Mario says: Yer outta here, Sound Guy
Many Wild Things fans are likely familiar with Mario Seneca, a Washington native and former Frontier League umpire who currently works in the high-Class A Florida State League.
I thought Seneca, who also is a college and high school football official, was one of the best ball-strike umpires the Frontier League had over the last 11 years.
Last night, Seneca was working a game in Daytona Beach between the Daytona Cubs and the Fort Myers Miracle. There was a close play at first base in the eighth inning and Daytona manager Brian Harper (a former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher) argued the call.
After the argument, Derek Dye, an intern who was controlling the sound effects for the Cubs, decided to play "Three Blind Mice."
Now, there are only four rules that sound guys have to follow during a game: 1. Don't play music when the ball is in play. 2. Don't play music when the pitcher is beginning his windup. 3. Don't play any music with the F-Bomb in the lyrics. 4. Don't play "Three Blind Mice."
Dye broke Rule No. 4, and his attempt at humor didn't sit well with Seneca, who was the home-plate umpire. Seneca turned around and quickly and emphatically ejected Dye from the game.
"You're gone! Turn the sound off the rest of the night," Seneca yelled.
I guess you can say this was the Night the Music Died in Daytona Beach.
Cubs general manager Brady Ballard told the Daytona Beach News Journal that the clip was harmless fun but “there are rules.” He added, “It probably violated the rules, but again, there's been discussion on whether it was an overreaction.”
Seneca posted on his Facebook page: “The good news is that I called my league president (Chuck Murphy) afterwards, and he said I did the correct thing. His opinion is pretty much the only one that matters, since he's my boss.”
This was not a first for the Florida State League. Wilbur Snapp, an organist for the Clearwater Phillies, was tossed in 1985 for playing the same tune.
There is just one thing, though, that keeps running through my mind ... there are only two umpires in a Florida State League game.
Here's the video of the ejection:
I thought Seneca, who also is a college and high school football official, was one of the best ball-strike umpires the Frontier League had over the last 11 years.
Last night, Seneca was working a game in Daytona Beach between the Daytona Cubs and the Fort Myers Miracle. There was a close play at first base in the eighth inning and Daytona manager Brian Harper (a former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher) argued the call.
After the argument, Derek Dye, an intern who was controlling the sound effects for the Cubs, decided to play "Three Blind Mice."
Now, there are only four rules that sound guys have to follow during a game: 1. Don't play music when the ball is in play. 2. Don't play music when the pitcher is beginning his windup. 3. Don't play any music with the F-Bomb in the lyrics. 4. Don't play "Three Blind Mice."
Dye broke Rule No. 4, and his attempt at humor didn't sit well with Seneca, who was the home-plate umpire. Seneca turned around and quickly and emphatically ejected Dye from the game.
"You're gone! Turn the sound off the rest of the night," Seneca yelled.
I guess you can say this was the Night the Music Died in Daytona Beach.
Cubs general manager Brady Ballard told the Daytona Beach News Journal that the clip was harmless fun but “there are rules.” He added, “It probably violated the rules, but again, there's been discussion on whether it was an overreaction.”
Seneca posted on his Facebook page: “The good news is that I called my league president (Chuck Murphy) afterwards, and he said I did the correct thing. His opinion is pretty much the only one that matters, since he's my boss.”
This was not a first for the Florida State League. Wilbur Snapp, an organist for the Clearwater Phillies, was tossed in 1985 for playing the same tune.
There is just one thing, though, that keeps running through my mind ... there are only two umpires in a Florida State League game.
Here's the video of the ejection:
Labels: Mario Seneca
posted by Chris Dugan at
2:17 PM
20 Comments:
No problem playing "Three Blind Mice" at CEP (Stu, Chris Bando, and Buttons).
Also, the Wild Cubs should get new uniforms for the next home stand without buttons!
Does anyone think Buttons will be back next year? How about Chris Bando?
I'm for joining the Ban the Bando's club. Pay em off and send them packing with a one way ticket to where ever they came from.
Mario was totally correct in ejecting the PA man. There is no place for that sort of crap in baseball. The Wild Cubs refer to me as a "purist" because I would prefer that all the silly stuff that goes on at CEP (towel waving idiots, etc) be cut down and NOT ramped up.
I don't care how much software TSE has made available to the Wild Cubs. I don't care if TSE has, and they truly have, ripped the Wild Cubs off. I don’t need to be told that it brings in more fans because I take a pragmatic view of this malarkey. I have the empirical evidence to prove all the ‘entertainment’ stuff is just a waste for money and effort. That evidence is the attendance figures. Has the attendance improved? You don’t have to be too brilliant to figure that out.
