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Piece of sh_t, Mike Winters, suspended for the rest of the season.

Crackerjackdex2_tiny by Dex on in News

I haven't found a link, but that's what ESPN is reporting. Justice is served. I don't usually let my political leanings in on the blog, but I will say that when it comes to baseball, I very much subscribe to an old school eye for an eye, capitalistic, rather conservative mentality.

Therefore, while I'm glad that Mike Winters is getting suspended, I also hope that we'll also find out exactly what he said and that we'll allow Sandy Alderson alone in a room with him to tear an ACL and rip a couple ligaments.

KILL THE UMPIRE.

Thanks matto619

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DAMN STRAIGHT.
On all counts.

by Demoira on Sep 26, 2007 10:22 AM PDT   0 recs

Wow
That's a pretty huge step forward for MLB.

by Winfield's Ghost on Sep 26, 2007 10:22 AM PDT   0 recs

Roger Goodell-like moment
Selig (and the MLB as a whole) has never acted this swiftly before.

by matto619 on Sep 26, 2007 10:25 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wonder if Helton
got involved, or if Winters finally fessed up. That's a nice step forward for baseball. He still should be fired (especially if his comments could have been construed as racist in nature), but this clearly vidicates Bradley somewhat.

by Phantom on Sep 26, 2007 10:25 AM PDT   0 recs

I think that's pretty clear.
Helton had to have confirmed it.

by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 10:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's what I'm thinking
and props to Helton for coming clean with MLB about what happened.  No question, he was in a tough spot.  He'll probably get props from the umps for not talking to the press, too.  he played that smart.

by Demoira on Sep 26, 2007 10:33 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We're giving props to Helton now?
there is absolutely no mention of him doing anything.  Why are we assuming that he got involved when he was quoted as saying he was going to stay out of it?

If they did gather any more evidence it was probably through field mics.

by jbox on Sep 26, 2007 10:38 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Honestly, I thinking politics.
The MLB absolutely would not come down on an umpire without corroboration from someone not on the Padres team (regardless of his reputation, MLB would have to consider even Meacham suspect).  I may be wrong, but I think Helton didn't say he was staying out of it all, he told the press he wasn't going to talk about it.  And no one would be more reliable than Helton, unless they did have field mics.  But I don't think they did.  That's all.  If Helton did come clean with MLB, then he played the political game well.  Credit to him for that.

by Demoira on Sep 26, 2007 10:42 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Helton sang like a canary, see...
(that's in my 1930's movie gangster voice)

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10373801/rss

The decision was made following an investigation during which Bradley, Winters, San Diego first-base coach Bobby Meacham and Colorado first baseman Todd Helton were interviewed.

by Dalton on Sep 26, 2007 11:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i'd give Helton props anyways
solid baseball player and seems to be an overall good guy.  glad to see him coming down on the side of justice on this one.

by obviousman on Sep 26, 2007 11:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's His Monk Cross
Helton's a character guy who observed the baseball code by only saying "that was interesting" when questioned by the media but when sworn in by the commissioner told the truth, as we would expect from a guy who wears a big jesuit/monkish cross around his neck.

by Enzo Hernandez on Sep 26, 2007 4:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Confused and Frightened
I don't know what this means, but I'm scared anyway.  Is bscan some government agency of which I'm not aware?

by Enzo Hernandez on Sep 26, 2007 4:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

that
or just bob scanlan.

by sdsuaztec4 on Sep 26, 2007 4:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

CTU
Oh, the tall guy with the dated hairdo but good baseball insight.  Not nearly as scary as Jack Bauer.

by Enzo Hernandez on Sep 27, 2007 11:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

bscan
Wants to talk sabremetrics and moneyball with you.
"Don't taze me bro!" ~~jbox

by sqrunt on Sep 26, 2007 6:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

DAMN RIGHT!!
Agree with WG, this should be taken as a sign that umps no longer have cart blanche to enforce their egos at the expense of the game and the players. F*** YOU WINTERS, YOU DAMN BASTARD!!!!!!!
Padres for life

by sdgaucho on Sep 26, 2007 10:26 AM PDT   0 recs

thanks planetjeffy
But that link's like soooooo 30 seconds ago.

by Dex on Sep 26, 2007 10:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey,
that's what I get for making it look pretty.

by planetjeffy on Sep 26, 2007 10:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

By the way...
how do you do that?

by JBro12 on Sep 26, 2007 10:32 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

embed
Here's how you do it

#<#a href="www.gaslampball.com"> Gaslamp ball is the coolest!<#/a>

remove the # sybmols, and follow the template.

