Wow! This is far more intense than Marvin Freeman's remarks. The direct nature of Jones' remarks really force MLB to address thhis in some way. In fact, there is virtually no chance of any behind-the-scenes tomfoolery by the ump - if there was, the last thing he would ever do is give a bump to a team's catcher.

And, by the way, what's John Baker doing even offering such a bump. What's he thinking?

I would argue that this subject is far more serious within the game of baseball than PEDs...

Wow! This is far more intense than Marvin Freeman's remarks. The direct nature of Jones' remarks really force MLB to address thhis in some way.

Yes, MLB will no doubt address it, by fining Chipper Jones and otherwise ignoring the problem with Hohn.

And, by the way, what's John Baker doing even offering such a bump.

Not that I'm really in the mood to defend Hohn, but it's pretty clear in the video Baker initiated the fist bump.

There was absolutely no reason for Hohn to stop the game and walk in front of the Braves' dugout in order to argue with Bobby Cox. (And there was absolutely no reason for him to miss the call in the first place, but that's another issue.) If Cox was arguing balls and strikes, Hohn should have ejected him from behind the plate and tried his best to move the game along.

Also, there was absoluetly no reason to return Baker's fist-bump. It was probably innocent. Players congratulate umpires on what players think are good games by the umps all the time. You'll often see a pitcher say, "Good job" to an ump as he's leaving the field. But a fist-bump after all that transpired with Cox and McCann?

Umpires are obviously supposed to be impartial. Again, the fist-bump probably wasn't meant to show favoritism but what matters is the perception. If baseball allows an action that seems to show any hint of impartiality, that could mean big trouble for the game. When Baker stuck out his fist, Hohn should have simply said, "No thanks. I can't." and walked off the field. Incidents like this could make Major League Baseball look like pro wrestling and require stiff punishment.

To make matters worse, Hohn was behind the plate during a June 21 game between the Braves and Red Sox at Fenway. Hohn ejected reliever Eric O'Flaherty, Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox after he seemed to bait O'Flaherty into an argument.

Hohn should be punished for the fist-bump alone. Add to it that he missed a call, stopped the game to bait Bobby Cox into an argument and overreacted when McCann asked him about a call and baseball needs to seriously consider suspending Hohn for the remainder of the season.

As a baseball fan, the whole incident made me angrier than anything I've watched on a Major League Baseball field. I actually think I've changed my stance and think Hohn should be fired instead of suspended.

Imagine if betting baseball (or any sport) was widespread and completely legal. These incidents would kill the sport. Questions over integrity can rock the boat in a bet free environment - the ship will sink if betting were legal.

Sermon over

Imagine if betting baseball (or any sport) was widespread and completely legal.

Not sure if this was meant as sarcasm, nor do I know how one defines "widespread", but betting baseball and other sports is completely legal, and has been for many, many years.

DB

Hohn probably wasn't thinking when he responded to Baker's fist bump. But for everything else, he should be demoted at the very least.

I was disappointed in last night's game. Hohn rotated down to third, and that's where Chipper plays, and I was really hoping Chipper would just snap and break his damned neck. That would have been AWESOME. Well worth paying the last three years of Chipper's contract while he was serving his suspension.

and I was really hoping Chipper would just snap and break his damned neck.

Breaking, stabbing. You have a very unhealthy relationships with necks, Sam.

Oh, Shooty, I have an unhealthy relationship with so much more than just necks.

Oh, Shooty, I have an unhealthy relationship with so much more than just necks.

Yeah, I probably should have guessed that.

Sam: Tone down the insipid macho unaccountable threats, ok? We get it: you're the only sheriff in your mom's basement.

That said, the "fist bump" ought to be an actionable offense. Hopefully, the ump will apologize and explain convincingly that it was merely an instinctive response to the C, but it still should involve some kind of sanction. It's beneath the integrity of the game (interesting how we can invoke that in these contexts, but not in others, and yes, I'm looking at you, Srul). And, I'm no Braves fan, but I admire Chipper for coming out so candidly about this and forcing MLB's hand. Something needs to be done.

