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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Five Reasons Crooked Umpire Bill Hohn Should Be Tossed From Baseball

In this list I will detail exactly what happened and will point out exactly why this rogue umpire should not only lose his job, but should also be forced to give back his pay for both of these games.

Me personally, I’m not sure firing the b*st*rd sends a strong enough message.

Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 30, 2009 at 10:52 PM | 63 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Scott Kazmir's breaking balls Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:03 PM (#3274734)

I remember when I was in class to be an umpire in RI...the instructor said that the best umps are never part of the game. They just do their jobs and move on. If Hohn wants media attention, then maybe he should run for political office, not ruin the national pastime.

I agree. Fire him.....yesterday.

2. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:10 PM (#3274750)

Dude *fist bumped* the Marlins catcher after ending the game last night. He was *actively cheering* for a team in a game he was calling behind the plate. I don't have enough stabbing instruments to truly whet my anger here.

3. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:10 PM (#3274751)

Too bad you can't (not easily, anyway), since it's a union job.

Couldn't agree more with Sam H., though. At the very least there is EASILY demonstrable cause to suspend him immediately pending an investigation (i.e., collecting of evidence for the inevitable arbitration hearing or however this particular CBA handles things) to hopefully culminate in termination.

4. Latnam's first name is Bob Lemon's middl Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:12 PM (#3274756)

Dude *fist bumped* the Marlins catcher after ending the game last night. He was *actively cheering* for a team in a game he was calling behind the plate. I don't have enough stabbing instruments to truly whet my anger here.

I saw the GIF of that when JC posted it on Facebook today. As I said there, it just makes me sick.
Edit: Here it is.

5. Justin 'The Cespedobear' T Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:35 PM (#3274800)

Looks to me like he was just being polite. Don't wanna leave the catcher hangin' like that.

6. Perry Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:37 PM (#3274806)

This seems like an overreaction. When I umpired I'd sometimes get a "good game" from players at the end of a game, and it could come from either side, winners or losers. If the catcher turns and extends a handshake (or fist-bump), yeah, the absolutely correct thing to do is not take it, for appearance's sake. But I could easily see myself reflexively reaching out my hand if the C extended his. It doesn't look great, and he should probably train himself to resist it, but in itself I don't think it means he was playing favorites. I've seen plenty of pitchers, including Schilling, give a nod or a touch of the cap to the plate ump as they're being removed or at the end of a game. I've always interpreted it as more of a professional courtesy thing than anything.

In contrast to baseball, football, and basketball officials, who leave the field/court immediately when the game ends, soccer refs and linesmen stand together at midfield and accept handshakes from players on both sides after the game. Nobody thinks anything of it, it's just part of the culture in that sport.

7. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:41 PM (#3274813)

Well stated, Perry, but that's just one piece of evidence, and there appears to be a mountain of evidence here that this umpire was, to paraphrase Earl Weaver, there for one ####### specific reason--to #### the Braves.

8. Mike A Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:41 PM (#3274814)

Regardless of the fist bump, over the past week of watching the Braves I've had to see Jerry Meals, CB Bucknor, and now Bill Hohn behind the plate. All three were awful. Just awful. There's just no accountability for bad umpiring. It disgusts me as a baseball fan.

9. McCoy Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:41 PM (#3274815)

I don't see the need for the reaction Hohn is getting for the fist bump. Should he have done it? No, but I can see how it happened and see how it doesn't mean he was actively rooting against or calling against the Braves.

People do this all the time. If there is some sort of authority figure who is arbitrating something and one side is just killing him and the other side doesn't think he deserves it they tend to get sympathy and a "good job" or a pat on the back now and then.

10. esseff Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:45 PM (#3274818)

I stand foursquare against both bad umpiring and over-the-top screeds

11. Dr Love Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:48 PM (#3274823)

it doesn't mean he was actively rooting against or calling against the Braves.

In and of itself, no. But together with the strike zones and the ejections in Boston, there's reason to believe that Bill Hohn is carrying a grudge.

12. Latnam's first name is Bob Lemon's middl Posted: July 30, 2009 at 11:49 PM (#3274825)

Hohn has ejected 8 people all year. Five of them have been Braves.