It's write:

Gaslamp ball is the coolest!

by pjbno4 on Sep 26, 2007 11:07 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thank you.
I am new with all this internet formatting stuff.

by JBro12 on Sep 26, 2007 11:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

so was I...
but that's why wikipedia is so great!

by pjbno4 on Sep 26, 2007 11:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I would have looked myself..
but I didn't even know it was called "embed" until you said it. thanks again

by JBro12 on Sep 26, 2007 11:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It is also called
a hyperlink with anchor text.  Here is the Wikipedia article.  Have fun.

by planetjeffy on Sep 26, 2007 11:54 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bravo, MLB.
Getting this asshole out of the league altogether would be an appreciated next step.

by JBro12 on Sep 26, 2007 10:31 AM PDT   0 recs

I assume this means that
we get a AAA umpire as the replacement in the Padres series?  

I'm glad Winters isn't working (and hoping he doesn't get to work the playoffs, either), but for a series that may have significant implications in two division races, having a AA ump probably isn't gonna make either the Padres or the Brewers happy (although we're better off than with Winters, that's for sure).

I'd really like it if they pulled another umpire off of a meaningless series, but I don't know if they'd do that.

by Boy Howdy on Sep 26, 2007 10:51 AM PDT   0 recs

er
the Padres-Brewers series, that is.

by Boy Howdy on Sep 26, 2007 10:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

s long as they don't let
the baby ump work home plate, I'll deal.  I only get seriously pissed when a AAA ump is calling stikes and balls.

by Demoira on Sep 26, 2007 11:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Who would you rather have?
At this point, I'd rather have all AAA umpires doing the game as opposed to anybody off of that crew. Winters' crew chief stood up for him. I don't trust that we'll get a fair shake from any ump on Mike Winters' crew considering his crew chief stood up for him. Also, considering that I'm thinking that they really do have a little something against Sandy Alderson, I don't trust any of the big league umps.

by Dex on Sep 26, 2007 11:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I've been thinking about that, too
I wonder how much of the crew chief standing up for him was crew solidarity, or whatever you want to call it, and how much of it was an actual belief that Winters was not in the wrong.

To the extent that they speak with the media or anyone else, I think that the instinctive reaction of umpires would be to defend one another, as they're gonna get a ton of criticism by the nature of their position, not all of it deserved.  It's possible that they're presenting a united front, and then complaining internally about Winters being an absolute dumbass.

I think that the best option would be to swap crews from a totally meaningless series, like the Giant-Dodgers (HA ha!) one with the Padres-Brewers one, and let the call-up cut his teeth somewhere where a mistake isn't gonna decide a season.

by Boy Howdy on Sep 26, 2007 12:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Honestly I rather have Winters Ump the series
Its the old managment rule that you should hire your enemies and not your friends, because your enemies have something to prove to you and your friends will take you for granted.

With all the pressure on Winters, every close call would HAVE to go the Padres way.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 11:09 AM PDT   0 recs

Good point
Interesting take

by matto619 on Sep 26, 2007 11:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Is the suspension...
...really long enough? The rest of the season sounds like a lot, but it's really only 5 games. Players get at least that long, if not longer for arguing balls and strikes (a legitimate part of the game). This a-hole gets that for picking a fight with a player over some alleged bat toss that had no imiplication on the game. Hopefully, Bud "my family owned used car dealership" Selig re-examines this issue and tags Winters with a few more games.
"Let's go Padres, let's have some baseball fun..."

by MilwaukeePadre on Sep 26, 2007 11:29 AM PDT   0 recs

Actually
I think it's actually only 4 games. I don't think that crew is working a series right now.

by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 11:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow...
...that makes me even more hacked off at Bud. Another example that he is a complete joke.
"Let's go Padres, let's have some baseball fun..."

by MilwaukeePadre on Sep 26, 2007 11:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Sandy Alderson
From MLB.com:

"Sandy Alderson, the Padres' chief executive officer who oversaw umpires when he was an MLB executive vice president, said he didn't want to directly speak about the decision.

"We're pleased MLB investigated the matter," Alderson said when reached by telephone in San Diego, "but I have no comment on the decision."

by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 12:02 PM PDT   0 recs

Translation
I am going to have a talk with Bud..........
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 12:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

YES!!!
Good. When I read this morning that Helton was being interviewed I thought that would seal it for Winters. I am very glad that Meacham and Bradley have been vindicated.

Of course, the quote by Meacham in the UT also gave me pause: "At some point, the truth is important."

Umm...."at some point"??? Yeah, like ALWAYS!

Glad that in THIS case, the truth did win out.

Christina

by Christina on Sep 26, 2007 12:03 PM PDT   0 recs

Truth
truth is only an agreed upon consensus of the preception of what happen.  There are many examples when the "truth" changed and then changed back.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 12:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Truth
"You know what the truth is?...It's some crazy thing my neighbor believes. If I want to make friends with him, I ask him what he believes. He tells me, and I say, 'Yeah, yeah -- ain't it the truth?'" - Kurt Vonnegut (Breakfast of Champions)
This is just the tip of the suck iceberg.

by TheGrandHatching on Sep 26, 2007 4:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i'd like to add ...
Winters deserved to be suspended, maybe for a longer period of time, but Bradley still flipped out, still  had to be restrained so much by Black that Black had to yank him around, and effectively caused his own ACL injury. Winters didn't do that, Bradley did. He's had plenty of chances to clean up his act and he hasn't.

I love the dude and hope he re-signs with the Padres, but it would sure be nice if he learned to use a little restraint in the middle of a fucking pennant race.

"Winfield's head hits the wall! It's rolling toward second base!" - Jerry Coleman

by metalsupplier on Sep 26, 2007 12:09 PM PDT   0 recs

This is great.
Ken Rosenthal thinks the suspension given to Mike Winters is a joke.
The entire episode was sickening -- all the more so because it dramatically altered the dynamics of the pennant race.

Justice is done, but only halfway.

Mike Winters should never umpire another major-league game.


by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 12:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Sorry
Here's the link.

I'm not even drunk...yet.

by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 12:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Now there
is a Man with a Plan.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 1:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

For Once
I actually share the same opinion with Rosenthal.

When I heard that Winters was suspended for the rest of the season, my reaction was "big effin deal... the dude gets to go home a lil early this year."

Umpires are not who we (the fans) pay to see, and for that hack to think he could simply get away with calling Milton a "effin piece of $hit", well that's just total and utter bullshit!

True, Milty freaked out, which led to him blowing out his ACL and us losing him at the most inopportune time, but who can honestly say that they would react any differently?

It's getting played out in the national media as "Milton at it again...", but what if Winters had called Todd Helton or Sean Casey (voted #1 nicest guy in baseball...no, not Schilling) an "effin piece of $hit"?? Do you honestly think that either one of them would've just stood there??  NOPE!!! I DON'T THINK SO... NOT ONE BIT!!

Winters should lose his job. Period. End of story!!

by jpleeg2 on Sep 26, 2007 12:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well said
Padres for life

by sdgaucho on Sep 26, 2007 1:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

My favorite part
is how you censor "effin piece of $hit" (twice) but not "total and utter bullshit".
"You get nervous when you see those guys come into the shower... you definitely don't close your eyes in there, even when you're shampooing." ~CY

by TheThirdGonzalez on Sep 26, 2007 10:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

BREAKING NEWS
SELIG AWARDS PLAYOFF SPOT TO PADRES

MILWAUKEE (AP) - In a shocking move that is sure to stir up controversy, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig awarded the San Diego Padres a guaranteed berth in the 2007 playoffs. Selig made the stunning declaration at a press conference from Miller Park that was originally called to announce the suspension of embattled umpire Mike Winters.

     "It is clear that the unprofessional and inappropriate actions of Mike Winters clearly led to the season-ending injury of Milton Bradley" Selig told the group of reporters. "Unusual circumstances sometimes call for unusual remedies to what was a very unfortunate incident. That's why I have made the decision to automatically award the NL wild card spot to the San Diego Padres in the event that they don't repeat as NL West champions. I know that there will be disappointment in Philadelphia and Colorado over my decision. But, maybe if they didn't play in ballparks that can only be accurately described as a joke...I would have shown them a bit more respect."

     Selig went on to say that "Matt Cain is a little beeotch" and that "field mics in no way shape or form" had any bearing on the decision to suspend Mike Winters.

by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 1:17 PM PDT   0 recs

Drama
stop lying.

