Umpire ejects deejay at minor league game
Now, this is an odd one. At Wednesday's game between the Fort Myers Miracle and the Daytona Cubs, home plate umpire Mario Seneca ejected the Cubs intern deejay, Derek Dye. What was Dye's offense? After a questionable call, Dye played "Three Blind Mice" on the club's audio system, and the umpire ejected him from the game.
The play in question came when Cubs first baseman Taylor Davis scooped a ball out of the dirt, and it came out of his glove when he was going to throw it around the diamond after the play. But umpire Ramon Hernandez ruled batter Andy Leer safe, claiming that Davis had actually bobbled the ball. This led to an argument between Hernandez and Daytona manager Brian Harper, and after Harper left the field, Dye played the song, and Seneca booted him from the game, along with the PA announcer for the Cubs. Cubs radio announcer Robbie Aaron thought the call on the field was merely questionable, and not egregious. Harper didn't even get ejected from the game for arguing the call, but yet, the music man was tossed.
Dye claims that this was the first time he's ever played the song in the game, normally opting for a soundbite from the Ace Ventura series of movies. Dye took to Twitter and seemed to take the ejection in stride.
If nothing else, I have a new pick-up line... "Hey, my name's Derek and I've been ejected from a pro baseball game." It's bulletproof.
— Derek Dye (@DerekDye) August 2, 2012
— Derek Dye (@DerekDye) August 2, 2012
#ThatAwkwardMoment when the Umpire who tossed me tonight is umpiring tomorrow's game.
Am I really the lead story on Twitter? Must be a slow news night...
— Derek Dye (@DerekDye) August 2, 2012
I've actually heard of this happening before, in a 1985 Clearwater Phillies game where organist Wilbur Snapp played the song and was tossed. That doesn't make it any less ridiculous. You want to talk about an umpire with a power trip, look no further than right here. I understand that the umpire was probably irritated about fun getting poked at him in this situation, but that's just it: it's fun. You don't go to a baseball game to watch the umpires, you go to watch the players play the game and have a good time. Lighten up a little bit.
UPDATE: Video of the incident is below.
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So what happens if all the fans start singing it? Does the ump send everybody home and they aren't allowed to watch the game?
Actually what i said was that 0n a close call, you call what u see,...and i will beiieve that it was the right call everytime, i am not out there to see the play then not call it the way i saw it. Of course the Coach on the third base line will have better look at it from 70ft away than me from 2-3 ft away.
I've worn both uniforms. I make a living in sports an understand the need for thick skin. You should use spell check by the way. :) The umpire is a joke and anyone who has seen the tape agrees. He could have walked over and simply tell the guy not to do it again. Unfortunately his ego would not allow him to handle the situation like a grown man and a professional.
@ssurgener I make a living in sports an(d) understand the need for thick skin. Spellcheck..........
you are an asshole. you never play that song during the game. wake up and smell the coffee. it is obvious that most of you have not worn the uniform. leeroc101 i like his comments and respect his opinions. until you wear the uniform do not pick on the people that do because it takes a big person to make a quick decision in a high pressure situation. while the rest of you need instant replay to criticise the official for doing his job. most officials do listen to the argument but when the coach does not listen to your reply you throw your hands in the air and say what more can i do.
you are an asshole. you never play that song during the game. wake up and smell the coffee.
Lastly, do you really believe the playing of Theee Blind Mice was going I create a "frenzy" or a dangerous situation? That's funny. Really funny.
Hopefully next week the little girl in the front row doesn't ask her dad about a call. He might go in the stands and beat her. The mere fact that an official says "if I make a call it's right" shows the level of arrogance within the profession.
I have been both a coach and official and this guy is a joke. Maybe if he focused on the game and not what's being played over the loud speaker he might not blow so many calls. Makes him look like and childish idiot with an overblown ego. What a tool!!!! If you make the call it's right....spoken like a true egomaniac.