For those who missed it, when Hohn interrupted Wednesday's game to walk over to the Braves' dugout and incite a fight, the reason he (seemingly) inexplicably pulled out his lineup card was to tell Cox that, "Somebody's gotta go." He then went up and down the lineup card to review his ejection possibilities until Cox threw his hands in the air and said to, "Pick me." Hohn obliged, of course, and then threw out McCann for kicks as soon as McCann came out of the dugout to start the next half inning.

Perhaps Cox's incessant arguing through the years has finally sent some umps over the line. I like Cox and have rooted for him for a long time, but I could certainly imagine officiating a game of his would be unbelievably frustrating. Not that that excuses unprofessional behavior.

Earl Weaver drove a few umps to unprofessionalism as well.

Sam: Tone down the insipid macho unaccountable threats, ok? We get it: you're the only sheriff in your mom's basement.

If you're reading this as "insipid macho unaccountable threats" you're actually not getting it. Roll again to hit.

Ah, the rarely seen nerd-counter to an accusation of machismo. Well played.

My armor class is strong.

If I were Chipper Jones coming to the end of a hall of fame career without much left to accomplish I'd make it my end of career goal to run this jackass out of the game. I'd start with a public announcement that I would no longer play or attend games that Hohn's crew was scheduled to work. This would bring attention to the issue and force ownership to do something. Since I'm Chipper freakin' Jones I'm pretty sure that ownership won't come down on me and if they do well that results in only more attention. MLB can fine me all they want I've got more money than I'll ever need. If they suspend me I comment on every single game through any media outlet I can get my hands on. The media will cooperate since they love controversy. Inevitably other umps would retaliate after which I'd call them out on it escalating the war until MLB was forced to fire Hohn and anyone who stood up for him. Then I'd retire and bask in the glow of the greatest accomplishment of all time. I'd be a pariah from the old boys club but who cares. It's a stupid club.

Someone failed his save versus snark.

Preach on, Brother Gaelan.

Earl Weaver drove a few umps to unprofessionalism as well.

I don't care who wins the AL East... as long as it's not Earl Weaver and the Orioles.

Breaking, stabbing. You have a very unhealthy relationships with necks, Sam.

Little known fact: Sam Hutcheson is in fact what the Wu-Tang Clan was warning us about when they said protect ya neck.

It used to irk the crap out of me when Cox would endlessly argue balls and strikes after all the crap maddux and glavine were given, so I'm onboard with him being a nuisance manager. He was the Coach K equivalent of MLB in the 90's.

that being said.....you either have to toss him the moment he starts that crap to set a precedent or turn a deaf ear until it become incessant.

Fist bumping the opposing catcher, no matter how innocent it is in actuality, is unacceptable and should come result in a public explanation, coupled with disciplinary actions.

John Baker: Don't worry, Bill, we're cool. Bump it.
Bill Hohn: No, I'm not going to bump it, not now, not ever.

John Baker: Don't worry, Bill, we're cool. Bump it.
Bill Hohn: No, I'm not going to bump it, not now, not ever.

faux-Hohn: Dude, I'm an umpire. What are you thinking?

Baker: I have a bee on my hand!
Hohn: I'll get it!

Wow. Talk about much ado about nothing.

Don't get me wrong, he shouldn't have done it, but all that needs to happen is for his superior to say "Hey, don't do that." and for Hohn to say, "Right. Sorry." and it is over.

Don't get me wrong, he shouldn't have done it, but all that needs to happen is for his superior to say "Hey, don't do that." and for Hohn to say, "Right. Sorry." and it is over.

He wanted to randomly eject a player. That deserves more than stern talking to.

It's the precedent that's the problem. Umpires are at least supposed to appear impartial.

Man, remember all the outrage when this happened?

There's also the fact Hohn has quite obviously been carrying out a vendetta against the Braves for a while now.

Latroy Hawkins says something much milder than this and more or less gets blasted, but let Larry Jones say something then it's all the sudden "he's right".

Latroy Hawkins says something much milder than this and more or less gets blasted, but let Larry Jones say something then it's all the sudden "he's right".

It's America, dude.

Is there a historical parallel for this kind of ump/team feud? I would guess there is. I remember the Braves being really pissed off at Eric Gregg during the 1997 NLCS.

