Stop the presses -- MLB umpire suspended for bad call!
New York Times
In a week in which umpires twice became the story of games because of high-profile mistakes, Major League Baseball took action on Friday, handing a two-game suspension to Fieldin Culbreth, the umpire who on Thursday incorrectly allowed an illegal pitching change in a game between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels.
The Culbreth controversy erupted when Houston’s rookie manager, Bo Porter, tried to remove a pitcher, Wesley Wright, who had yet to pitch to a batter. Porter, reacting to a pinch-hitter announcement, wanted to bring in Hector Ambriz instead.
The switch was questioned by Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, who cited Official Baseball Rule 3.05(b), which states a pitcher who has yet to face a batter can only be removed because of illness or injury. But Culbreth ruled against Scioscia, and the Angels said they would play the remainder of the game under protest. They went on to win, 6-5.
On Friday, M.L.B. ruled that Culbreth’s decision was a clear violation of 3.05(b) and that Wright should have been forced to pitch to a batter. The suspension will start at a date determined by the commissioner’s office, and fines were issued to the other umpires of his crew: Brian O’Nora, Bill Welke and Adrian Johnson.
LINK: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/11/sports/baseball/umpire-suspended-for-blown-call.html?_r=0
I think umpires generally do a pretty great job. But how and why Culbreth blew this is a real mystery. I was aware of this rule even as a little kid.
As I understand it, the date of Culbreth's two-game suspension will come some time in the future. Why MLB doesn't do it IMMEDIATELY is another Selig head scratcher.
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