Rockies Postgame with Umps — Updated
While the Colorado Rockies celebrated following their dramatic come-from-behind win against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, some noticed a conversation going on between Troy Tulowitzki and the umpire Bill Miller, followed by a conversation between Jim Tracy and the umpires.
Indications are that there were several matters involved with the post-game scene, the most concerning of which was catcher Yorvit Torrealba’s riding home plate umpire Angel Campos, which prompted an in-game warning from first base umpire Jim Joyce after Torrealba had singled. Joyce is the crew chief.
Torrealba has a negative reputation among umpires for his emotional outbursts, which the Rockies have worked on trying to control since he joined the team.
Torrealba reportedly apologized to Campos for showing him up.
The situation was aggravated by the fact that the umpires’ exit from the field was blocked, which is a security issue.
There also was an incident at the end of the game, which could have a negative impact in a different situation and was worth noting for future reference, although it was not a cause of any confrontation.
When Ryan Spilborghs reached home plate after sprinting around the bases on his grand slam, Tulowitzki slapped fives with the hero before Spilborghs actually reached the plate.
Tracy Ringolsby speculates that Spilborghs could have been called out at that point and credited with a triple rather than a home run. Because Adam Eaton walked to force in a run before Spilborghs batted, the final run was not the game-deciding run and the umpires didn’t call Spilborghs out.
Nice information, I was wondering what that was all about last night, er I mean this morning! Some valuable information for Tulo and the Rockies to have, for future reference. I would hate to see such a dramatic finish wiped out due to a rules technicality, so glad they won and can use this as a learning expericen.
Interesting. Thanks, Steve!
This is obviously a seldom enforced rule, but it makes more sense that the umpires would be delivering a warning than the Rockies picking a fight with the umpires over the strike zone in the middle of a celebration.
Wasn’t that the rule (and I’m going WAAAY back in my memory here, so I”m probably wrong) that led to the infamous “Merkel’s Boner”?
Something about him hitting a home run to win it, but then with the celebration going on he never got to home plate?
Anyway, this is why I love baseball.
Go Rockies!
Is that rule supposed apply to first- and third-base coaches, who often high-five with players as they round the bases? I’ve heard of this rule being enforced in college baseball/softball games, but not MLB.
For TJ in Phoenix…the Merkle Boner game in September 1908 did not involve a home run, but a single that scored the apparent winning run. But Fred Merkle of the Giants, on first with two outs, ran off the field before he touched second base, assuming the game was over. Johnny Evers of the Cubs realized Merkle’s mistake and called for the ball to step on second for the inning-ending force play.
The game was ruled incomplete and the teams later replayed the game, won this time by the Cubs who went on to capture the NL title. Had Merkle continued to second base, history might have been far different.
The Merkle Play in 1908 revolved around then-rookie Fred Merkle of the Giants, who was the runner on first base, not touching second when the apparent game-winning hit was made. He simply followed the custom of the time and ran to join his teammates in celebration. After a raucous scene, he was declared out at second on a force play and the game was ordered replayed if the final NL standings mandated it.
Sure enough, the season ended with Merkle’s Giants and the Cubs tied after 153 games. Three-Finger Brown beat Christy Mathewson in the replay and the Cubs took the pennant.
In a tragic aftermath, NL president Harry Pulliam took his own life in 1909. The primary factor was said to be the pressure he faced in ruling on the Merkle Game the previous fall. And Merkle, a very good player, was known for his error the rest of his career and the rest of his life.
“Merkle’s Boner” was a play in which Fred Merkle, who was a runner at first base, failed to touch second base on a what would have been game-winning single. He stopped running and went to the clubhouse was forced out and to end the game. I’ve been trying to find the exact rule: coaches aren’t allowed to interfere with a runner in a way that would prevent him from advancing on a play or help him advance on a play (a coach can’t tackle a player to stop him or help him get up if he trips rounding a base). Players likewise aren’t allowed to assist a teammmate. The rules aren’t clearcut, but I think it falls in here somewhere: http://www.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/runner_7.jsp
I did see Jim Tracy pretty forcefully grab one of the umpires by the sleeve of his shirt. He did not seem a bit pleased with the way the umpires were handling their business with his players.