"I'm not even drunk...yet." -Drama

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 1:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WG
seriously, lets hug it out.  Come 'on, just hug until it doesn't hurt no more.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 1:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Do you know how I know you're gay?
Cuz you're holding each other...ever so gently.

by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 1:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This place
....has been on fire lately. Really. Some may have lost their will to fight (WG), but dayum you folks have been batshit crazy funny!! Helps me get through this full-moon bad mood and work related stress I tell ya.

And Drama? You are EXTRA batshit crazy.

Christina

by Christina on Sep 26, 2007 1:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's your answer?
Come'on Drama, you have better reasons to know why we are gay.....
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 1:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

am I forgetting
"that what happens during a Padres Walk-off Homer" doesn't count?
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Sep 26, 2007 1:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Reasons?
There wouldn't just be reasons...there would be pictures if I hadn't lost my camera. Just how many wine coolers did I have that night?

Oh...and WG...the cleaners refused to take your chaps. "Irreparable damage" or some crap...who knows?

by Drama on Sep 26, 2007 1:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Since the season is over
I've got plenty of time to call around to find someone that will take them.

by Winfield's Ghost on Sep 26, 2007 2:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's over
I'm already making plans to look at the fall foliage because I know there will be nothing else in October to plan for.  Nothing.

by Winfield's Ghost on Sep 26, 2007 1:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

RE: Piece of sh_t, Mike Winters, suspended for the
If this is as similar to the Duncan/Crawford thing as Milton said...Winters'll be reinstated by the MLB well after the World Series has wrapped up. D-bag.

by KaLiBLeeK on Sep 26, 2007 1:46 PM PDT   0 recs

Winters shouldn't be the only one suspended
Let's not forget the crew chief, Bruce Froemming, who backed Winters in this matter. Either Winters lied to Froemming in the umpires' locker room or Froemming himself is also lying. Either way, Froemming has to be held liable as to what happened. He has to know that this isn't the first time that a member of his crew has done this. In an effort to keep umpires accountable, the ENITRE crew should be suspended, not just Winters. If Mr. Selig were concerned about the integrity of the game, he should re-evaluate the work of all major league umpires and find a system where they keep their jobs based on merit,instead of an indefinite tenure (someone please correct me if I in wrong in my assessment that umpires are, essentially, umpires for life -- kind of like dictators).

At the very least, Winters, if he keeps his job (and he shouldn't because he clearly cannot keep his head in the game), should never be allowed to work the post-season for the rest of his umpiring career. An umpire with a track record of baiting players should never be placed in a situation where he could change the outcome of a game.

by Pants on Sep 26, 2007 2:49 PM PDT   0 recs

According to Meacham
Yes, Winters lied to Froemming right there on the field. Meacham even asked Winters right there why he was lying to his crew chief. Anyway, even if Froemming found out the truth later, he is retiring. The Brewer series would be his last game anyhow.

However, I am firmly in the "request a change of umpiring crew" camp. The Padres need to do that. Otherwise anything that happens over the last four games will be in question.

Christina

by Christina on Sep 26, 2007 4:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Pirates Dbags delayed.
Phils up 1-0 in the 3rd.

by sdsuaztec4 on Sep 26, 2007 4:57 PM PDT   0 recs

Craphead Winters
should be fired. He made a personal attack on MB and lied about it afterward.

He's umpiring in the Major Leagues, and there should be no tolerance for this type of BS.

by Nick G on Sep 26, 2007 5:03 PM PDT   0 recs

darrin smith quote
"its like two drunk drivers crashing into each other head on, they both messed up,who cares about either of them" -about milton bradley and mike winters both doing something wrong on sunday
threepeat?(never thought id be able to say that about the padres!)

by Peavyforprez08 on Sep 26, 2007 5:09 PM PDT   0 recs

Looks like the Phillies
don't want to lose tonight.  They lead Atlanta 5-2 in the 7th.

No pressure, though.

by Mr Meadows on Sep 26, 2007 6:00 PM PDT   0 recs

zona losing 2-0 in the 3rd
- Danny

by Padres fanatic92014 on Sep 26, 2007 6:02 PM PDT   0 recs

Now that I like.

by Mr Meadows on Sep 26, 2007 6:05 PM PDT   0 recs