I didn't want to ruin the congratulatory tone of my post for the Giants regarding the game last night, so I decided to make a seperate post here. Something needs to be done about barring Jim Fitzgerald from umpiring our games ever again. Every time this guy umpires there is angst because he is so antagonistic and confrontational. When I saw him show up with the home plate gear on, I told Jimmy K that we were in trouble. I was right. He looks for reasons to start fights with players. He did so again last night. In the fourth inning, Randy Craft was on second base and Ron Lochner was at the plate. There was a pitch that looked a good bit inside. Randy had a "knee-jerk" reaction and said: "Aw c'mon. Clean off the plate". Nothing more than that and was not looking for conversation with the umpire. It was just a reaction to a bad call and he was done. Jim called time out and waddled twenty feet in the direction of Randy and barked out: "What did you say?" Randy, looking to avoid a big blowup over nothing, claimed that he didn't say anything. Fitz wouldn't let it go with out proclaiming that he "didn't take that kind of crap!" It was a ridiculous over-reaction! "Rabbit-ears" are a horrible thing for an umpire to have, and this guy combines Rabbit-ears with a huge chip on his shoulder. The field umpire calmed him down and got him to return to his job, but it was an embarrassing episode. This blow hard wasn't done yet! After a horrible third strike call in the bottom of the sixth, Mike Patnaude did what everyone of us would have done and protested to Fitzgerald that the call was a "bad call". His reaction was quite in control and understandable given the situation. Could the umpire control himself, understand that his call had just shut down a rally at an important moment, and ignored the comment. NO! He followed Mike out to the field as he was ready to take his position for warm-ups. Mike was done with the whole thing! But NO! Michelin Man had to yell so everyone could hear: "The Marlins better get somebody warmed up, because if this guy says another thing he is out of here." I again commend Mike Patnaude for his reaction to being called out by this blow hard. He made the motion that he was locking his lips and he wouldn't say another word. El Hugo takes this as a personal insult and throws him out of the game. Mike didn't flip him off, he didn't say another word, he was just indicating that he was complying with the threat from the umpire. Yet Blimp Boy throws him out anyway. This guy is an obvious case of: "I got cut from my high school baseball team so I need to find a way to get back at all those guys who made their teams". If this was an isolated incident, I would have let it pass. We don't let the players act like this. There is no way we should let the umpires do it. Let me point out that we have had nothing but good experiences all year with our umpires. There have been good calls and bad calls, but we haven't had any aggressive umpires looking to make bravado statements. We don't need this kind of crap. The league just needs to make a request to the scheduler to eliminate this guy from the list of guys that we will accept as an umpire for all three of oyur leagues. If you allow him to be scheduled for the finals and/or next year and you are just asking for an ugly incident that our league does not need. We have done a good job policing our ranks on a code of conduct. It is now time to hold the umpires up to the same candle! If you think that this post is sour grapes, just ask any of the guys on the Giants (the winning team), and they will tell you the same. If you want four or five other examples of this kind of behaviour from the same guy, I can give them to you. Ask Curt Coons about some of the inappropriate comments he was making about our league and the play, while Curt was trying to call pitches. The guy is an Ass, and we need to be done with him.
I don't usually post about things like this, but in this case I have to.
By the way - the umpires name is Jim Fitzgerald.
I was at this game last night as a spectator and I saw all the incidences that Mike G. is referring to. The umpire definitely instigated most of the confrontations last night. I get along well with Jim (and no were not related), however, he was out of line last night. Randy Craft said exactly what Mike stated and then that was it. The ump went out of his way to proceed to the pitcher's mound to confront Randy. There is no need for that. As far as the Marlins player getting thrown out of the game..I don't know if the called third strike was a strike or not, but that being said there is no room in this league for an umpire to confront a player. Is is not about the umpires, it is about the players. The Marlins ejected player took the field and didn't say another word, therefore, he shouldn't have been ejected - bottom line!