Will you listen to all of you. Your sounding like politicians. It use to be that sports had some cooth and honor and most of all fun and it still does to a degree. Now one side has to make rules so that it shuts up people opinions. Does that institute constitutional bias. Opinions are not fact. This is concidered an abridgement. It's almost like that old stick ball rule, because I own the stick ball and stick, I get to make any rule I wish see fit. You may not like my opinion but simply use it in the manner of level sports is now as compaired to the old days. It's realy more about the state of mind.
A similar incident occurred at Jack Russell Stadium, in Clearwater, FL, back in the 70's or 80's. After a particularly bad call, which was obvious to everyone in attendance, the stadium organist played the first three notes of "Three Blind Mice," and was ejected by a thin-skinned umpire.
Then, there was the call that a manager disagreed with, and after losing the argument with the umpire and getting tossed from the game, the manager took an arm load of bats, and tossed them on the field, between the foul line and the dugout. The umpire called the bat boy out to clean up the bats, but the manager said "You touch one damn bat, and you're fired!" The poor 13-14 year old told the umpire that he couldn't pick up the bats, so he got tossed, too.
The NAPBL Manual, which governs all minor league baseball, prohibits organists (which also covers other music at the ball park), PA announcers and scoreboard operators from "inciting spectators to react in a negative fashion to umpires' decisions." (Rule 1.24). Clubs face fines from the League Presidents for this behavior. In MLB, teams are prohibited from showing any controversial replay on the video boards.
Another out of control offical. If your that sensitive you stay home and watch Oprah. The probelm with most officals is they think they are never wrong. I've coached high school football for 25 years and rarely have I had an offical say "gee I made a mistake". The offical is an idiot and makes himself look like a child.
its obvious that you may be a coach, yet by your comment I can tell you have NEVER walked in the officials shoes.
I've officiated high school basketball and coached football and track for 10 years, and I think the ump needs to thicken his skin a bit. You will face some disent and ribbing-especially if you make that type of call. If he plans on moving up in baseball, he definitely needs to learn to have selective hearing...
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As an official in any game, you do not take s*** from anyone. If a player, coach, even a fan badmouths you, they lose their right to see the rest of the game. I've thrown coaches out of soccer games for claiming mole would be a better official. at the same time, I was personally thrown out of one for asking if a ref's sunglasses were prescription. I know rivalries and poking fun at the opponents is part of the sport, but the officials should be left out of it. They are there to guide the players. Not to be made fun of.
Wrong. You do not take s*** from players, but you occasionally need to listen to dissent from coaches. If you get in the habit of paying too much attention to the stands, you'll spend the entire game ejecting fans and very little focusing on the playing field...
So, you're never wrong? Ever?
What other skills do you have... walking on waer, multiplying loaves and fishes, raising the dead?
No, I didn't think so, probably would of heard about that.
I'd guess that you're wrong on some calls as well - because you're only human.
Ever admit you got a call wrong?
From the tone of your responce I'd guess the answer is probably "No" (maybe with an expletive added?)
Ant that's exactly the reason you get made fun of - because you act like a spoiled child who always MUST get their way - and don't think they are ever wrong.
Don't want to be made fun of? Grow up and admit you make errors - just like all the other humans on the planet.
A umpire has a spit second to make a call on a bang bang play. You call it as you see it. When I make that call I am convince it was the right one. We dont have an instant replay to go back to and see if it was right, if we called it ...then it was right....
As you say: "if we called it ...then it was right."
It's THAT attitude I have a problem with.
Everybody makes mistakes... everybody.
That includes the umpire / referee / official / Etc.
If you mess up (and I do as well) then expect criticism, and deal with it gracefully
(Maybe even admit you might be wrong - sometimes)
But you don't have to be an Axx and throw people out of the game just because they call it as THEY see it - which by your logic makes THEM right.
But that's just my opinion.
You're free to disagree as much as you want.
