If in some freak accident an umpire gets hurt and is unable to continue umping (foul ball to the head, arm broken by a bat, etc.), are there other umpires at the stadium waiting to fill in, would the first base ump move to behind the plate, or would they have to delay the game until they could come up with another one?
Does anyone know what would happen and has this ever happened in the MLB?
2007-06-08 16:38:36 · 6 answers · asked by Squeegee Beckingheim :-) 5 in Sports ➔ Baseball
No, they go with three.
If the home plate umpire is hurt, it is normally the second base umpire that moves behind the plate. That is because the previous games home plate umpire is at third; the next games umpire at home is the first base umpire.
They do delay the game for a few minutes until the replacement umpire puts on the protective equipment.
There are no replacement umpires sitting in the stands waiting for this to happen.
2007-06-08 16:44:50 · answer #1 · answered by jpbofohio 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
In MLB, the second base umpire will move behind the plate and the umpires will work as a three man crew. Should the umpire who stepped out not be able to work the next day a AAA roster umpire will be called up to take his place. Once an umpire is removed from a game, no umpires are added.
In minor league ball when it is a two-man crew and one goes down, there are provisions for each team to have an ineligible player work the bases as the umpire continues as the plate umpire. It is rare but there is also a list of fill-in umpires qualified in the area to replace within a series.
It has happened many times due to various factors.
2007-06-09 01:57:32 · answer #2 · answered by david w 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The game will continue with three umps if there is not a substitute available. This doesn't occur a lot, but sometimes in the summer heat one will come down with dehydration or heat exhaustion.
Once, and I cannot recall the year, a postseason series umpire fell ill. Another ump happened to be present on some official league business -- I think it was Bruce Froemming, doing umpire evaluations -- and he took the place of the sick ump. (Though it would be less critical in a playoff game, as there are six umpires working the field.)
2007-06-08 16:56:17 · answer #3 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When umpire goes down, the crew continues the game short one.
If the plate umpire has to leave, one of his partners will take over for him. And yes, there will be a delay so the new plate umpire can get his equipment on.
This actually happened to me in a high school game a couple of weeks ago. I was doing the plate while enduring the stomach flu in 90-degree heat. Eventually I couldn't go on, so I had to leave after the fourth inning. My partner (high school games use only two umpires in the regular season here) had to get his equipment on, so the game was delayed about 15 minutes.
You'll see this happen every now and then, especially in the heat and humidity of July when the plate umpire might become too dehydrated.
2007-06-08 19:06:20 · answer #4 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
3 is the way they go - and it has happened in the past - namely an ump having a heart attack at home plate and dying 8 years ago.
2007-06-08 16:48:58 · answer #5 · answered by goododie4 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is a fifth ump at the stadium.
2007-06-08 16:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by Jeff S 1 · 0⤊ 6⤋