As a player and manager, I've argued calls before - the right way. You argue and let it go. I had a run in this year at Bob Moore in the 25+ Nationals vs. Pirates game with Jim Fitzgerald. I was called out on an OUTSIDE third strike (I had to capitalize outside) because I rarely strike out and if I did strike out it must have been outside right? Anyway, I got called out on strikes and I said something to the effect of "No way, it was outside". No profanity was used at all. I proceeded back to the dugout and flung my bat (I did not throw it) up against the fence with the other bats. He then started walking towards our dugout and told me he doesn't take that crap and I was acting like a child....excuse me?? I said one thing to him and walked back to the dugout. There are many other players in this league that argue until they are blue in the face and he threatens me with ejection for one statement?
Anyway, we need to take a look at this issue and if a player is to be penalized for instigating confrontations and being ejected, shouldn't we hold our umpires to the same standards?
As a new member of the league, I have had nothing but pleasant interactions with players and umpires alike. I have noticed that the strike zone differs from ump to ump. Veteran players on my team that I admire have told me that if it's anywhere close, swing at it. So that's pretty much my plate appearance approach in my rookie year with moderate success. However, it seems that the umpire in question is singling out the best guys in our league just to flex and let everybody know that he's the boss. It doesn't sound like sour grapes if more than a fair share of people are saying the same thing about this particular umpire. There is absolutely no question at all that this ump has to go, so when players show up to play a competitive fun game of baseball, there is no black cloud hanging above the time these guys have set aside to play the game that they love. That being said, I want to thank all the umps and players that have helped me pick up my game. It's been a fun first year. I am also not saying that this guy doesn't deserve an old fashioned Pete Rose ass kicking from the next man whose face he gets in.
Jim Fitzgerald is a stand up guy and great umpire. I like to work games with him every chance I can. He was the plate umpire for the 18U Connie Mack All-Star game (that your son played in Mike) at the Commons for a reason, because he is a damn good official. I worked with Jim Fitz that game as well as high school ball and regional tournaments with teams from all over the eastern seaboard without incident. Jim Fitzgerald graduated from a professional umpire school. A little more than a year ago Jim was recognized and awarded in the Capital District for his charitable work with disabled children. Given the childish, personal attacks posted by you Mike Gerard I would agree that Jim should not be working CDMSBL. The league doesn't deserve someone that good.
I do agree with you about the personal attacks, however, I didn't say Jim wasn't a good ump at calling the game. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and my opinion is that twice this year (that we know of) he has provoked players into confrontations and that is not right no matter how many years you have been umping, what games you have umped, etc.
I'm sorry that you feel this way Todd. It doesn't change the way I feel about Jim Fitzgerald umpiring for our league. I like you personally and respect you as an umpire, but you opinion of Jim is apparently clouded by him being a fellow umpire. If you have done as many games as you say with him, then you must have seen his aggressive behaviour toward coaches and players. I havce also heard about Jim's charitable works, but that is Jim off the field. On the field I have never seen anyone different than the guy who reared his ugly head last night. If you don't believe my characterization of the events last night, then look up his partner last night and ask him. He was quite embarrassed by Jim's actions. He's got my blood boiling more than once over the years, and frankly I don't care to play any games that he shows up for. It is that bad. It is admirable that you want to stick up for him, but it will be better for him and us if we don't see each other again!
There is no way the home plate umpire cost the Marlins the game. The batters I walked were walks. I had no complaints about his strike zone. The Giants beat me, not the umpire. (Congrats by the way. I had fun playing that series. Except for losing) I walked more batters that night then I did in half the season.
I have never posted here before but thought I had to share my comments. We all have good days and bad days. We make good pitches and bad pitches, we have good at bats and bad at bats. Umpires make good calls and bad calls. That said, the home plate umpire may have made bad calls that Mike mentioned or not. I did not have a good angle to agree or dissagree. But the reaction by the Marlins players in no way required the kind of actions the home plate umpire took.
