pretty consistent lineup,” Jones told Yahoo Sports about the Juan Soto/Aaron Judge-led Yanks offense that leads the majors in homers. “I know that, you know, those guys are really good. So it's an opportunity for me to learn.”

Jones is no wide-eyed, happy-to-be-here onlooker. The Georgia-born athlete was once a player with immense promise and big expectations. He was a highly touted amateur talent at a prestigious Atlanta-area high school, with two older brothers who would go on to play in the NFL. The Angels drafted him in the second round in 2014 and gave a $1.1 million signing bonus to forgo a commitment to UNC. He rose through the Angels' system, became a top-100 prospect and was hailed as a potential impact big leaguer.

As is so often the case with hitting prospects, a lack of offensive consistency and defensive upside soured his stock as he climbed the ladder. Jones debuted with the Angels during the 2020 season but his profile continued to sink following a trade to Baltimore and an ill-timed Tommy John surgery. Since then, he has been a so-called “up-and-down guy,” his time spent oscillating between various Triple-A teams and their big league affiliates. The Yankees — who he joined this spring training after the Brewers jettisoned him from their 40-man roster — are his fifth organization and his fourth MLB cup of coffee. Spring training injuries to a pair of Yankee infielders — DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza — opened the door for Jones to make the club out of camp and he took advantage.

Time and the realities of baseball have complicated Jones’ career, but his lofty expectations for himself remain. Even as he lingers on the fringes of New York’s roster, he maintains a firm belief that he still has the ability to become an everyday player.

“I think I've got all the talent to be an everyday big league guy," Jones said. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I was. I just wait for my opportunities and make the most out of them, whether they're every day or, you know, once a week, or whatever it may be.”

It’s a fascinating tightrope Jones must walk. To remain unwaveringly confident in his abilities while simultaneously acting selfless in the short term to help the team win. It’s common for big league bench players with bigger dreams to grow dissatisfied and sour about their situation. Jones didn’t let that happen.

“My thing is like, if I'm salty all the time, and I'm pissed off, how is that going to translate to helping the team win?" Jones asked "If I'm not getting the opportunity in the game, but I'm bringing everybody else down around me, I'm only being a cancer to the team. I'm never going to be that.”

More MLB from Jake Mintz

• Oneil Cruz hitting angry, Shohei Ohtani leading the league, the Royals are turning heads with Jake Eisenberg
• Are the Phillies really this good? Or has their schedule just been easy?
• Phillies taking advantage, Yankees pitching dilemma, Skenes impresses at Wrigley & Cardinals City Connect

Appearing so infrequently is not completely unprecedented. Just last season, a utility player named Charlie Culberson spent two separate month-long stints on Atlanta ’s MLB roster while making just a single plate appearance. Culberson was a 34-year-old veteran at the end of his road; Jones is just 26, young enough to believe there are brighter days ahead.

And to be clear, the lack of opportunity aside, there are worse jobs. Jones is on the MLB minimum salary, which works out to approximately $4,277 per day. That means he’s brought home over $220,000 for 10 plate appearances and two starts; good work if you can get it. He lives in New York, he plays for the Yankees, life is good.

But all good things must end and Jones’ time on the roster appears to be dwindling. LeMahieu, the team’s projected everyday third baseman, is close to full health. Currently on a minor league rehab assignment, the 13-year veteran could join the team as soon as next week for the Yankees’ trip to Anaheim. LeMahieu’s return from a foot injury would likely push the Jon Berti/Oswaldo Cabrera combo to the bench and Jones off the roster. He would likely be designated for assignment, eligible to be traded or claimed by another team and placed on its big league roster. If unclaimed, Jones would almost certainly report to New York’s Triple-A affiliate in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Jones says that the ticking clock doesn’t bother him, that he doesn’t dwell on it.

“That decision is completely out of my control. So I'm not going to spend every single day waiting on the 'what if' or worrying about if it's me or not. Because, again, it's not helping anybody. It's not helping myself, it’s not helping the team to win, and it's not helping DJ get healthy.”

Even if he gets sent down, he could very well return later this season. In the meantime, while the future lurks, Jones remains positive, focused and involved. He is a joyful presence during Yankees batting practice, bantering with his teammates, a smile plastered on his face as he gets his work in. During games, Jones remains a fixture on the dugout’s top step, at least until it’s time for him to get ready.

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Grifol: Eloy Jiménez To Miss “Extended Period Of Time”

By Darragh McDonald | May 23, 2024 at 7:05pm CDT

7:05pm : On the broadcast of tonight’s game, general manager Chris Getz said Jiménez would miss a month or so, as relayed by Scott Merkin of MLB.com on X .