13. Willie Mayspedes Posted: July 31, 2009 at 12:04 AM (#3274846)

It would have been over the line if he did the bomb blow up after the fist bump.

14. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: July 31, 2009 at 12:13 AM (#3274857)

Sam Hutcheson is a mainiac. He is a terrible person, and has wished CANCER on Bill Hohn's children this year. He's by far the worst commenter on this website.

But Bill Hohn should be suspended for a VERY long time for that fist bump. That's disgusting, and has no place on a professional sports field.

15. Dr Love Posted: July 31, 2009 at 12:14 AM (#3274860)

I didn't see the game last night but they just showed Hahn and Cox right before the ejection and Hahn was arguing something to do the lineup card and Bobby practically gave up.

16. Cod Guy Posted: July 31, 2009 at 12:59 AM (#3274948)

Chipper Jones - obviously a biased source, so take this however you like - said before today's game that Hohn had heard someone badmouthing him from the Braves' dugout, so he went over and said that he was going to eject someone. Hohn didn't know who had said it, though, so he was going to pick someone at random from the lineup card, and Bobby Cox decided to be the one to go.

Again, this is based on the testimony of a Braves player who has his own beef with Hohn and on my recollection of an interview from a couple of hours ago for which I have no transcription.

17. Srul Itza Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:00 AM (#3274951)

this umpire was, to paraphrase Earl Weaver, there for one ####### specific reason--to #### the Braves.

You say that like a biased umpire fucking the Braves is a bad thing.

18. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:00 AM (#3274952)

I'm all for crooked umps allowing the Marlins to win.

19. Dr Love Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:07 AM (#3274969)

Again, this is based on the testimony of a Braves player who has his own beef with Hohn and on my recollection of an interview from a couple of hours ago for which I have no transcription.

Joe Simpson was alluding to that but I just figured he was making crap up.

I'm inclined to believe Chipper. He's so laid back that he's been called lazy. In the Boston game whatever Hahn said to him had Chipper about to blow a vein in his forehead, he was so irate that Terry Pentleton had to carry him off the field. Chipper's got a reason to be bitter but between him and Hahn I'm siding with Jones.

20. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:18 AM (#3274983)

Are there freely-available statistics on things like umpire ejections?

21. Latnam's first name is Bob Lemon's middl Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:23 AM (#3274993)

Are there freely-available statistics on things like umpire ejections?

Here is a page where a guy keeps up with ejections.

22. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:57 AM (#3275060)

Bill Hohn has ejected eight players or managers this year. Five of them have been Braves. In a just world he'd pull a John McSherry and the camera wouldn't pan away until I saw the last of his empty soul fade from this world.

23. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:59 AM (#3275062)

I didn't see the game last night but they just showed Hahn and Cox right before the ejection and Hahn was arguing something to do the lineup card and Bobby practically gave up.

Somebody was getting on him from the dugout, so he called time, walked over to the dugout, pulled out the lineup card and announced he was going to pick someone to eject. Bobby, of course, came out and was ejected.

I doubt that's the way umpires are instructed to handle that situation, but as we know umps can do whatever they want with no accountability.

The Braves look like they are going to get swept in Florida with Hohn's crew playing a staring role.

24. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Molina Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:04 AM (#3275068)

Sam, tell us how you really feel...

25. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder. Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:18 AM (#3275088)

Bill Hohn has ejected eight players or managers this year. Five of them have been Braves. In a just world he'd pull a John McSherry and the camera wouldn't pan away until I saw the last of his empty soul fade from this world.

Dude, it's just a baseball game.

26. Srul Itza Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:19 AM (#3275092)

Looks like the Brave may get today's game.

27. Shock Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:21 AM (#3275095)

Bill Hohn has ejected eight players or managers this year. Five of them have been Braves. In a just world he'd pull a John McSherry and the camera wouldn't pan away until I saw the last of his empty soul fade from this world.

That seems reasonable.

28. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:24 AM (#3275097)

I really didn't think I'd be proven right that quickly. I was expecting to be told off, maybe yelled at by an admin, or something. But to be ignored completely, and then have the cancer thing topped in this very thread?

I rest my case.

29. The Artist Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:42 AM (#3275113)

I enjoy a Braves fan (aka Sam) who lived of years of Glavine + Maddux with strike zones the size of Madagascar, complaining about unfair umpiring. ;)

That being said, I've heard a lot of complaints about Holm; is he the new Cowboy Joe West?

30. CW hits the pinata for the candy Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:54 AM (#3275121)

I just checked my set of umpire ratings and Hohn's is very unassuming - he's not one of the top strike zone callers out there, but hardly the worst (Mike Winters grades out at the top, for those curious). In fact, his score seems perfectly average.

31. CFiJ Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:12 AM (#3275132)

I agree. He should be suspended for quite some time for the fist-bump. That's ridiculous. A grown-man non-athlete doing a fist bump. A handshake would have been perfectly acceptable.

32. Mike A Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:25 AM (#3275146)

If he's a decent strike zone caller, that makes the strike call on McCann more suspicious.

33. CW hits the pinata for the candy Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:26 AM (#3275148)

Mike A - What game did it happen in?

34. Marcel Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:30 AM (#3275152)

I really didn't think I'd be proven right that quickly. I was expecting to be told off, maybe yelled at by an admin, or something. But to be ignored completely, and then have the cancer thing topped in this very thread?

I rest my case.

He was fairly nasty in the mgl thread too.

35. Barnaby Jones Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:44 AM (#3275167)

CW -

It was the 29th. Here is the at-bat from Brooks:

link

36. Mike A Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:49 AM (#3275170)

Last night's game. It was quite a bit outside and he called it a strike. That's what got McCann so upset...he may have had the walk but instead protected the outside part of the plate and hit into a DP.

It happened in the 8th. On MLB Gameday - which you can check - the pitch is certainly outside the white box.

37. Random Transaction Generator Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:52 AM (#3275172)

Any time I see an umpire attempt to start or extend an argument with a manager/player, either by gesturing towards them, taking off their mask to yell at them, or (my favourite) walking behind a player/manager and continuing to yell at them, I think that umpire should be suspended for a week.

Do it again, suspended for a month.

Do it a third time, toss them out of the league for good.

38. zonk Posted: July 31, 2009 at 04:02 AM (#3275175)

Where have you gone, Bill Klem

39. Halofan Posted: July 31, 2009 at 04:07 AM (#3275178)

HEY! A Tim Donaghy scandal hitting MLB might be just what i would take for the whole steroid scandal to disappear! Especially if it involves umps fixing games for the Mets, Red Sox or Yankees!

40. madvillain Posted: July 31, 2009 at 04:12 AM (#3275180)

It's only human nature to allow a personal grudge to interfere with professional work. I wouldn't be surprised if it's personal with Hohn and the Braves. If that is the case then the commissioner needs to step in and do something. If he doesn't ump anymore of their games fine by me. If the Braves have something to say don't they have formal recourse? Letter to the commish's office or something?

That said, some of the over reactions to the "fist bump" are ludicrous. It was a spur of the moment thing. I've seen guys shake the umps hand after a game. Was it innapropriate? Maybe. Burnable offense? Hardly.

41. Obama Bomaye Posted: July 31, 2009 at 04:16 AM (#3275183)

Amen #37. The players are competing and it is perfectly understandable for them to lose it occasionally. The umpires are not competing, and moreover should be selected for their ability to remain calm and control a game. For them to lose it as well is unacceptable.

42. Lassus Posted: July 31, 2009 at 04:33 AM (#3275191)

5. Sam Hutcheson Posted: July 30, 2009 at 06:56 PM (#3274725)

The children of ~~Red Sox~~ Braves Nation are in tears.

What's the down side of this again?

43. Crispix Attacks Posted: July 31, 2009 at 04:38 AM (#3275194)

The fist bump is usually, in my experience, performed between two people who have both teamed up to accomplish something. Not between one person who has accomplished something and another person who is congratulating him. So to me it looks totally weird, as if the umpire is on the catcher's side.

44. akrasian Posted: July 31, 2009 at 04:51 AM (#3275201)

On MLB Gameday - which you can check - the pitch is certainly outside the white box.

I'm sorry - using the box on Gameday as a definitive description of where the pitch is is ludicrous. While it is often accurate - I have seen too many discrepancies to trust it as definitive. Add in inevitable non-malicious mistakes by umps, or even catchers fooling umps (part of the catcher skillset is disguising exactly where the ball is caught) and I'm not impressed by Gameday as proof of any vendetta.

45. Obama Bomaye Posted: July 31, 2009 at 05:12 AM (#3275204)

That's funny, I didn't think where the ball is caught had ANYTHING to do with whether a pitch was a ball or strike. So why are the umps even looking there.

46. Mike A Posted: July 31, 2009 at 05:15 AM (#3275205)

I can show a picture of where the pitch ended up, but I guess that wouldn't prove anything either. It was outside. And I never claimed it was part of a 'vendetta,' but Hohn clearly missed the call. I would hope and trust it was an innocent mistake. However, the fist bump and earlier Boston debacle naturally leads fans to wonder if it was so innocent.

No matter what, Hohn undoubtedly acted less than professional. A fist bump is akin to giving the catcher a high-five. Just weird.

47. akrasian Posted: July 31, 2009 at 05:33 AM (#3275209)

That's funny, I didn't think where the ball is caught had ANYTHING to do with whether a pitch was a ball or strike. So why are the umps even looking there.

They shouldn't look there, but for approximately the entire history of the game catchers have tried - sometimes successfully - to fool umpires on where the ball actually crossed the plate by subtly disguising where they caught the ball. Sorry you didn't know that already.

48. Brandon in MO (Yunitility Infielder) Posted: July 31, 2009 at 09:02 AM (#3275222)

Hohn should be tossed from baseball for his mustache

49. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 31, 2009 at 12:40 PM (#3275278)

I rest my case.

Thanks, Matlock.

50. zonk Posted: July 31, 2009 at 12:43 PM (#3275284)

(part of the catcher skillset is disguising exactly where the ball is caught)

That's funny, I didn't think where the ball is caught had ANYTHING to do with whether a pitch was a ball or strike. So why are the umps even looking there.

'Framing' pitches - any umpire will tell you - is a worthless endeavor and likely only to cost the team with the framing catcher. For some odd reason, I've read bios written by 3 umpires (Luciano, Kaiser, and Merrill) --- and all 3 of them make it clear for precisely the reason above. They don't pay attention to where the catcher's glove is because that has no bearing on whether a pitch is a ball or a strike.

All 'framing' does is give the catcher a chance to show up the umpire and ensure a cascade of boos comes down from the stands... which doesn't endear the battery to the umpire working the plate.

It's one of those silly myths that catchers learn at young ages and never shake.

51. akrasian Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:00 PM (#3275294)

So you expect umps to admit that they can be fooled?

52. Chris Dial Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:02 PM (#3275297)

This seems like an overreaction. When I umpired I'd sometimes get a "good game" from players at the end of a game, and it could come from either side, winners or losers. If the catcher turns and extends a handshake (or fist-bump), yeah, the absolutely correct thing to do is not take it, for appearance's sake. But I could easily see myself reflexively reaching out my hand if the C extended his. It doesn't look great, and he should probably train himself to resist it, but in itself I don't think it means he was playing favorites.

I like Perry's take. He said "Good game". If the Marlins had lost and he had done the same thing would the Braves fans (et al) be crying like this? I guess not. Sure, some would consider it inappropriate, but people that play consider it routine to thank the umpires.

53. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:11 PM (#3275306)

I'm with Perry and Dial on the fist bump, it's not exactly proper, but it's hardly the end of the world. I also think the reaction would far less if it were a handshake, which somehow seems more sporting than a fist bump, which is congratulatory*

That being said, it sounds like the fist bump is the least of the issues with Hohn and the Braves.

*Also, terrorist.

54. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:17 PM (#3275312)

The fist-bump is a symptom, not the disease. Billy Hohn is the disease. He *clearly* has a grudge against the Atlanta Braves and he uses his position of authority to punish that team any time he gets the chance. I can understand some of the wimpier elements here disagreeing that it's a killing offense - liberal bedwetters - but no one who cares about the integrity of the game of baseball should defend Hohn's continued employment as a MLB umpire.

Eight ejections. Five against a single team. Activiely picking fights with the dugouts. Celebrating with the opposing team after the game ends. This isn't a silly question of what's legal for training supplements. This is Rose level undermining of the competitiveness of the game on the field.

55. Barnaby Jones Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:19 PM (#3275316)

As a Braves fan, I care much less about the fist bump than I do about Hahn calling time, wandering over to the dugout, and attempting to challenge half the bench to a duel. The fist bump was just obnoxious considering the rest of the game's display.

56. zonk Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:39 PM (#3275338)

So you expect umps to admit that they can be fooled?

No - but I don't think they're idiots, either... and again, umpires aren't paying any mind to where the catcher receives the ball - they're watching the pitch as it crosses the plate.

Setting Hohn aside to avoid drawing the ire of Sam, umpires do go through a pretty rigorous training and apprenticeship before they hit the major leagues. They are professionals - and this is their craft. If catchers had any meaningful degree of success framing pitches, that would have to make umpires the absolute worst professionals of any trade in the world.

Umpires likewise review their own performance on film and are well aware of who the worst (most frequent) 'framers' are.

57. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:49 PM (#3275353)

Has anyone yet suggested why Hohn would have a grudge against the Braves? In the absence of any motive, I'll side with Occam and conclude that incompetence and old-fashioned umpire prickliness are the culprits.

58. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:50 PM (#3275356)

The problem with umpires, in general, is the same problem that you have with cops in general. They job description is by definition a position of authority. You need personell who can fulfill the job requirements of the position but who, at the same time, are willing to self censor and avoid abusing the authority that comes with the position. But a large percentage of the people who want to apply for the job want the job specifically because they want the authority. It's a difficult line to walk. MLB's post-Richie Phillips/World Umpires Association hires have been pretty good about it, but folks like Hohn - the guys that were hired back after the "we resign, wait, what do you mean you accept, no, wait, that's not what we meant, God gave us the right to this job, we unresign, we unresign!" fiasco are incapable of self-censoring. If you list out those forced rehires; Drew Coble, Gary Darling, Bill Hohn, Greg Kosc, Larry Poncino, Larry Vanover and Joe West; you have a pretty good list of the worst umpires in baseball (CB Bucknor not withstanding.)

59. The Yankee Clapper Posted: July 31, 2009 at 01:59 PM (#3275377)

While umpires can sometimes be a problem, occasional bad calls just come with the territory. Over the top fanboy whining, also comes with the territory, apparently.

60. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:09 PM (#3275390)

Has anyone yet suggested why Hohn would have a grudge against the Braves?

Why did Jeffrey Dahmer eat people? Because he was just born wrong.

61. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:52 PM (#3275472)

Has anyone yet suggested why Hohn would have a grudge against the Braves?

Bobby Cox is the b1tchiest bitcch who ever b1tched. I find it hilarious that Sam uses as "proof" that Hohn has tossed a lot of Braves, when the Braves leader is the most tossed bitcch in the history of b1tches getting tossed.

62. RJ in TO Posted: July 31, 2009 at 02:59 PM (#3275479)

the guys that were hired back after the "we resign, wait, what do you mean you accept, no, wait, that's not what we meant, God gave us the right to this job, we unresign, we unresign!" fiasco

This is still my favorite example of a bad negotiating strategy: "So you want to fire us? Fine. We quit! Wait, you're not giving into our demands?"

In terms of genius, it's right up there with "I'm going to keep punching myself in the balls until you admit how clever I am."

63. Rusty Priske Posted: July 31, 2009 at 03:12 PM (#3275500)

Calls for suspensions etc. over the fistbump are ridiculous, bordering on stupid.

The fact that there are more Braves ejections goes both ways. In could be that seeing how the Braves are angry with HIM, that they are more likely to say things or act in ways that call for ejections. I'm not saying it is their fault, but assuming that all the Braves ejections assumes that he hates them or something is faulty logic.

As for whether he is a good umpire... no idea. They aren't all good, that's for sure.

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Five Reasons Crooked Umpire Bill Hohn Should Be Tossed From Baseball

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