Notes: Umps can be disciplined, too
07/19/2006PHOENIX -- Uniform personnel receive automatic fines for throwing equipment, as is the expectation for Dodgers coach Mariano Duncan flipping his cap after he flipped his lip during Monday night's ejection.
But what about umpires who catch those caps and toss them to fans? Are umpires subject to disciplinary action by Major League Baseball if they cross the line?
"Yes, umpires have been fined in the past," said Mike Port, Major League Baseball's vice president of umpiring.
Port would not address specifically Monday night's ejection of Duncan for complaining about a check-swing call by third base umpire Angel Hernandez, or Hernandez catching the cap Duncan flung his way and trotting over to the railing to give it to a young fan, a response that infuriated several Dodgers.
But Port -- a former Angels general manager and longtime baseball official who spoke only in general terms -- said that although umpire discipline is not discussed publicly, it does exist.
"Their accountability is high," said Port. "In the 11 months I've had this job, I'm amazed overall by their diligence and accuracy. Still, calls are missed. We track them with our observers and with tapes. Missing a judgment call is not a fineable offense. But we do look at the way they handle ejections, confrontations, if they abide by the umpires manual."
Just like any collection of people, umpires have widely ranging personalities and skills, but Port said they all must conform to a code of conduct.
"We do try to emphasize with umpires to avoid confrontations and they do a reasonable job overall," he said. "The preference is to be non-confrontation and tolerant. But it's a competitive game and occasionally tempers are lost. We like to see situations handled to keep people in the game. However, there are certain times when the line is crossed. Verbal abuse, off-color language, that's never tolerated.
"Each ejection is evaluated. When someone is charging from the dugout, an umpire will react. They are told not to go looking for trouble. When something happens, it complicates the life of an umpire. He hears from people in our office. He's better served by running the game smoothly."
Martin scratched: Catcher Russell Martin was a late scratch with a bruised right wrist, remnants of being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's game. It was obvious after he was struck that the wrist bothered him the most while throwing, even on short tosses back to the pitcher.
"It's sore and swollen," said Martin, whose availability to start Wednesday night was determined only after he took batting practice. "It was numb for a while, but I started getting the feeling back in it. I thought it would be better by now."
Martin was able to get his second hit after being struck by the Juan Cruz fastball. He took batting practice, but couldn't answer the bell and was replaced by Toby Hall.
Izturis still out: Third baseman Cesar Izturis remained in Los Angeles to be with wife Lilliana, who remained hospitalized after undergoing a cesarean section to deliver their daughter Monday. Manager Grady Little said Izturis was only questionable to join the club for Thursday's series finale and more likely would wait in Los Angeles for the club's homestand that opens Friday night.
Little indicated he is still interested in moving Izturis, a Gold Glove shortstop converted to third base, over to second base while Jeff Kent recovers from a strained oblique muscle.
"He looks like a natural anywhere on the infield, if you ask me," Little said. "His arm (which underwent Tommy John surgery last year) is not a concern of ours anymore after seeing him back playing."
Tomko tuneup: Little confirmed that disabled pitcher Brett Tomko will be a reliever when he returns from a Minor League rehab assignment next week. Tomko will face hitters Thursday and is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Las Vegas Saturday and Monday before being activated.
"We want to see him warm up out of the bullpen a couple times," said Little. "Our intentions are to have him come out of the middle part of the 'pen, sometime before the ninth inning. What that leads to in the future, I don't know. We'll see how he responds. This will allow him to rejoin the team quicker and he'll be able to help us. Who knows? This guy might have the stuff to be a closer."
Throughout his career, coaches have toyed with the idea of turning Tomko into a late-inning specialist, because he has a four-pitch repertoire that includes a 95-mph fastball, ala Eric Gagne, who made the switch in 2002.
Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/
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