umpire rotation

jdodger · Apr 10, 2004

I posted this on the baseball page with no response, so I'll try here.

Does anyone know if there is anything new going on this year re: the umpire rotation?

The pattern I usually see is the same crew for each series.

However, in the Mets/Braves series, the rotation was as follows.

4/7
Umpires: HP - Angel Hernandez, 1B - Darren Spagnardi, 2B - Matt Hollowell, 3B - Larry Young
4/8
Umpires: HP - Bill Welke, 1B - John Hirschbeck, 2B - Wally Bell, 3B - Laz Diaz

The whole crew changed.

Is this an anomaly (maybe having something to do with travel to the games being played in Puerto Rico) or is there a new policy this year?

barman · Apr 10, 2004

It likely had to do with first couple weeks of MLB having so many off days.

I'm reasonably sure they still use the same system of one series/one crew.

wilheim · Apr 10, 2004

That is an anomly for sure. Crews work series, with the first base ump rotating home for the next game, and other rotating towards first with him (home to 3rd.- 3rd to 2nd. - 2nd. to 1st.) Series openers are not easy, you have to wait until "warm-ups" are annunced to see who is at the plate, Don Best has this feature, as does USA Today scores page, but not until very close to game time.

Umpire Profiles

wil.