Ed Rapuano
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| 19 - Ed Rapuano | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Rapuano in 2011. | ||
| MLB debut | ||
| 1991 | ||
| Umpiring Crew | ||
| Q | ||
| Crew Members | ||
| Ed Rapuano (Crew Chief) | ||
| Brian O'Nora | ||
| Alfonso Marquez | ||
| Ed Hickox | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
| All-Star Game (1995) Division Series (1997, 98, 2001, 03, 06, 2010) League Championship Series (1999, 2000, 02, 04-05) World Series (2001, 03) |
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Edward Stephen Rapuano, Jr. (born September 30, 1957 in New Haven, Connecticut) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League from 1990 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He has officiated in the World Series in 2001 and 2003, as well as the All-Star game in 1995 and 2008. He has also worked in five League Championship Series (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005) and seven Division Series (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010), and the NL's one-game wild card playoff in 1999. [1] He was also the home plate umpire for Kent Mercker's no-hitter on April 8, 1994, [2] and the third-base umpire for Roy Halladay's no-hitter in the 2010 National League Division Series.[3] Rapuano was worn number 19 since the umpiring staffs merged in 2000 (previously Rapuano wore number 23 while in the National League).
[edit] Controversies
In 2002, Rapuano made headlines when he pushed New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine during an exchange in a game with the Florida Marlins.[4] After this, Valentine was ejected from the game and fined, although no disciplinary action was taken against Rapuano for making contact with Valentine.
Rapuano made news and shocked many veteran baseball observers when he had to be restrained from charging the mound during a game between the Minnesota Twins and the Milwaukee Brewers. Although batters have been known on occasion to charge the mound, this is the first time many have ever seen an umpire take such an aggressive action. Again, there is no report that disciplinary action was taken against Rapuano.[5]
Rapuano also was the center of a controversy regarding a game-ending balk call against Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Aaron Crow. Reporters speculated that Rapuano made the call in response to veteran batter Adam Dunn's suggestion, since journalists were not able to identify any movement on a post-game videotape that would constitute a balk. In addition, after the game, Rapuana seemed unaware of the official interpretation of Baseball Rule 8.05 [6] which states "Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If there is doubt in the umpire’s mind, the “intent” of the pitcher should govern." Thus, an umpire should only call a balk when he has proof that a pitcher is attempting to deceive a base runner. With runners on 2nd and 3rd base, such intent was questionable. [7]
[edit] References
- ^ Major League Baseball Umpires Roster [1]
- ^ RetroSheet Archived Box Score [2]
- ^ RetroSheet Archived Box Score [3]
- ^ Frisaro, Joe. [4] "MLB.com", June 2, 2002, accessed July 7, 2011
- ^ McCalvy, Adam. [5], "MLB.com", May 22, 2010, accessed July 7, 2011
- ^ Official Rules: 8.00 The Pitcher [6]
- ^ Dodd, Rustin.[7], "The Kansas City Star", July 6, 2011, accessed July 7, 2011.
[edit] External links
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