Randy did question the strike call when he was standing on second base. We all know Randy can question an umpire now and then but this was a mild one. The umpire took his mask off and walked to the pitching mound. Asking Randy to say it again. Yelling loud enough for everybody in the park to hear. In my opinion the umpire over reacted. He was making sure everybody there knew he was in charge. When I say everybody I don't just mean the players. He wanted everybody in the complex to know. Lets not forget his partner was 10 feet from Randy. Unlike the home plate umpire he did not feel the need to become part of the game. Just umpire it.
I could understand the umpire making a statement like that if the game was out of control. I have witnessed a few of them in this league. This game was not like that. If comments were made to the umpire that I am not aware of, they were made between an umpire and a player not the entire complex. Which is how this umpire chooses to deal with players.
The next incident happened on a called third strike. Ball or strike I dont know but the reaction of the Marlins player in a tight playoff game situation was not over board. I was on deck and heard what he said. He did not get in the umps face throw the bat or scream. All he said was "that was a terrible call" and then proceeded to the dugout. Since that was the third out, we changed sides. The umpire was there waiting for the Marlin player to come out of the dugout and go to his position. I watched the umpire, he wanted the player to say something. My opinion he was looking for an arguement. He could have choosen not to go 3/4 of the way up the first base line where the Marlins were coming out of the dugout, but he did. The next thing I know he ejected the player without a word being said. (I did not hear him say anything). After the ejection the player was obviously upset. As he went by he said something that nodoby else in the park heard, but the umpire decided to tell everyone in the complex including the numerous kids there the Marlin player just dropped an F bomb. Why? What was the need for that.
I appreciate the umps in this league who try to be good umpires. It is a hard job watching a bunch of old men pretend they are 18 for a few hours. I admit we can act like children sometimes, but that did not happen this night. The only thing that happened was I paid money for an umpire that came to the game to put on a show. I didn't pay him for that. I pay my money for good calls and bad calls on my good pitches or bad pitches.
If this is how he umps on a regular basis, I don't want him to umpire anymore of my games. This is just another players opinion.
This umpire conducted himself in this same manner at one of our games earlier this season. I filed a complaint with our division's commissioner and requested that he not be allowed to umpire any more of my team's games. Our commissioner handled it right away and we have not seen him since. (Thanks Q)
His confrontational ways do not belong in our league, period.
9.01(d) Each umpire has authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager or substitute for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If an umpire disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play.
9.02 (a) Any umpires decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach or substitute shall object to any such judgment decisions.
Rule 9.02(a) Comment: Players leaving their position in the field or on base, or managers or coaches leaving the bench or coaches box, to argue on BALLS AND STRIKES will not be permitted. They should be warned if they start for the plate to protest the call. If they continue, they will be ejected from the game.
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Those are MLB rules which we default to. Sorry, but any time ANYONE argues BALLS AND STRIKES it is grounds for IMMEDIATE EJECTION - it is explicitly mentioned in rule 9.02. It doesn't matter if you feel it's a bad call, it's simply not permitted. Every time you strike up a conversation with an umpire about bad calls, you run the risk of getting tossed.
If you feel the umpire's actions were unwarranted, ask yourself, "how exactly is an umpire to display zero tolerance?" You may think he overreacted, but by not tossing the player in question it would seem as though he UNDERreacted given the fact that he could have ejected him immediately - which, I can only assume, would set off a fire storm of believing a fix is in.
Often times an umpire will give latitude to a manager who wishes to civilly express his opinions, but an umpre should NEVER allow a player to do so.
Since the original poster already apologized for the personal attacks, I won't address that, but Mike and Joe are wholheartedly wrong here. The instigator was the person who questioned a call FROM SECOND BASE. There was absolutely no need for it. The umpires' only other recourse is to eject the player - so in retrospect, he was giving the player a chance to shut his yap. And Joe is right about one thing, "it's not about the umpires" but the player in question and the fact that there is a thread devoted to this made this about the umpires. If the player just kept his mouth shut it may not have happened in the first place.
You don't want to fight with umpires? Don't question their calls. Entirely too many players in this league WHINE about umpires and apparently NONE of them understand the rules as stated above.
