Mike Winters
Encyclopedia
Michael John Winters is an umpire
in Major League Baseball
who has worked in the National League
from 1988 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He umpired in the minor leagues from 1982 to 1989 before joining the NL's regular staff in 1990. He has officiated in the 1995 All-Star Game
, six Division Series
(1998
, 1999
, 2000
, 2001
, 2002
, 2006
), the 1997
and 2004 National League Championship Series
and the 2008 National League Championship Series and the 2002
, 2006
, and 2010 World Series
. He was crew chief for the Division Series in 1998 and 1999. On August 17, 1992, he was the home plate umpire for Kevin Gross
' no-hitter
. He currently lives in Carlsbad, California
.
For the 2011 season, Winters was named crew chief following the retirements of Jerry Crawford
, Mike Reilly, and Chuck Meriwether
and his crew includes Mike Everitt, Mark Wegner
, and Chris Guccione
.
outfielder Milton Bradley in a game against the Colorado Rockies
. When Bradley came to the plate in the eighth inning, plate umpire Brian Runge
told him that other umpires had stated Bradley had thrown his bat toward Runge following a strikeout in the fifth inning, which Bradley denied. After reaching first base, Bradley asked Winters if he had been one of the umpires, and Winters told him that he had indeed thrown his bat. Bradley began arguing about the allegation, and Winters replied that he should "shut the fuck up and play the game," whereupon Bradley continued to argue and complained that Winters was "treating him like a piece of (expletive)." Winters reportedly replied that Bradley was an "(expletive) piece of (expletive)," after which Bradley lunged at Winters and tore an anterior cruciate ligament
in his knee while being restrained by manager Bud Black
. Bradley later called Winters' reaction "the most unprofessional and most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. It's terrible. And now, because of him, my knee's hurt." Three days later, Major League Baseball suspended Winters for the remainder of the 2007 season due to his aiming a profanity at Bradley.
Former Giants player Charlie Hayes
also accused Winters of telling him to "go fuck himself" after Hayes was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in a June 1998 game, after which Hayes had to be restrained by then manager Dusty Baker
; Winters denied that he had said that.
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who has worked in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
from 1988 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He umpired in the minor leagues from 1982 to 1989 before joining the NL's regular staff in 1990. He has officiated in the 1995 All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, six Division Series
Division Series
In baseball, the Division Series is the official name for the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Currently, a total of four series are played in this opening round, two each for both the American League and the National League.-1981 season:...
(1998
1998 National League Division Series
-Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres:-Game 1, September 30:Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Braves faced the Chicago Cubs, who made it into the playoffs by beating the San Francisco Giants in a tiebreaker for the Wild Card spot. The Braves had sixteen more regular season wins and it showed in...
, 1999
1999 National League Division Series
-Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Mets:-Game 1, October 5:Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaA pitcher's duel between Shane Reynolds and Greg Maddux highlighted Game 1. The Astros struck first in the top of the second when Tony Eusebio singled in Carl Everett. Gerald Williams would tie the game in...
, 2000
2000 American League Division Series
-Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees:-Chicago vs. Seattle:The Seattle Mariners returned to the postseason to avenge two postseason failures in the 1990s. The Chicago White Sox returned to the postseason for the first time since 1993...
, 2001
2001 National League Division Series
-Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals:-Houston vs. Atlanta:The Atlanta Braves won their tenth straight division title, despite having the worst record among playoff teams. With that record, 2001 was also the Braves' worst season since 1990, when they had the worst record in baseball...
, 2002
2002 American League Division Series
-Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins:-Game 1, October 1:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe game went back and forth with the Angels taking a 5–4 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia brought in Scott Schoeneweis to pitch to Jason Giambi, who tied the game...
, 2006
2006 National League Division Series
-San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals:-New York vs. Los Angeles:The series seemed over for the Mets before it even started, first by losing ace Pedro Martínez for the postseason and then losing probable Game 1 starter Orlando Hernández. Despite having a potent offense, many people didn't seem...
), the 1997
1997 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 7, 1997 at Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Marlins scored three unearned runs in the first inning off Greg Maddux, thanks to a Fred McGriff error, when Moisés Alou hit a bases-clearing double to left...
and 2004 National League Championship Series
2004 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe series opener at St. Louis' Busch Stadium was a slugfest involving four homers, 17 runs, and 22 hits, eventually won by St. Louis, 10–7. Houston struck the first blow of the series when Carlos Beltrán hit a two-run home...
and the 2008 National League Championship Series and the 2002
2002 World Series
The 2002 World Series was a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the champion of Major League Baseball for the 2002 season. It was the 98th such contest between the champions of the American League and National League , and featured the AL champion Anaheim Angels against the NL champion San...
, 2006
2006 World Series
The 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
, and 2010 World Series
2010 World Series
The 2010 World Series was the 106th occurrence of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff, played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion San Francisco Giants, began on Wednesday, , and ended on Monday, , with the Giants...
. He was crew chief for the Division Series in 1998 and 1999. On August 17, 1992, he was the home plate umpire for Kevin Gross
Kevin Gross
Kevin Frank Gross , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1983 through 1997.Gross played for five different teams during his career: the Philadelphia Phillies , Montreal Expos , Los Angeles Dodgers , Texas Rangers , and Anaheim Angels...
' no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
. He currently lives in Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
.
For the 2011 season, Winters was named crew chief following the retirements of Jerry Crawford
Jerry Crawford
Gerald Joseph Crawford is a former umpire in Major League Baseball. He first umpired in the National League in 1977, from 2000 through 2010 worked in both major leagues. He was a crew chief from 1998 through 2010...
, Mike Reilly, and Chuck Meriwether
Chuck Meriwether
Julius Edward "Chuck" Meriwether is a former Major League Baseball umpire. After working in the American League from 1988 to 1999, he umpired in both leagues from 2000-2009...
and his crew includes Mike Everitt, Mark Wegner
Mark Wegner
Mark Patrick Wegner is an umpire in Major League Baseball who is in Crew B, where Dale Scott is the crew chief. Also in Crew B are Jerry Meals and Dan Iassogna. He has worked in the National League in 1998-1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000...
, and Chris Guccione
Chris Guccione (umpire)
Christopher Gene Guccione is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He wears number 68.Guccione has umpired in both the American League and National League since , although he was not officially promoted to the full-time Major League staff until before the 2009 season Guccione has 14 total years of...
.
Controversy
On September 23, 2007, Winters was accused of "baiting" San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
outfielder Milton Bradley in a game against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. When Bradley came to the plate in the eighth inning, plate umpire Brian Runge
Brian Runge
Brian Edward Runge is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League in 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wears uniform number 18. He has worked in the 2004 and 2007 American League Division Series...
told him that other umpires had stated Bradley had thrown his bat toward Runge following a strikeout in the fifth inning, which Bradley denied. After reaching first base, