Umpires erred with Broxton, MLB says

Los Angeles -- The umpiring crew erred when it forced Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton to leave Tuesday night's 7-5 Giants victory, a league official said Wednesday. In fact, Broxton should have been required to face Andres Torres, whose two-run double off new pitcher George Sherrill gave the Giants a 6-5 lead. "Really? That's unbelievable," Torres said when told the umps made a mistake. "We won, right? They can't take it away from us, right?" Indeed they cannot, for while that sort of rules misapplication is grounds for a protest that could result in the game being replayed, the Dodgers failed to lodge a protest, so the case is closed. With the bases loaded and Torres about to bat with one out in the ninth inning, acting Dodgers manager Don Mattingly visited Broxton on the mound. Mattingly walked off the mound but returned to answer a question from first baseman James Loney. Giants manager Bruce Bochy immediately went to the umps and argued that Mattingly made two mound visits and that Broxton should be removed. The umpires conferred, then agreed. They followed Rule 8.06 (b), which states, "A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal." However, a comment underneath Rule 8.06 states that if the manager makes two mound visits with the same hitter at the plate and is warned by the umpire not to do so, "the manager shall be removed from the game and[…]

Umpire pleads guilty to spectator assault

By Jason RawlinsA Brisbane AFL umpire was convicted yesterday of punching a spectator at an Under 18s game last year. Glenn Raymond Noonan, 40, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Philip Tagell, 61. Prosecutor Rob Glenday told the District Court that Noonan was in a heated discussion with a University of Queensland coach after presiding over their game against a Brisbane suburban side. Mr Tagell interjected and Noonan punched him. Mr Tagell fell and hit his head on concrete, causing a loss of hearing and smell. Noonan's lawyer Greg McGuire said his client had umpired over 300 games without incident and his reaction was out of character. Judge Tony Rafter agreed it was an unusual case. He sentenced Noonan to 18 months' probation with 100 hours of community service. He also ordered Noonan to pay $5,000 in compensation. No conviction was recorded.

Astros’ Lee ejected after arguing in sixth

By BERNARDO FALLAS Houston Chronicle Talk to the hand In explaining his ejection in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Giants, Astros outfielder Carlos Lee said he was bothered at the strike call by home plate umpire Bill Welke, but what got him upset was Welke’s actions right after. “The thing that got me over the edge was that he started going to me like (motioning his hand in a dismissive manner) ‘Get out of here,’ ” Lee said. “I was walking away and he made like (repeating the motion) ‘Get out of here.’ I’m like … I said something I shouldn’t have said, probably.” Lee was convinced Welke’s call for the strikeout was incorrect. “I’m seeing the pitch and the ball good, and we get calls like that,” said Lee, who said he watched the replay at least four times in the clubhouse. “I don’t argue that much, but I was sure that was not a strike.” It marked Lee’s first ejection as a member of the Astros. He became the third Astro to be ejected over the past seven games. Michael Bourn (May and manager Brad Mills (May 9) were the others. Waiting for a break All things considered, Roy Oswalt is pleased with the way he has been pitching. “I feel pretty good,” Oswalt said. “My mechanics weren’t as good as they were the last start. “But good enough to lose.” Oswalt allowed two runs on six hits with[…]

proof of MLB umpire corruption