I missed this previously, but apparently home plate umpire Bill Hohn gave Marlins' catcher John Baker the rock after the Florida-Atlanta game on Wednesday:
Several Braves players said they were surprised and even "shocked" to see umpire Bill Hohn bump fists with Marlins catcher John Baker after the final out of the Braves' 6-3 loss Tuesday. While other players and manager Bobby Cox either had no comment or would only discuss it off the record, third baseman Chipper Jones had a scathing review of Hohn's game, including ejections of manager Bobby Cox and catcher Brian McCann.
Video of the most famous fist-bump since Barack and Michelle can be seen here. Looks like Baker put it out there first. In Hohn's defense, maybe he's just the kind of guy who doesn't like to leave a dude hangin', ya know?
But Hohn isn't really worthy of a defense, as his ejections of Bobby Cox and Brian McCann showed far worse form. Basically, Hohn heard someone shout from the Braves' dugout -- probably McCann, who had argued balls and strikes earlier -- called time, and then walked over to argue with Cox, who had not left the dugout prior to any of this. During the argument, he pulled out his lineup card and, according to the article, told Cox that he was going to eject someone, but didn't know who. Cox, taken aback, told Hohn to eject him instead and he did. McCann was ejected soon after. Video of the whole incident can be seen here.
Are we cool with an umpire stopping the game to walk over and bait one of the team's managers into a fight? Isn't dealing with heckling players and managers the first thing you learn in umpire school? Everyone's talking about the fist bump, but that's just kind of dumb. The fact that an umpire thinks it appropriate to get into it like Hohn did is clearly over the line. And no, this is not the first time Hohn has gotten out of control.
The guy's a disgrace, and should be suspended at the very least.
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Did a Braves player sleep with his sister or something good lord. I did some research and man, he HATES the braves. Cox is a fiery manager but wow. It isn't even close. Its really unfortunate when an umpire determines a game once in a career, let alone a couple times a year...
If his sister looks like him, the dog wouldn't sleep with her.
Let's not leave the horrible Joe West out of this conversation. His decision making is as bad or worse then that of Hahn... When will umpires learn that they are necessary parts of the game.... Not THE GAME! Hahn shuld be severly reprimanded for his behavior. QUESTION: Who evaluates the ability of an umpire?
OMG good call. I watched the Brewers Nats series and the entire crew were horrible. West in particular. Cost the Nats one of the games. A big fat down the middle strike called a ball, and instead of being struck out, the next pitch is hit out the park and the Nats are losing. Joe West second chin impairs his vision. Terrible umpire...
Nothing will happen, that's the truly sad part. He is a horrible ump who has shown it again and again, he is incapable of keeping his personal issues out of the game. Not that he's the only one, but he doesn't seem to even hide it.
I agree Arcex. Nothing will happen because the powers to be are afraid of the umpires union. It makes noe difference who evaluates the umpires ability. They will say they did an OK job and the players should be still and accept their calls. This happens at all levels of the game and in every sport.
BUSH LEAGUE is too good of a position. Stop and think if this guy was umpiring high school games!!!!!!!!!
Not only should he NOT be a Major League Umpire but he should have any Constitutional rights revoked from WATCHING game on television!
I'd love to see a Pitch-F/X analysis of the pitches he purportedly called balls that were "right down the middle". Anyone capable of that sort of analysis here?
Whoa... whoa.. whoa... Hang on here guys... I've been an umpire and hockey ref for about 15 years. After games, it is very customary for players and managers to come up and shake an umpires hand in appreciation. It's a %#&@^ thankless job most of the time. Just how much different is a fist bump to a handshake?
This is a non-story.
First off, this is MLB, not high school or college. And i have been a ref too so i know how it is a thankless job. But this is more about this umpire being bad all around and the throwing the rock at the end of the game made him look so much worse because of what he did during the game. If he did nothing else, no arguing or enticing, no bad calls, and if he hadn't done this to the Braves before, then yes, this would be a non-story. Your not a very good ref if you missed all those factors my man...
This is done all the time in professional soccer leagues, so don't argue about high school/college vs pro's.
Also, he gave the '09 version of a handshake. His umpiring may have been atrocious, but to hang your argument on a version of a handshake is laughable.
The argument is not on the handshank MJ, not at all. The argument is the handshake looks bad, when in fairness it probably shouldn't, based on the situation. And the umpire is a bad bad bad awful bad umpire. There is no one defending that. I actually do believe the throwing the rock was innocent. But you can not be this guy, do what he does, what he did the other night, and keep your job. The throwing the rock just stirs up this kind of conversation that points out his badness. And more importantly, any handshake for one team and not the other looks bad when you were as biased as he was in his crucial calls in this game. Thats just the way it is. Id much rather focus on the ump job he does than the handshake that brought up the terrible ump job he does.
You get paid to do a job. If you do a bad job you are told so. Live with it and get better at what you are getting paid good money.
I don't have issues with the knucks: I'm sure it was just "good game, sir" and "thanks", or some version of that.
Baiting Cox into a fight is very unprofessional though.
I didn't realize that he's had a history with the Braves... considering that, the fist-bump was pretty inappropriate.
