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
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