04/26/24
August 02, 2012
Minor League Umpire Ejects PA Staffer: At Wednesday's Daytona Cubs game, umpire Mario Seneca ejected the stadium staffer who played "Three Blind Mice" over the ballpark's PA system after a questionable call. Derek Dye, 21, expects to be fined by the Florida State League for playing the song. "After the game, I was cleaning up the dugout and my phone was just chirping nonstop," Dye said. Seneca wrote on Facebook, "I called my league president (Chuck Murphy) afterwards, and he said I did the correct thing. His opinion is pretty much the only one that matters, since he's my boss."
No sense of humor
posted by kokaku at 02:49 PM on August 02, 2012
He should have kept playing. Maybe pump the volume a bit. That was some excellent trolling though.
posted by tron7 at 03:10 PM on August 02, 2012
And if you're sitting in front of a keyboard when you get ejected you should probably play yourself off. Would have brought the house down.
posted by tron7 at 03:15 PM on August 02, 2012
What ever happened to the free speech rights granted under the First Amendment to the US Constitution? This issue immediately must be taken up by a federal court, and the umpire severely disciplined. Since the league president is involved, this now rises to the level of a conspiracy. Could this come under the Racketeering in Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes? Come on, America, speak out NOW against this tyranny to deprive you of your rights.
In other words, let's make a mountain out of this mole hill, but have some fun doing so.
posted by Howard_T at 03:44 PM on August 02, 2012
As a protest, all good Americans should attend a minor-league baseball game tonight.
posted by Etrigan at 04:28 PM on August 02, 2012
9.01 (b)
Each umpire is the representative of the league and of professional baseball, and is
authorized and required to enforce all of these rules. Each umpire has authority to order a player, coach, manager or club officer or employee to do or refrain from doing anything which affects the administering of these rules, and to enforce the
prescribed penalties.
9.01 (c)
Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules.
9.01 (e)
Each umpire has authority at his discretion to eject from the playing field (1) any person whose duties permit his presence on the field, such as ground crew members, ushers, photographers, newsmen, broadcasting crew members, etc., and (2) any spectator or other person not authorized to be on the playing field.
So, the umpire deems the organist is undermining his authority (affects the administering of the rules), and tosses him from the game.
It's also a reason why major league ballparks will NOT show replays of close/controversial plays on the jumbotrons.
posted by grum@work at 05:45 PM on August 02, 2012
9.01e only covers the playing field. 9.01b is awesome. I think it might allow an umpire to declare martial law when the populace is questioning his authority.
posted by rcade at 09:50 PM on August 02, 2012
Can't an organ grinder be a Three Stooges aficionado these days?
posted by beaverboard at 10:37 PM on August 02, 2012
Wonder what Dye's punishment would be if he'd played "Stupid Girl"