5:40pm : White Sox manager Pedro Grifol spoke with members of the media today, with Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times relaying video on X . Grifol relayed the latest on slugger Eloy Jiménez , which wasn’t great news. “He beat it up pretty good,” Grifol said of Jiménez’s left hamstring. “Exactly how much time, I mean, who knows? But it will be an extended period of time.”

Jiménez, 27, landed on the injured list yesterday due to a left hamstring strain, the latest in what has become a mounting injury track record. Although this is his sixth season in the big leagues, he has never played more than 122 games in a season. He’s only reached 85 games twice and has only gone beyond 55 games three times. He has gone on the injured list due to a high right ankle sprain, a right ulnar nerve contusion, a left adductor strain, a ruptured left pectoral tendon, an appendectomy, a torn hamstring tendon and multiple left hamstring strains.

When healthy enough to take the field, he has shown himself to possess a potent bat. He has 94 home runs in just under 2,000 plate appearances in his career and has slashed .271/.321/.479 for a wRC+ of 116. But the missed time due to injuries has often prevented him from providing that kind of offense to the Sox on a consistent basis.

Before even making his major league debut, the Sox signed Jiménez to a six-year, $43MM extension for the 2019-24 seasons. That deal also has two options for 2025 and 2026, respectively valued at $16.5MM and $18.5MM, each with a $3MM buyout.

The Sox were rebuilding at the time of that deal and hoped to be opening a new competitive window. They ended up making the postseason in 2020 and 2021, remarkably the first time the franchise made the playoffs in consecutive years, but the window slammed shut after that. The Sox fell to .500 in 2022 and then slid even farther last year, kicking off yet another rebuild.

The club was undoubtedly hoping for a strong season here in 2024 so they could trade him this summer, now that he’s in the final guaranteed season of his contract, but an extended absence will make that even less likely.

As of January, the club was reportedly finding little trade interest in Jiménez, surely on account of his increasing health issues and his diminished performance more recently. He hit .276/.327/.504 from 2019 to 2022 but has hit just .263/.310/.427 since the start of 2023, the latter line translating to a wRC+ of 102. Since Jiménez doesn’t really steal bases nor play the field well, he really needs to hit, especially with his contract.

The timeline on Jiménez is still vague, but with the trade deadline now just over two months away, the Sox may be squeezed out of finding a trade partner. Even if Jiménez is back and healthy a few weeks before the deadline, his ongoing injury problems will tamp down the interest from other clubs.

For the same reasons that the trade interest may be muted, it’s possible that the clock is ticking on his tenure with the White Sox. In the most recent offseason, bat-first players like Justin Turner , Joc Pederson and J.D. Martinez signed one-year deals for less than the value of Jiménez’s 2025 option. Even Teoscar Hernández , whose career offense is roughly comparable to that of Jiménez but with more speed and defensive ability, had to settle for one-year and $23.5MM with a decent chunk deferred.

That may have the Sox leaning towards turning down their 2025 option, since it would appear to be above market value for a defensively-limited slugger, especially one with the recent track record that Jiménez has. That will be a decision for the future. For now, he and the club will be focused on getting him healthy to see how things go in the latter parts of the season.

47 Comments

12 hours ago

He wishes he could get to a Buxton level of durability

11 hours ago

I would love to see Buxtons injury list. He would make first ballott DL hall of fame !

Buxton missed ~51% of his 8 full seasons of play. Eloy is currently at 41% and trending in the wrong direction with this IL stint. At this rate he should catch Buxton’s IL time within two seasons.

10 hours ago

Yes, it’s so hilarious to pick on athletes who get injured. Grow up.

8 hours ago

Maybe not. Check out some of the side effects of juicing. Weakening of the tendons that attach major muscles. Two drops a year. That’s it. Believe none are after the World Series or before spring training. The real stars of this game are not the so called muscle men. Can’t think of one HOF player I’ve seen play that someone would consider to be a bulked up juicer. However I do believe this will be broken when known juice man King Albert makes the hall first ballot. The league even did him a favor and dropped him early twice so he could go on a farewell tear. Jimenez is a part time juicer that ends up hurt due to the side effects and withdrawal. When you say he’s dropped over the winter tell me of the quality/honesty of a test administered in Santo Domingo….. So yes it’s fair to question someone that takes advantage of the rules to use substances that result in injury. Sure I have no actual proof of Jimenez juicing. I also can’t prove it will snow in Alaska again. However it’s about as obvious as it will be dark outside at 12AM that Eloy is hurt again due to his poor choices.

