Jim Wolf
Template:Infobox MLB umpire James Michael Wolf (born July 24, 1969) is a Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the major league staff in 1999 after working in the Arizona Rookie League, the South Atlantic League, the California League, the Texas League and the Pacific Coast League.[1] He wears uniform number 28.[2]
Umpiring career
On October 4, 2001, Wolf served as third base umpire when Rickey Henderson broke Ty Cobb's runs scored record.[3]
Wolf drew criticism from ESPN announcers after he ejected Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ted Lilly at the start of a game on June 10, 2007 against the Atlanta Braves. Wolf ruled that Lilly had intentionally thrown at the batter's head, and immediately ejected the pitcher. While such a penalty is uncommon without a formal warning to both teams, such action is permitted by baseball's rules.[4]
On May 9, 2010, Wolf was the home plate umpire for Dallas Braden's perfect game. His crew also officiated Armando Galarraga's near perfect game on June 2, 2010. On July 9, 2011, Wolf was the home plate umpire when Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Wolf missed several months during the 2013 season due to an apparent back injury. He worked a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte the weekend of July 18-19 en route to a return to the Major Leagues.[5]
On August 2, 2015, Wolf was involved in a series of controversial events in a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals. In the first inning, Blue Jays' third baseman Josh Donaldson was hit by a pitch and both teams were issued warnings by Wolf, who was acting as home plate umpire. Subsequently, Donaldson had a pitch come very close to his head on two separate at-bats by the same pitcher, Edinson Volquez. The previously issued warning by Wolf could have resulted in the expulsion of Volquez for intentional throwing at the batter under MLB Rule 8.02(d)(2), which states that "If, in the umpire's judgment, such a violation [intentional throwing at a batter] occurs, the umpire... may warn the pitcher and the manager of both teams that another such pitch will result in the immediate expulsion of that pitcher (or a replacement) and the manager." [6] Wolf elected not to eject Volquez or his manager, and made a similar decision about a pitch by the Royals' Ryan Madson that hit the Blue Jays' shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the chest and elbow. Blue Jays' manager John Gibbons was ejected for arguing the call. However, when the Blue Jays' relief pitcher Aaron Sanchez struck the Royals' shortstop Escobar in the leg, Wolf immediately ejected Sanchez. This decision resulted in both teams clearing the benches, although no further ejections occurred. According to National Post sportswriter John Lott, "Umpire Jim Wolf lost control of the game."[7]
Post-season and All-Star games
Wolf was the right field umpire for the single-game playoff to decide the NL's 2007 wild card team, has officiated three Division Series (2007, 2010, 2014) and one League Championship Series (2011). He has also worked one All-Star Game (2010). He will not be permitted to work any more important games because he is biased.
Personal life
Wolf is biased and resides in Ahwatukee, Arizona. His brother Randy has pitched in the major leagues for multiple teams, most recently the Los Angeles Angels.
See also
References
- ^ Official MLB.com Profile, MLB.com, Retrieved on June 16, 2007
- ^ Official MLB.com profile MLB.com Retrieved on October 14, 2011
- ^ The Official Major League Baseball Fact Book. The Sporting News. 2002. p. 197. ISBN 0-89204-670-8.
- ^ Cooper, Jon, Ejection takes Cubs' Lilly by surprise, MLB.com , Retrieved on June 16, 2007.
- ^ "Rehab: Jim Wolf in Triple-A Charlotte." Close Call Sports and the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. July 18, 2013.
- ^ "Umpres: Rules of Interest". MLB.com. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Lott, John. "toronto blue jays beat kansas city royals in heated game that saw beanballs ejections and bench clearing scuffle". news.nationalpost.com. Retrieved 2 August 2015.