Latroy Hawkins says something much milder than this and more or less gets blasted, but let Larry Jones say something then it's all the sudden "he's right".

Yes, because Jones' deducing umpire bias from Hohn's over-the-top provocation of the Braves' dugout, fist-bumping a player for a team that just beat the Braves, and disproportionate ejection of Braves players over the course of months is exactly the same as Hawkins claiming umpire bias from his not getting a couple borderline strike calls during the course of one inning.

Fist bumping the opposing catcher, no matter how innocent it is in actuality, is unacceptable and should come result in a public explanation, coupled with disciplinary actions.

Why would you hate on Adam Rubin like that?


I was disappointed in last night's game. Hohn rotated down to third, and that's where Chipper plays, and I was really hoping Chipper would just snap and break his damned neck. That would have been AWESOME. Well worth paying the last three years of Chipper's contract while he was serving his suspension.

I have to admit, having Chipper spend the rest of his life in prison would be kind of sweet, actually.

I remember the Braves being really pissed off at Eric Gregg during the 1997 NLCS.

Gregg's strike zone was indeed awful that day, but, really, Braves in the 90s should STFU about strike zones.

Is there a historical parallel for this kind of ump/team feud? I would guess there is. I remember the Braves being really pissed off at Eric Gregg during the 1997 NLCS.

Not sure about baseball, but the NBA had/has the immortal Joey Crawford/San Antonio feud.

He wanted to randomly eject a player. That deserves more than stern talking to.

Different issue. I am just talking about the overreaction to the fistbump.

Yes, because Jones' deducing umpire bias from Hohn's over-the-top provocation of the Braves' dugout, fist-bumping a player for a team that just beat the Braves, and disproportionate ejection of Braves players over the course of months is exactly the same as Hawkins claiming umpire bias from his not getting a couple borderline strike calls during the course of one inning.

Exactly. What is outrageous about this isn't the "fistbump" per se but a pattern of behaviour that is beyond the pale. If I'm the owner of the Braves I refuse to allow my team to play any more games until he is fired. Or the next time they play the Braves players should unrelentedly swear and scream at him one after another until all 25 have been ejected. I'd pay to see that.

McClouth comes to bat. "Listen you ############. You call a single strike on me and I'm going to shove this ####### bat down your worthless throat." Ejection.

Now batting for McClouth, Garret Anderson. "Listen you piece of crap. I'm old and a horrible baseball player but you're such a bad umpire I'd like to take a #### on your face." Ejection.

Now batting for the Braves, Ryan Church. "You are a sinner. You need to allow the love of our Lord Jesus Christ into your heart." Ejection. etc. etc.

In any case this needs to be a much bigger news story than it is.

THIS is the guy we're supposed to be listening to about fixing the decline of our culture?

#39 is awesome.

Is there a historical parallel for this kind of ump/team feud? I would guess there is. I remember the Braves being really pissed off at Eric Gregg during the 1997 NLCS.

Jays vs. Joe Brinkman. I'm not sure when it started, but it really kicked into full swing when Ernie Whitt's autobiography (written while still with the Jays) clearly stated that he felt that Brinkman had been deliberately screwing the Jays.

Oh, it would surely accelerate the decline of our culture, but it'd also be funny as ####. And I don't even give a rat's ass about the Braves. Self-important umpires with no sense of professionalism, however, irritate the hell out of me.

Not sure about baseball, but the NBA had/has the immortal Joey Crawford/San Antonio feud.

That's a little different, since NBA refs actively and more or less openly fix games on behalf of the league office, which has never been fond of the idea of the low-ratings Spurs winning titles. (This is ignoring all the shady gambling allegations...)

Different issue. I am just talking about the overreaction to the fistbump.

How can the issues be separated? I don't think anyone would be talking nearly as much about the fistbump if it hadn't occurred in the wake of the pitch calls and ejections. If the fistbump had happened without any of that other stuff, it would be weird, but not a big deal. Fistbumping the Marlins' catcher after all this other stuff had happened sets off all sorts of alarms.