I googled Bud Selig's office to get contact information to voice a complaint about Hohn. I guess I'll be sending snail mail since no email address was given (imagine that.) Hohn has a bad history with the braves going way back to a least 1992 when he had security relocate a fan that was heckling him. How blatantly unprofessional and frankly pathetic does Hohn have to be before actions are taken?
Bill Hohn is blatantly unprofessional and more than a little pathetic. I didn't think my opinion of him could sink any lower than it's been since he had security at Atlanta/Fulton County stadium relocate a heckling fan way back in '92, but I was wrong. How far will he be allowed to go before sanctions are made? Can he eject anybody he wants to with no reason?
I'm not a Braves fan, but the behavior of Bill Hohn is ridiculous. More alarming is how many umpires like Hohn try to make an impact on the game beyond their job duties. I think it is time MLB makes an example of an umpire for crossing the line between doing your job and interfering with the game. To stop play and make a scene is worthy of a suspension for a player...why not an ump? MLB should suspend Hohn for his next series IMO and if he continues to cause controversies, send him back to the minors to work on his temper.
Who CARES?
You will care if he does this crap to your team now wouldn't you. You think the same crew works the same team or something, good lord...
Go away doosh bag.
Roger (not u dcfan)
I have no dog in this fight, but as you can see he was calling it a foul ball that was caught to end the game.. it was not a fist bump he made the tip gesture with his hands followed by the out call which looked like a fist bump...
Your missing the fist bump dude. Watch it again. The catcher clearly puts out his hand, and the ump sees it and fist bumps it. It is quite suddle, but its there.
i didn't see this game in its entirety but have watched many games and often wondered when the umps had last had their eyes checked. i realize that what you are looking at is not a 100% accurate look at any particular pitch and often disagree with calls based on the perspective i get from a 32" tv screen. but my question is this: are umpires taken to task (as in fined?) for erroneous calls. at present, only home runs are subject to review under instant replay. but there are MANY, MANY erroneous calls made at ALL the bases. is ANYONE in the commissioner's office reviewing those types of plays and related umpire calls? many times, the tv stations replay the particular play 6 different ways to sunday showing bad calls. is anyone responsible for/making a list/fining umpires/telling umpires about their calls for these gross miscalls?
to use instant replay on ALL plays would conceivably add an hour to every game and i'm not in favor of that. but most ball fields have those monstrous tv screens that show replays - so i would think that perhaps if managers had "challenges" like in the nfl - say 3 a game - it would at least lower my blood pressure. and the umpires calls on the base paths would have some checks and balances to it and just maybe, fewer manager ejections.
Roger if you don't care WTF are you doing on here? Go away bro.
As for the story, it's not the umpire's fault. It's all his EVIL mustache's fault.
I'm with u on the Roger thing but u went over the line when u commented on the STACHE, I where my stache proudly and I know a STACHE would not be involved in such behavior. A mans stache is a sense of Pride, Honor and in my case enhances my GOODLQQKS, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF......... u my friend seem to be clean shaven, if that is true I'am appauled by your accusation and demand we meet at the white house to discuss this with President Obama while sipping a few adult beverages.this is my dispicable attempt to meet Obama, I have no shame.
Well, I don't know about you fellas BUT I definetly pay $150.00 for MET/YANKEE tickets just to have the honor of watching the Umpires in action.I wish they would start dancing between innings, that would be wonderful, don't you agree ???
I don't see a problem with the fist bump - it's sorta natural to respond without thinking and no sense leaving a guy hanging. These guys know each other and work together occassionally so being friendly should not really be a problem. But I do think an umpire shuld not leave his area to bait or debate strikes and balls. If the umpire has had other incidents like this than I believe there is more to it and it should be addressed.
(I am assuming the author doesn't have a grudge and is using his head)
your talking about Craig, so I'm NOT TO SURE ............
I always like to take a few cheap shots at Craig.
It's TRUE on the fist bump, I like the fist bump because u never know if a GUY just ADJUSTED HIS BALLS AND HERE U COME- WRONG WORD- AND SHAKE HIS HAND OR WHAT IF HE TWINKLED ON HIS FINGER WHEN HE SHAKED AND DIDN'T WASH UP..... THAT COULD GET MESSY.
Hey, Jeter was recently referred to a Calss Guy by an Umpire, so maybe it was just reaction, players DON'T HAVE TO HATE UMPIRES, THEY SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY AND I have had problems with Umpires bating guys like Milton Bradley............
Bill Hohn and Joe West are absolutely the WORST umpires ever in the game of baseball!
Joe West= arrogant, blind, fat ass
Bill Hohn= arrogant, blind, gay porn mustache
That's okay, as bad as umps are now, it won't be long before they are all dropped and their services not needed any longer. There are more cameras at stadiums now than ever before, not to metion all the media cameras and photographers.
It won't be long before the managers throw out a red flag to challenge umps calls and plays. The cameras are catching so many bad calls from umps now it is so putrid. But these two panty-wastes are the worst in baseball and should be fired on the field in front of everyone.
I can't wait for umps to be gone from the game, it's not like they are doing a good job anyway!!!
Hohn is an absolute child. It looked to me that Bobby Cox was coming out of the dugout trying to drop the whole ordeal and walk away but Hohn had another agenda. Truly, an awful umpire.
Your articles are a disgrace.