If you make a vaild, logical point, I will then consider your viewpoint.
I may even be convinced, and change my mind.
After all, I could be wrong.
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@Fan_Of_The_Game Really? when did I say anything about being right and wrong? I've made plenty of bad calls and I'm sure the ump has too. This has nothing to do with whether he was right or wrong. I'm sure you'd get pretty butthurt about someone making fun of YOU for how you do your job. Don't see me coming to your place of work and knocking the cocks out of your mouth, do you?
And i doubt that admitting his errors would get him or me anything. People like you would continue to heckle and comment to your heart's delight so long as you get your fun. I'll bet your the parent who think's your kid's the best in the worst. Or your's is the best team in the world. Blame the officials for your loss.
Officials are there to enforce the rules of the game because it's obvious that the players and fans, and especially people like you, can't be trusted to honor the spirit of the game on your own.
Sorry, Wrong assumptions.
When it's obvious to one and all that the 'officials' in a game have made a bad call, what process do you propose the players/coaches/fans use to request that they reconsider their conclusion?
Try to have a polite conversation? (I've attempted this - No luck on that one)
Politely requesting a second opinion from another official? (Got me nowhere)
Just take the repeated bad calls as ‘part of the game’? (So the 'officials' get to cheat, and not follow the rule book? What's fair about that?)
What actions would make you, as an official, suggest that someone take so that you might honsetly reconsider a call you had made?
Anything?
No, I thought not.
After all, you think you are the supreme judge of the game and woe be to anybody if they even question whether or not your ‘divine judgment’ is in error.
I guess that’s why I’m a fan of the game – not necessarily of the ‘officials’ (that would be petty ‘gods’ like you) which sometimes act like the least mature individuals participating in the game.
Not to say that there aren’t plenty of true professionals in the officiating category – there are, and that what makes the game truly enjoyable. Those are the ones who have my respect - thay have earned it.
It’s when there’s an obvious bias (toward or against a team, a player, or a coach) or when the official simply just got it wrong and won’t even consider that they might have made a mistake that the game becomes un-enjoyable – and the person responsible becomes the brunt of heckling. (Which they justly diserve)
They do not get any respect - and have not earned any.
Just because you put on the officials uniform does not entitle you to get respect.
Respect cannot be demanded - it must be earned.
Putting on a uniform does not earn you respect - only your actions do that.
But that's just my opinion.
And yes, I do welcome criticism - it's an opertunity for me to learn and grow.
I think America is getting too over sensitive. A DJ is there to entertain, and that's what he does best. I'm a DJ too and often times I kid around to lossen up things. Why don't we be like Russia use to be and only laugh when the leaders laugh and say it's ok to laugh, but if you laugh at the wrong thing, off with your head. The mentality is going in that direction. What's next, when someone yells "kill the unpire" and then you're surrounded by the SWAT team, come on America Loosen up. I would have just laughed it off and be done with it, it's par of the game. Be American, Not politically correct like politicians do. maybe that's where we have to start.
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I have to disagree with the sensiivity aspect of you remark....heres why....As an umpire you will have bang bang calls that you try and make the right call on...no mater if you call them safe or out your going to have half agree with you and the other half is going to think your the horses ass...I do no have an issue if a Coach wishes to come out and discuss a call. ...If its a appealable call then I will allow the appeal as long as that Coach doesnt think he can appeal every call. When the DJ played "Three Blind Mice" he is attacking my character and taking it to a PERSONAL LEVEL and this can not and should not and wil not be allowed by any official by any player, Coach or anyone that is associated with the game. All this done was get the Crowd in a frenzy toward the umpires making it an unsafe envioroment for them to work and feel comfortable in.
Mike Milbury, current NBC hockey analyst, once attacked an organist at a minor league hockey game. One of his players for the Maine Mariners, Steve Tsujuira, was of Japanese descent, and the organist played bars of oriental music every time Tsjuira stepped on the ice.
