Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie awaits news of suspension
While the Blue Jays and third baseman Brett Lawrie await news of any possible suspension following his now-famous meltdown in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Rays at the Rogers Centre, check out the website called CloseCallSports' analysis of the last two pitches (Nos. 5 and 6), strike two, wide and framed expertly by Jose Molina, and strike three, high, no excuse, the wrong calls by umpire Bill Miller that precipitated the incident. It's part of their Umpire Ejection Fantasy League.
Miller and the crew headed by Dale Scott are remaining in town for the two-game Yankee series, in which case Miller will be less than warmly greeted as the third base umpire. But who will be playing third base? If Lawrie appeals his expected suspension, it could be him. That positioning does not make the Jays safe. There is a YouTube video that features an ejection by Miller of M's manager Jim Riggleman on September 20, 2008. It looks like he got that one wrong too, on an out call at third base.
Questions have been asked about any repercussions to the umpire in such a situation, where it looks like a call was made purposefully to prove a point, as with the strike three call by Miller on Lawrie.
The man in charge of reviewing the umpires and their performance is Joe Torre, MLB's ececutive v-p. If there is a suspension, there would be an announcement from MLB, but not if it's merely a fine. There are constant reviews of performance that affect umpire's being appointed to marquee events like all-star game and post-season.
Don't look for Miller at either of those major baseball events this year.
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