Tim McClelland Retires and Other Ump News and Discussion

[Corsi]

MLB Public Relations ‏@MLB_PR  1m1 minute ago
Crew Chief Tim McClelland has retired after 32+ years, 4,200+ games, 94 Postseason games & 4 World Series (1993, 2000, 2002 & 2006).
 
That's one way to speed up the games.

 

[Brand Name]

 
MLB Public Relations ‏@MLB_PR  1m1 minute ago
Crew Chief Tim McClelland has retired after 32+ years, 4,200+ games, 94 Postseason games & 4 World Series (1993, 2000, 2002 & 2006).
 
That's one way to speed up the games.
 

 
Slightly OT, but I had a friend write a historical guest post on him on RAB (so it's kind of MFY-centric), who tracks all umps, with numbers, zones, etc. Best in baseball I've seen at doing this, since he makes Pitch F/X even better.

He actually really liked McClelland, put him as one of the top two in the game before this. The decent read is at http://riveraveblues.com/2015/02/guest-post-umpire-tim-mcclelland-retires-33-years-baseball-tied-yankees-forever-114595/#disqus_thread

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

MLB Public Relations ‏@MLB_PR  1m1 minute ago
Crew Chief Tim McClelland has retired after 32+ years, 4,200+ games, 94 Postseason games & 4 World Series (1993, 2000, 2002 & 2006).
 
That's one way to speed up the games.

 
That's thread-worthy on its own.  The very best ump in the business, particularly in his strike zone.  Probably the only one whose name I'd recognize as being particularly fair - these days it seems we only know umps' names when they're consistently bad or have a particularly egregious decision. 

 

[SumnerH]

 
That's thread-worthy on its own.  The very best ump in the business, particularly in his strike zone.  Probably the only one whose name I'd recognize as being particularly fair - these days it seems we only know umps' names when they're consistently bad or have a particularly egregious decision. 

 
Jim Joyce--known for blowing the Galarraga should-be-perfect game call--is generally considered extremely fair and a good ump, isn't he?

 

[Yaz4Ever]

 
Jim Joyce--known for blowing the Galarraga should-be-perfect game call--is generally considered extremely fair and a good ump, isn't he?

Yes

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

dont worry Sumner, i'm sure you have an encyclopedic recall of the good and bad umps. i'm just saying that McClelland got widespread praise around here for years for his consistent zone, quality calls, and calm demeanor.

 

[SumnerH]

dont worry Sumner, i'm sure you have an encyclopedic recall of the good and bad umps. i'm just saying that McClelland got widespread praise around here for years for his consistent zone, quality calls, and calm demeanor.

Small encyclopedia. But, yeah, McClelland and Joyce are the two umps I remember being praised around here, while CB Bucknor, Angel Hernandez, and Joe West are the 3 I recall being panned a fair amount.

Schilling came out in strong praise of Joyce after the Galarraga game, IIRC. Even so your post was probably right--only the egregious call made that praise come to light or be memorable.

 

[LoweTek]

MLB Umpires are extremely knowledgeable about the game. If you ever have the opportunity to sit and talk with one, buy him as many drinks as he'll have. They are among the most interesting characters associated with baseball. You'll learn more about the game in the x minutes of the conversation than any other you may have about the game.

 

[Max Power]

McClelland actually retired three weeks ago, but just signaled to the fans about it now.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

McClelland actually retired three weeks ago, but just signaled to the fans about it now.

When Joyce retires, people in the next area code will hear.

 

[Average Reds]

Small encyclopedia. But, yeah, McClelland and Joyce are the two umps I remember being praised around here, while CB Bucknor, Angel Hernandez, and Joe West are the 3 I recall being panned a fair amount.

Schilling came out in strong praise of Joyce after the Galarraga game, IIRC. Even so your post was probably right--only the egregious call made that praise come to light or be memorable.

 
I've always heard that Jim Joyce is a good ump, but he's like the Forrest Gump of umpires:

• He blew the call on a clear home run hit by Bellhorn in game 6 of the ALCS in 2004.  (Bailed out by Joe West, of all people.)
• He famously blew the perfect game for Andres Galarraga.
• He (correctly) called obstruction on WMB in game 2 of the 2013 World Series.

Dude is everywhere...
 
 

McClelland actually retired three weeks ago, but just signaled to the fans about it now.

 
I laughed.

 

[Rough Carrigan]

 
Jim Joyce--known for blowing the Galarraga should-be-perfect game call--is generally considered extremely fair and a good ump, isn't he?

And one heck of an author, too.  Although his last two books are kind of hard to read.

 

[hbk72777]

 
I've always heard that Jim Joyce is a good ump, but he's like the Forrest Gump of umpires:

• He blew the call on a clear home run hit by Bellhorn in game 6 of the ALCS in 2004.  (Bailed out by Joe West, of all people.)
• He famously blew the perfect game for Andres Galarraga.
• He (correctly) called obstruction on WMB in game 2 of the 2013 World Series.

Dude is everywhere...
 
 
 
 

 
Yeah, he falls more into the "made some bad mistakes, but you can't hate him" group, like Eric Gregg
 
Others fall into the "I'm a prick and I'm going to take my life's frustrations out on you" . Angel Hernandez, Joe West, Bucknor etc. At least Torre seperated West and Hernandez.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

Sorry, Joe West gets a lifetime pass.  Angel Hernandez, though, certainly.
 
What has CB Bucknor ever done, though?  Besides have poor consistency on his shitty strike zone?

 

[twibnotes]

I found an excerpt from McLelland's statement:

"I hereby announce that I will....

....

....

....

....

....

....

Retire."