The real fix is to have a very competitive team and players that are with the team long enough for the fans to get know them. I don’t recall any time in Wild Cubs history that it was so hard to really get to know a player and discover his strengths, and weaknesses. The one exception would be Michael Bando but I won’t get into that because we all know what’s going on with that, don’t we?
Mr. Williams seems, at least to me, to think that he and Steve Z. know how to evaluate baseball talent and that they can alone fix the Wild Cubs lack of competitiveness. Well, anybody can recognize when there is a problem with something The question is, do they know how to fix it? I own my home and I can tell when the roof is leaking BUT, do I know how to fix it? No, I don’t. So I call for help from some one that knows what they are doing from years of experience. Same goes for owners of baseball teams.
Ima Fraid
Ban the Bando’s
Buttons will not return next year.
I remember the Frontier League had a one eyed umpire whose first name was Max. He wrote the book "It all began in Chiccolotte".
In the book he tell about throwing the P. A. announcer after he said "we got hozed" on a close play.
By the way, Buttons was not in the line up tonight. You might say the night was "Buttons free"
I got an email that they will have a Dirt Dawson bobble heat promotion.
Can't wait for the Buttons bobblehead.
Only 2002 in attendence on a Friday night with fireworks.
Like Stu says, it must be the economy!
Well, it's like this Disa Pointed. The Frontier still has that umpire and he works games at CEP on a fairly regular basis. His name is not Max. Want to take another guess? Here's a clue - he recently ejected a member of the Wild Cubs from a game.
The name of the book is "Everything Happens in Chillicothe". A good book about an umpires life in the Frontier League.Lenny's pal Jim Schaly is also in the book.
What makes u think Stu and Steve Z bring in players and evaluate the baseball talent? All signs point to them allowing Bando to make those calls
What signs are you talking about?
Have you ever attended a Wild Things season ticket holders meeting? If you have then you would doubt about who is running the show. All signs point to Stu Williams.
Stu and Steve do not evaluate pllayers and make roster decisions. That responsibility falls to the coaching staff.
Dream on, Chris
If Stu does, or doesn't want something to happen, it won't happen.
I agree that what you say should be the way it is but.............
Chris, If that is true then it's just another good reason to not bring Bando back next season.
Ban the Bando's
Anonymous:
You are right about the title of the book.
However I checked it out and the author is Max (I was right) McLeary.
You will not see him throwing out players in the F. League.
He is retired.
Anonymous 1:01: If you really think Stu and Steve sit around each day looking at the minor league transactions to see if the Detroit Tigers cut any left-handed hitting catchers, or calling scouts to find out why Cameron Bentley of Arkansas-Little Rock or Baylor's Dan Ewatt weren't drafted and finding out what their future plans are, deciding if Penn State's Sean Deegan should be brought in for a tryout, hoping that a certain player in the Can-Am League clears waivers or calling Phil Warren to see if he has any extra lefty relievers available for trade, then you do live in a dream world and have no understanding of how this or 95 percent of the independent baseball teams operate.
Disa Pointed: The author of the book "Everything Happens in Chillicothe" is Mike Shannon. The subject of the book is Max McLeary. Definitely a good read.
The Wild Cubs think they have momentum – really?
Last night the Wild Cubs had 23 K’s in 45 AB. That’s over half the AB’s that were strike outs!
Nunziato struck out 5 times in six AB’s. Then there’s Samuelson. When is this guy actually going to show he has some grit?
The Wild Cubs lucked out in the 15th inning when the Crushers made a defensive blunder that you will only see in the Frontier League. Heck should have been thrown at home. Luckily for the Wild Cubs the Crushers beat themselves. That’s momentum?
This team is so bad that they think playing .500 baseball is just fine.
Ban the Bando’s – Fire the hitting coach
Won 6 of last 8 stats don't matter = momentum
What a team! Only 10 strikeouts tonight. That’s 36 in just two games. How exiting is that? It’s time to kiss Samuelson good bye.
Sent the batting coach to the Pecos League and mail in the rest of the season.
Did any one see Chris Bando tonight? Was he in the park?
Ban the Bando’s
Your team has won 6 of last 9 games and something like 5 of last 7 series (is that correct?) and fans still bitching. That overall record is what the fans in Washington deserve. They're the reason good players don't want to play for Washington.
Too little - too late!
Still 14.5 games behind. That's something to cheer about?
Batter after batter taking swings at unhittable pitches. Over 50% strike outs in the last two games. We should Cheer? How about 2 runs scored over the last 24 innings?
Woopie!!!!
Who's bitching? Just stating the facts.
I don't know which team you support but we have a manager, and a first baseman we could send to you. cheap.
They are of no use here.
Ban the Bandos
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