I’m confused how this play could constitute being called out. There are rules in place that prohibit players or base coaches from helping or hindering the runner’s progress. (Rule 7.09 d, e, & h) However, all these rules are structured to keep the offense from hindering the defense from making a play. In the case of a home run, the defense has no play to make and any contact with a coach or other player would have no impact on the play. The only thing that comes to mind would be that the umpire was unable to see Ryan actually touch home plate, which would result in him being out. As Tracy says, without Eaton’s walked in run, Ryan missing the plate would result in an important out.
The base-running explanation makes some sense, but this has got to be a rule more honored in the breach than in the observance.
The big game winning or record breaking multi-run homer nearly always ends up with a scrum at home. How often can anybody be absolutely sure that each runner cleanly stepped on the plate?
I just think the umpires were unprofessional throughout the game.
The rule states: In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base.
I don’t see how giving a high five is physically assisting the runner either way. The third base coach does it all the time.
The umpires bad call on Winn cost the Rockies a run (he was out of the baseline) and the called strike right before Fowler fouled it off his knee was below Fowler’s knee and off the plate may cost the Rockies center fielder some time.
The umpires need to call the same game for its entirety. Not want to get it over.
Hey all, thanks for the history lesson!
Go Rockies
The bottom line is the umpires didn’t call anybody out and didn’t make it an issue. They allowed the home run and runs, but they did take the time to point out that in a different set of circumstances a problem could arise.
Say it’s the post-season and it’s the winning run and it happens. Suddenly there is a challenge from the other team and the whole issue gets ouit of hand.
I didn’t really see much of anything where the umpires handled the gmae unprofessionally. There was the incident at the end which included not being able to get off the field which is supposed to be a high priority of security.
There were some issues between Torrealba and the umpiring crew but that’s pretty much normal. Torrealba is emotional and has a tendency to say things that would be better off not said.
And in lihgt of quesitons about Fred Merkle. Understand, he spent 16 years in the big leagues, and ranked among the top 10 in the National League in RBI five times, home runs and stolen bases four times, and batting average three times.
Yet, he will be forever remembered for Merkle’s Boner. At the age of 19, the youngest player in the big leagues, he found himself unexpectedly in the starting lineup for the New York Giants in the 1908 pennant race and was the victim of a technical misstep that was blamed for the Cubs advancing to win a third consecutive NL pennant and a second consecutive World Series – the last World Series that the Cubs have won.
In that era, fans stormed the field at game’s end so players would race to the clubhouse, runners on first often ignoring touching second to avoid the crowd, which is what Merkle did that day. Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers, who had an appeal of such a play denied earlier in the season because umpire Hank O’Day was working as a one-man crew in the game and said he never saw the play, took another shot. This time O’Day, the base umpire in a two-man crew on this day, ruled in favor of Evers, although he didn’t make his ruling until 10 p.m., safely in his hotel room, far from the Giants fans.
The umps had a terrible game throughout, the strike zone was all over the place and Winn was clearly out of the baseline. This is just another example of umpires feeling the need to show their importance. As people have said, base coaches high five guys all the time, and walk off scrums are always a mess. Why bother to say anything at all?
Also, Steve or Tracy, what do you know about the report in the post that the second base umpire insulted Yorvit because he felt Yorvit was showing up the home plate ump?
Anonymous post above was from me.
And as for seldom enforced rules, if you are a Mets fan you might remember that there was a moment where Robin Ventura hit a post-season grand slam for a Mets’ victory. Problem is that the Mets were tied when the home run was hit. As Ventura rounded first base he joined his teammates in celebration. While the post-game interviews were going on the official scorers had to change the grand slam to a game-winning single because Ventura did not touch second, third and home. Not the same as the incident last night, but to me, it was not all bad that the umpires would make sure the player is aware of a misstep that could be costly under different circumstances.
