Umpire Fieldin Culbreth suspended

darkredwing · 05-11-2013, 01:17 AM

Kinda of surprised to not see a thread about this already. Umpire Fieldin Culbreth was suspended for two games and fined as well as the other three of his crew were fined for misapplication of Official Baseball Rule 3.05(b). Basically what had happened was the Astros put in pitcher Wesley Wright into the top of the 7th with two outs. The Angels opted to pitch hit with Scott Cousins instead of Luis Jimenez. The Astros then replaced Wright with Hector Ambriz without him ever even throwing a pitch.

Pretty shocking that the four umpires didn't know the rule and were convinced by a rookie manager that it had be changed. Shouldn't the umpires know the rules like the back of their hands?

Anyways, just wanted to hear some of your thoughts on it. Major League Umpires should at least know the basic rules of the game.

MLB admits umpires fouled up, suspends one, fines three*others | The Strike Zone - SI.com

Faroo6 · 05-11-2013, 01:32 AM

I think its a crock that a rule interpreted wrong that didn't have an effect on the outcome of the game is a bigger issue to MLB than the travesty that was the A's non homer against the Indians.

darkredwing · 05-11-2013, 02:12 AM

As do I, not a good week for baseball and umpires. I'd suspect that Angel Hernandez well get what's coming sooner or later. He's been involved in too much controversy. I suppose though that this shows umpires aren't invulnerable.

AnotherAlias · 05-11-2013, 02:15 AM

Good disciplinary actions on rules that are pretty easy to follow might make other umpires do what they are paid to do.

Erik W. · 05-11-2013, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faroo6

I think its a crock that a rule interpreted wrong that didn't have an effect on the outcome of the game is a bigger issue to MLB than the travesty that was the A's non homer against the Indians.

It isn't about how much the call affected the game, it's about blowing a judgement call versus not knowing and enforcing a basic rule of the game.

H8ter2 · 05-11-2013, 09:21 AM

The blown HR call in the A's game just shows how MLB needs to refine its replay precedures. I honestly don't understand how some ump isn't in a room with a big flat screen TV that can just buzz down and be like "that was a HR", the whole thing of all the umps going in the club house to look at it is a sham anyway.

The incident with the blown pitcher sub rule is a blatant negligence of an umpire not knowing a simple basic rule of the game and should be punished more severely as it threatens the legitimacy of the game if a perception gets out that umps simply don't know the rules of the game especially a basic rule as that one. My 2 cents

Goody · 05-11-2013, 12:00 PM

I'm most surprised that nobody brings up the original blown non-HR call against the A's. I clearly saw the ball move the O sign which was in HR territory. They missed that one too, but it was less obvious. And the A's eventually won the game...after losing more players to injury. But this last one was so obvious. NFL refs on replays now get a much needed reprieve.

Goody · 05-11-2013, 12:04 PM

And before you bring up the Golden Tate catch...it only takes One hand to make a catch. His one had was on the ball the same time as the defensive player's two hands were. Offensive player wins. His one hand catch never left the ball after simultaneous contact.

The push off before wasn't what was being reviewed. So the refs got it right IMO. Messed up, but their process was right...and they were replacements.

If they hadn't blown a call on Safety Kam Chancellor earlier in the game with a phanton pass interference, the Packers would never have come back to take the lead in the first place.

Déjà Bru · 05-11-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik W.

It isn't about how much the call affected the game, it's about blowing a judgement call versus not knowing and enforcing a basic rule of the game.

This is key, as I don't recall ever seeing an umpire suspended for something other than his own bad behavior, and even then so rare that I recall that only once or twice.

So this is the first time, as far as I know, that an umpire has been suspended for not knowing the rules. A far cry from being suspended for a bad judgement call. Or is it?

Goody · 05-11-2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

This is key, as I don't recall ever seeing an umpire suspended for something other than his own bad behavior, and even then so rare that I recall that only once or twice.

So this is the first time, as far as I know, that an umpire has been suspended for not knowing the rules. A far cry from being suspended for a bad judgement call. Or is it?

I agree. Suspended for not knowing the rules is fine. Angel Hernandez is another story... oranges and apples.

wireman · 05-11-2013, 10:08 PM

Up until now, Culbreth had struck me as a pretty good ump. Hernandez, not so much.

Both errors were beyond my powers of comprehension.

05-11-2013, 01:17 AM	#1
darkredwing Minors (Single A) Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 96	Umpire Fieldin Culbreth suspended Kinda of surprised to not see a thread about this already. Umpire Fieldin Culbreth was suspended for two games and fined as well as the other three of his crew were fined for misapplication of Official Baseball Rule 3.05(b). Basically what had happened was the Astros put in pitcher Wesley Wright into the top of the 7th with two outs. The Angels opted to pitch hit with Scott Cousins instead of Luis Jimenez. The Astros then replaced Wright with Hector Ambriz without him ever even throwing a pitch. Pretty shocking that the four umpires didn't know the rule and were convinced by a rookie manager that it had be changed. Shouldn't the umpires know the rules like the back of their hands? Anyways, just wanted to hear some of your thoughts on it. Major League Umpires should at least know the basic rules of the game. MLB admits umpires fouled up, suspends one, fines threeothers \| The Strike Zone - SI.com Last edited by darkredwing; 05-11-2013 at 01:29 AM.*

05-11-2013, 09:21 AM	#6
H8ter2 Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Georgia Posts: 2	Umpire Fieldin Culbreth suspended The blown HR call in the A's game just shows how MLB needs to refine its replay precedures. I honestly don't understand how some ump isn't in a room with a big flat screen TV that can just buzz down and be like "that was a HR", the whole thing of all the umps going in the club house to look at it is a sham anyway. The incident with the blown pitcher sub rule is a blatant negligence of an umpire not knowing a simple basic rule of the game and should be punished more severely as it threatens the legitimacy of the game if a perception gets out that umps simply don't know the rules of the game especially a basic rule as that one. My 2 cents

05-11-2013, 12:00 PM	#7
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	I'm most surprised that nobody brings up the original blown non-HR call against the A's. I clearly saw the ball move the O sign which was in HR territory. They missed that one too, but it was less obvious. And the A's eventually won the game...after losing more players to injury. But this last one was so obvious. NFL refs on replays now get a much needed reprieve. __________________ In the past: Laseron Baseball Association creator. Present: I am Rezulm on PT and OOTP Discord. Future: I wish it was the past.

05-11-2013, 10:08 PM	#11
wireman All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Harrisonburg VA Posts: 765	Up until now, Culbreth had struck me as a pretty good ump. Hernandez, not so much. Both errors were beyond my powers of comprehension. __________________ "Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't."

05-11-2013, 02:12 AM	#3
darkredwing Minors (Single A) Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 96	As do I, not a good week for baseball and umpires. I'd suspect that Angel Hernandez well get what's coming sooner or later. He's been involved in too much controversy. I suppose though that this shows umpires aren't invulnerable.

05-11-2013, 02:15 AM	#4
AnotherAlias Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I'm back...for now Posts: 4,190	Good disciplinary actions on rules that are pretty easy to follow might make other umpires do what they are paid to do.

05-11-2013, 12:04 PM	#8
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	And before you bring up the Golden Tate catch...it only takes One hand to make a catch. His one had was on the ball the same time as the defensive player's two hands were. Offensive player wins. His one hand catch never left the ball after simultaneous contact. The push off before wasn't what was being reviewed. So the refs got it right IMO. Messed up, but their process was right...and they were replacements. If they hadn't blown a call on Safety Kam Chancellor earlier in the game with a phanton pass interference, the Packers would never have come back to take the lead in the first place.