MLB: Umps miss again
Major League Baseball suspended umpire Fieldin Culbreth for two future games because he was in charge of the crew that allowed Astros manager Bo Porter to improperly switch relievers in the middle of an inning.
Culbreth and the rest of his crew – Brian O’Nora, Bill Welke and Adrian Johnson – were also fined an undisclosed amount, after MLB admitted its umps goofed for the second straight day.
“The rule covering pitching changes was not applied correctly by the umpiring crew,” MLB said in a statement.
The problem in Houston on Thursday came a day after Angel Hernandez and his crew in Cleveland failed to reverse a clear-cut home run after looking at a video review. MLB vice president Joe Torre said the umpires made an “improper call.”
It’s recently been a rough run for umps. Crew chief Tom Hallion was fined earlier this month after getting into a verbal spat with Tampa Bay pitcher David Price.
The latest trouble occurred in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park. And while baseball does have video replay for some hard-to-tell calls – and has talked for a couple years about expanding its scope – there was no no need to go to the video.
With two outs and the Astros ahead 5-3, Houston reliever Wesley Wright came in from the bullpen and threw several warmup pitches from the mound. Porter, a first-year manager, then ran onto the field to stop him and brought in another reliever, Hector Ambriz.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia argued, correctly contending Wright was required to pitch to at least one batter. But the umpires permitted Ambriz to stay in and Scioscia put the game under protest – it became moot when the Angels rallied to win 6-5.
On Friday Porter was upset by his gaffe and apologized to the crew.
Clearing the bases
Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan is contemplating season-ending surgery in his right forearm. … Left-hander Francisco Liriano is set to come off the disabled list and make his Pittsburgh Pirates debut today against the New York Mets. … The Texas Rangers have placed catcher A.J. Pierzynski on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle. … The Chicago White Sox reinstated outfielder Dayan Viciedo from the 15-day DL before their game against the Los Angeles Angels. … The Reds activated catcher Ryan Hanigan off the DL for the start of a series Friday night against the Milwaukee Brewers.