Great audio from Greg Gibson (Warning: Ejection Video)

[tballump]

There appears to have been 2 pitches thrown at the batters head, or maybe 1 on a previous batter and one on the batter in the video. The argument is that it was a curve-ball in which the warning was given and not a fastball. Any off-speed pitch, even if it was intentional and at the head, will always draw an argument. Gibson is arguing with the curve-ball point because he still believes it was intentional, at the head, and because of a previous pitch thrown at a batter's head, and is saying to the manager, wouldn't you want me to defend your team.

Of course, once the warning is given, the opposing team losses its chance at a free shot on the other team, and has to decide whether to retaliate and take the ejection, or wait until the next series, or Spring Training, as has happened in the past when the two do not play each other the rest of the season.

RMSN--As everyone knows, the top 36 MLBU are selected for assignments each season. While every umpires goal is to be the best, (i.e.-#1 rated umpire), obviously everyone cannot be #1. There has to be a #1 and a #68 each year. So, an umpire that rates between #37-40 his entire career will never see (at least theoretically) a playoff assignment. If they go to a true merit system where only the top 24 are picked, an umpire could rate 25-30 every year and theoretically never receive an assignment during his whole career.
While never making the playoffs probably would bother one to no end, I would gladly (while striving my whole career to be #1) be rated in the top 40-60% of umpires my entire career (no I would not enjoy being rated last) and still be a MLBU. Since 2001, Mr. Gibson has received a play-off assignment, every year but 2002 & 2008. As of yesterday, all umpires working a Division assignment have been notified. It should be out on Tuesday from MLB if things are like last year. Glad to hear you like Mr. Gibson.

[tballump]

Looks like Gibson has made the ALDS with Joe West.

WS umpires will come from this group (Tschida ineligible).


2009 Division Series Umpire Assignments

American League Division Series between the A.L. Central Champions and the New York Yankees:

Game One Umpire Previous Career Postseason Assignments

HP Tim Tschida* 8 DS (1996-98, 01-02, 06-08); 3 LCS (1993, 99-00);
3 WS (1998, 02, 08)
1B Chuck Meriwether 7 DS (1998-02, 04, 07); 2 LCS (2003, 06);
2 WS (2004, 07)
2B Mark Wegner 4 DS (2003-05, 08); 1 LCS (2007)
3B Paul Emmel 4 DS (2002-03, 06, 08); 1 LCS (2007)
LF Jim Joyce 7 DS (1995, 98-99, 01-03, 08); 4 LCS (1997,04,6-07);
2 WS (1999, 01)
RF Phil Cuzzi 2 DS (2003-04); 1 LCS (2005)


National League Division Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers:
Game One Umpire Previous Career Postseason Assignments

HP Dana DeMuth* 5 DS (1996-97, 99, 01, 08); 5 LCS (1991,95,00,02,07);
3 WS (1993, 98, 01)
1B Brian O’Nora 2 DS (2004, 06); 1 LCS (2008)
2B Mike Everitt 5 DS (2001, 04-07); 3 LCS (2002-03, 08); 1 WS (07)
3B Jeff Nelson 4 DS (2000-01, 05, 08); 2 LCS (2002, 04); 1 WS (2005)
LF Ed Rapuano 6 DS (1997-98, 01, 03, 06, 08);5 LCS(1999-00,02,04,07)
2 WS(2001, 03)
RF Tony Randazzo 2 DS (2004, 06)


ALDS between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:
Game One Umpire Previous Career Postseason Assignments

HP Joe West* 4 DS (1995, 02, 05, 08); 7 LCS (1981, 86, 88, 93, 96,03,04)
3 WS (1992, 97, 05)
1B CB Bucknor 2 DS (2007-08)
2B Eric Cooper 4 DS (2003, 05-06, 08); 1 LCS (2004)
3B Greg Gibson 5 DS (2001, 03-04, 06-07); 1 LCS (2005)
LF Brian Gorman 7 DS (1997, 99-01, 03-04, 06); 3 LCS (2002, 07-08); 1
WS (2004)
RF Dan Iassogna 2 DS (2005, 07)


NLDS between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies:
Game One Umpire Previous Career Postseason Assignments

HP Gerry Davis* 8 DS (1996, 99, 02-04, 06-08); 7 LCS (1990, 92, 95, 98,
00-01, 05); 3 WS (1996, 99, 04)
1B Bob Davidson 2 DS (1995, 98); 3 LCS (1988, 91, 96); 1 WS (1992)
2B Jerry Meals 3 DS (1999, 04-05); 1 LCS (2008)
3B Ron Kulpa 5 DS (2001-02, 2006-08); 1 LCS (2005)
LF Angel Hernandez 4 DS (1997-98, 02, 05); 6 LCS (2000-01, 03-04,
07-08); 2 WS (2002, 05)
RF Tim Timmons 1 DS (2005)

* - Indicates Crew Chief

The Detroit/Minn game will be

HP-Marsh, 1B-Scott, 2B-Layne, 3B-Cederstrom, LF-Culbreth, RF-Dreckman
# # #

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by tballump

Looks like Gibson has made the ALDS with Joe West.

You're still making this sound like an achievement. They rotate through post-season assignments now.

[mattmets]

Originally Posted by mbyron

You're still making this sound like an achievement. They rotate through post-season assignments now.

That's not true. Look at the post-season records of Hohn, Carlson, B. Welke, or Schrieber. There's still some merit involved, though the push has been for "rotation."

[tballump]

Originally Posted by mbyron

You're still making this sound like an achievement. They rotate through post-season assignments now.

Could you explain this rotation in "detail" (bore me with the details). How do they go about making all the assignments each year? Since it is rotated, tell us who will be rotated into the playoffs for each round next year, so we do not have to wait for the press release. I have always wondered how the entire process works from behind closed doors until the press release. Which umpires are actually achieving in today's system, since achievement is so hard to come by and what is their numerical rating from 1 to 68?

When were the playoffs not rotated (not even one little bit for any reason), and only the achieving umpires for that season received the assignment. How was that rating determined, and what went on behind closed doors when the system was not rotated, and the assignments were an "achievement".

I have been waiting for someone who knows the whole system for playoff assignments to explain it. Thanks for your help.