I wouldn’t say it was a case of the umpires being self important.
One, if the umpires wanted to be a spectacle and make themselves bigger than the event then they would have called Spilborghs out. They didn’t do that.
Why bother to say anything? To try and practice preventive measures, to make sure players are aware of situations so that it doesn’t come up in a time where it could have a negative impact.
Two, Campos having a bad game behind the plate is not unusual. In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, he is not a very good umpire behind the plate. He is inconsistent, and in fact.
Three, since the day Torrealba joined the Rockies one of the biggest challenges has been trying to have Torrealba keep his emotions under control. For him to have problems with a crew is not unique.
Four, it is not unique for a team to be on an umpire’s strikezone throughout the game. The Giants were vocal last night, too. That comes with the territory.
My feeling is that what created the basic scenario was the umpires were blocked from exiting the field, and at least one of them got knocked over.
I recently read about a similar situation in a college softball game and they called the runner out but later it was determined that was the incorrect call and that the rule states that the first infraction calls for a only warning.
Very good point Tracy. While the celebration was every bit deserved, the umpires were blocked from exiting the field. After a 5 hour game in which they have no emotional ties to the outcome, they were ready to leave at rest/relax, whatever umpires do after a game. For the celebration to extend from homeplate to the backstop with a mosh pit of jubilant players, they just wanted to exit. I also agree that they were not trying to be bigger than the game, but use the situation as a teaching tool for a young player, so as to not have another similar situation result in disaster/heartbreak for the Rockies.
Now Rockies, keep the momentum up and BEAT LA!!!!
I know this isn’t the right place, but I’m hearing that ESPN News is reporting the Rox just called up EY Jr. Tracy, can you confirm the veracity of that story? If so, was a DL move made, or was someone sent down?
What makes the rumor odd is that he’s said to be starting in CF for the Rox tonight. At first blush, this would make no sense (Spilly can start there in the absence of Dex or CarGo), but Kershaw’s a lefty, which could mean Tracy wouldn’t want both Hawpe and Smith in the lineup at the same time?
Curios whether the conversation was “likely the umpire’s attempt to warn Tulowitzki” or if anyone learned, since this article was written, that this was in fact the case?
Mondogarage,
I think you can count on ESPN being correct right now if it breaks news on EY2. Remember where his father works? And as with any young man, if the call comes that you are going to the big leagues, who is the first person you call?
Okay, who is the second person you call, you know, the one after your agent. (Just kidding on that part).
C Moon, it appears that it was not the case, as I had originally speculated. The story has been revised above. Hope that helps.
I initially thought someone had missed a bag and the Giants appealed and the runner was called out. Phew!
Also notice that Spilly threw his helmet at the end which headed towards an umpire walking off. This wasnt intentional but could be seen as it if you are Jim Joyce with your head turned then look up and see a helmet coming at your feet.
What I didnt get is I saw TULO act like he was pissed off heading back to dugout after talking to umpires. I was down the line in right field and could see Torrealba showing up Campos so you know it was bad. The strike call on Omar Q in the 13th or 14th was by far his worst call of the game. It was clearly a ball almost in the dirt. As far as umpires the one that always sticks out in my head(who is also doing the dodgers series) is Dale Scott. Every “bang, bang” call he makes goes against the Rockies.
The Post and MLB.com had a big story on this today.
“Major League Baseball will punish umpires and players for their actions during and after Monday’s game at Coors Field.
“We are investigating this, and it’s not all against the umpires it involves players as well,” Bob Watson, MLB’s director of on-field operations, told The Post on Tuesday. “And it is definitely not going away without discipline being handed down, on both sides.”
Player stats, good or bad, are issued by the league for all to see.
Players are sent to the minors or worse cut from the team for poor performance.
Can anyone explain why the league is so secretive regarding their ranking of the performance of umpires and why that once an ump is promoted to the major leagues it appears that they are guaranteed a lifetime job with no fear of being fired, sent back to the minors or even reprimanded for poor performance.
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