Ump steps in front of plate to stop warm up pitches, a breakdown
What Happened
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Atlanta Braves are leading the San Diego Padres by three runs. Kenley Jansen, the Braves' closer, is set to take the mound to finish the game. As Jansen warms up on the mound, the home plate umpire, Bill Miller, steps in front of the plate to stop Jansen from throwing his final warm-up pitches. Jansen is confused by the umpire's actions, as he is simply following his routine to prepare for the inning. Miller explains to Jansen that the new MLB rule allows only one more warm-up pitch after the 25-second mark on the 2-minute, 5-second clock. Jansen argues that he should be allowed to throw two more pitches, as he wants to end his warm-up on a fastball, but the umpire refuses to budge. The confrontation between Jansen and Miller continues, with Jansen trying to reason with the umpire and pointing out that if he has to go through the sticky stuff check before the inning, he should be granted more time to complete his warm-up routine. Miller, however, remains firm on enforcing the rule. As Jansen walks towards the catcher to begin the inning, he is visibly frustrated with the umpire's decision. He turns to Padres manager Bob Melvin and expresses his displeasure, saying, "You can't do that. That's my routine. I'm just doing whatever it is you guys tell me." The umpire defends his stance, explaining that the rule is not his own but rather an MLB-instituted policy. Jansen continues to argue, saying, "You can't rush the closers. This is a very important part of the job." Ultimately, Jansen is forced to start the inning with only three warm-up pitches, instead of his usual routine. He settles in and records the final three outs, securing the win for the Braves. After the game, Jansen has a conversation with Umpire Miller, expressing his concerns about the rule and the impact it had on his preparation for the inning. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between MLB's efforts to improve the pace of play and the need for pitchers to have the necessary time to properly warm up and prepare for their appearances. The dispute between Jansen and Miller serves as a snapshot of the challenges faced by players and officials as they navigate these evolving rules and regulations.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentBraves are beating the Padres by three
this is the final out of the top of the
ninth inning two minutes and five
seconds will be put on the clock to run
to commercial to warm up there's Kenley
Jansen he's gonna come in for the safe
so we go to Commercial and here's the
rule MLB is instituted times of two
minutes and five seconds for local
broadcasts as of 2018 the Umpire signal
for the final warm-up pitch comes at the
25 second Mark and the Pitcher must
throw it before the clock hits 20. the
batter is also announced at the 22nd
Mark and the Pitcher must begin his want
begin his Wind-up to throw the first
pitch of the inning with the five
seconds before the clock hits zero now
in between Innings from this blimp shot
you can zoom in and see the umpires on
the mound with Kenly checking his
fingers for sticky stuff now with the
closers they do that before the inning
starts because it's pointless to do it
after the inning because the game is
over alright so now he gets checked for
sticky stuff he throws his warm up
throws a fastball there and the Umpire
says you get one more he says no I want
two more and he says no you only get one
more he says no I'm gonna throw two more
he says no no no no you're done you're
done I can't do anything turns to the
catcher he says no I'm gonna throw two
more this one's gonna be a curveball so
there you go and I'm guessing he wants
to end his warm-ups on a fastball so he
wanted two more that's his routine um
says Nah steps in front of Kenly is like
nah I can't let you throw this Kenley is
looking at what the [ __ ] is that
what's going on
what is that dude that's not cool so
he's gonna walk up and have a chat with
him
umpire's name is Bill Miller and you can
see him say Bill come on man
totally uncool now the Umpire he turns
to him and he says you have five minutes
and you threw your first pitch with 40
seconds and I I don't know why I think
five minutes just an exaggeration
because he knows he's got two minutes
kenley's gonna respond to him he's gonna
say but Bill you never called time and
now snitcom okay okay Bill hey Bill
that's not what matters there whenever a
closer comes in enough and his point is
like the pace of play we got to the
ninth inning the closers in you can't
rush the closers very important part of
the job very important inning and that's
kind of his first point and the um's
gonna respond and he's gonna say I know
but and the candle is gonna say you
can't do that that's my routine
I'm just doing whatever it is you guys
tell me
no way no way
but you guys stopped him too something
like I know you guys gotta check his
fingers I know I know but he's got to be
able to pitch
him after the game
and I'm says it's not us this is not my
rule I don't know so it's a pretty valid
point kenley's like hey hey Manny Manny
get behind the plate now the Umpire says
we're not doing it we're not doing it
we're not doing it
don't you throw a pitch
pretty fair point by Kenley like if you
gotta check my fingers on the mound
before I throw my warm-ups then you have
to grant me more time when I throw my
warm-ups seems pretty logical and fair
like call time out on the two minute
clock and let that run out if you're
interrupting my routine so he writes
down in this little note did my job
today and forced a rule that I don't
like lets them know that that counts as
a mound visit does it affect Kenly in
the inning well the first pitch there's
the fastball he wanted nice curve that
warm-up pitch 1-1 that darts inside two
and one that darts in again gives him
the call that was off the plate nice job
made up for it I always got the 2-2 the
Machado High fastball boom you're out
Cronin worth up outside fastball calm
down says catch in play dansby's got it
gathers it throws two outs next batters
Luke Voit that's up and in for a ball
and the 1-0 is foul out back 1-1 put in
play high Dansby comes all the way
across catches it let Olson know I got
those too I got those two so after the
game kenley's gonna go have a little
chat with Bill Miller the Umpire and
he's gonna like you know I only threw
three pitches and you see oh you oh I'm
saying right there you threw three
pitches and I think maybe the aunt
wasn't paying attention he didn't know
fully what's going on because kenley's
saying like I I got to be able to throw
more than three pitches you know and the
umps is asking me he's like yeah I was
trying to throw a fourth pitch fourth
pitch stop me and you can see him put
his hand on his shoulder and you see the
Umpire say Okay I I hear you I hear you
big man and then I think that's good I
don't know umpire's just trying to force
a rule that he doesn't make but the rule
is dumb and there should definitely be
an adjustment period if you get checked
on the mound
then that should encounter the time
against you warming up and that's just
common sense