I'm with Gaelan. I'd love to see every Braves player step into the box, lay the bat across the plate, unclasp shin guards and what not and drop them there too, and walk quietly off the field every time Hohn is behind the plate. Actually I'd be fine with the Braves releasing a statement that says "if Bill Hohn is calling the game we do not have a reasonable opportunity to win from the start. The Atlanta Braves therefore forfiets this game rather than risk injury to our players in a contest we have no fair chance of winning."

I sympathize with that notion, Sam, but can't say I advocate it for a team still in the wild card hunt.

Different issue. I am just talking about the overreaction to the fistbump.

You can't talk about the fist bump as if it's an isolated issue. You have to take it in conjunction with the Cox ejection in this game and the Cox/Jones/O'Flaherty simultaneous ejections in the Boston game and the strike zones in both games.

Apropos of nothing, what's up with all the Shooty references in people's handles?

Wild-card schmild-card. Such back door playoff spots should be beneath the Braves anyway. I'd be fine with losing the WC if it gets Hohn fired.

Is there a historical parallel for this kind of ump/team feud?

Most of these tie back to the manager or a player on that team.

Ron Luciano was removed from umpiring Oriole games because of his feud with Earl Weaver.

Jocko Conlan couldn't stand Leo Durocher.

Jim Honochick was known to give certain players special strike zones. George Scott better be swinging with Honochick behind the plate.

I have to say, I was unaware that so many Braves fans are bat-#### crazy.

Apropos of nothing, what's up with all the Shooty references in people's handles?

It's just a spontaneous outpouring of affection.

Jocko Conlan couldn't stand Leo Durocher.

I take this to mean "Jocko Conlan allowed his hatred for Durocher to influence his calls" since I've never heard of anyone who could stand Leo Durocher.

I'm guessing the reason he wanted to "randomly" eject a player was that he heard something ejectionable coming from the dugout but didn't know who said it. It was probably like, "the next guy who says something. . ." and it was Cox.

Speaking of horrible umpires, I was surprised to see Joe West being honored for something the other night. I thought he had been drummed out of the game years ago.

Speaking of horrible umpires, I was surprised to see Joe West being honored for something the other night.

It was probably for receiving one million death threats from fans.

Ryan:

Jocko's own words:

Durocher? You can have him. I umpired in the minor leagues for five seasons and in the National League for 25, and I never saw anyone else like him. He is the king of the complainers, the troublemakers, the malcontents, the ones who can never, never, never accept a tough decision that goes against them.

There aren't very many of them, thank the Lord. I don't mean the fellows who get in an occasional argument and get thrown out of a game once in a while. That happens. That's part of baseball. I mean the ones who are always bickering, always making trouble, who seem to go out of their way to stir things up, the ones who play to the crowd to get the fans down on the umpire. There are only one or two on a team at the most, but they can make an umpire's life hell.

Durocher was the worst in my experience. He's two-faced. He jumps you one minute, and the next minute he comes up oozing charm, calling you a great umpire. He doesn't fool me. I've known him too long. Great umpire! He never bothered to call me a great umpire when I made a good call against his team. You'd get nothing but trouble then.

I'm guessing the reason he wanted to "randomly" eject a player was that he heard something ejectionable coming from the dugout but didn't know who said it.

That's what happened. Doesn't make it excusable.

It was probably like, "the next guy who says something. . ." and it was Cox.

Not quite. As was already said, he was going to randomly pick a player to eject and Cox said "just pick me."

He wanted to eject Cox. Cox had not done anything to be ejected, so Hohn antagonized Cox by threatening to randomly disrupt his lineup by ejecting a player (who also had done nothing to be ejected.) Anyone who thinks this is acceptable behavior from an umpire is an idiot.

Anyone who thinks I was defending Hohn is an idiot. Now that I read the article it says, "witnesses said" he told Cox he was going to eject someone. I don't know why the writer has to cop out to unknown "witnesses." The Braves players don't seem to have any problem talking openly about this; why can't he identify who heard what? And it's not like this is unique to Hohn. Lots of umpires have done this sort of thing when they hear stuff from the dugout.

Wild-card schmild-card. Such back door playoff spots should be beneath the Braves anyway.

Yea, it would be totally embarrassing for the Braves to lose in the first round after taking the Wild Card, as opposed to losing in the first round after taking the division.

What's the big deal? Its not as if the Braves are going anywhere anyway.