7 hours ago

Put: How do you know Eloy and Albert are/were juicers? Where do you get your information on the subject? For instance, we know bonds was a big time PED user because he said he was using during a televised interview. Eloy and Albert? This is the first I’ve heard of it. not all muscular-lookingnplayers are on PEDs, but when you see a guy like McGwire, whose arms were bigger than his legs, questions do come up

The speed of Ellsbury combined with the fielding of Kevin Kiermaier combined with the batting prowess of Edgar Martinez and the hustle of Peter Rose.

What is…not Jimenez?

Goodbye, Trojan Toss

3 career stolen bases and negative defensive runs saved…..

I don’t know who you’re describing but it certainly isn’t Eloy

More like the speed of John Kruk combined with the fielding of Ryan Raburn combined with the batting prowess of Rob Deer and the hustle of a used Pinto combined with the durability of wet paper mache…

The speed of an old Edgar Martinez combined with the fielding of nick castellanos combined with the batting prowess of Austin hedges combined with the hustle of manny machado combined with the exceptional durability of Byron Buxton

9 hours ago

Edgar ran the 40 yard dash at 4.8 seconds at age 53, definitely not slow.

In four 10 yard jaunts over 5 days.

Of course he will. It’s what he’s always been, Injured and disappointing. One or the other.

The ridiculous thing about most of his hamstring injuries is that they occured by stepping on a base or, in one case, tripping over one. That should be Getz’ next move, lobbying Manfred to allow pillows for bases. Oh, wait. This will be Eloy’s last year with the Sox. reinsdorf will pay the $3m opt out, but no one who plays for that miser will ever get close to $16.5m a year even if they were Ohtani.

Hope he bounces back. Sell the team Mr. Reinsdorf terrible brand of baseball from top to bottom minors. Same with Chicago bulls.

You really gotta wonder just how much time(or effort)this guy(Jimenez)spends on conditioning, cardio and just staying in game shape. Eloy Jimenez just may be the most unathletic “athlete” ever.

He looks like a guy who could put down 5lb steak in one sitting and still have room for dessert

He looks like he’s in his late 30s. You know this guy doesn’t stay in shape in the offseason because of all his soft tissue injuries. How do you get injured running to first base when you barely run to begin with?

White Sox didn’t seem to take character/drive into account when handing out the extension. Just age and stats

Less time than he spends in Dunkin Donuts.

I feel like he has gotten fatter because when he was a prospect at least he could play in the outfield

You mean stand in the outfield.

Thanks, Cubs!

What else is new

“Like sands through the hourglass…”

Shocking news. Never would have expected this.

This guy will miss his own funeral

He’ll definitely be at least 6-8 weeks late. No doubt about it

IN-EX-cusable.. I get that its not all on the conditioning staff, but how about these guys do their job or roll the bus over guys like Eloy for not doing the work?!?! Look, Eloy has to work at keeping himself in shape, but the org has to start issuing directives about how if you do not train you do not play. Enough is enough with these soft tissue injuries which could be resolved with simple exercises and diet, which is obviously not happening.. Ozzie said in a post game that its all on the player, I have a funny feeling Herm Schneider would disagree (at least a bit) with that. The staff get paid to keep these guys healthy and on the field, otherwise why bother having them? Tell them all to pile into their little car and go away.

How do you know the cause of these injuries? It could be an underlying condition. Don’t be so judgmental.

But thats the point, what is the cause? That is up to the conditioning staff to figure out. Its up to Eloy to be honest about his diet and conditioning, or lack thereof.

Jimenez will join the blue jays next year, the jays need another player to help finish off the desert at the buffet

Imagine a team of vlad Kirk vogelbach manoah and Jimenez

“Imagine a team of Vlad Kirk vogelbach”…If that ever happened, the Blue Jays would need to radically reduce payroll, just to pay for the daily post game spread.

With manoah back in the majors if Jimenez was added then Roger’s centre would smell like a OK corral

More like a Golden Corral you mean.

He’s missed 41% of his games through four full seasons. If he misses the rest of this year, he will have missed ~48% of his five full seasons of baseball. That’s….impressive?

Count me among the surprised.

The White Sox team is made of glass. I mean they field the ball wrong and they’re injured for a month.

I’m ready for the Vaughn/Benintendi DH platoon to begin. Because I want to see a lot less Vaughn and never want to see AB in the field again.

Pretty sure Vaughn wants to see a lot less Chicago in general. Kid grew up in Sonoma County, California and went to college in Berkeley. Convinced he will hit once he’s out of black and white, but he’s proving me wrong so far about the hit tool.

Thought he was already hurt n missing games. NO WAY Sox pick-up that option, he is literally the guy u can trade a bucket of balls for.

Moncada and Eloy will both be additions by subtractions after this year.

5 hours ago

This dude needs new hamstrings

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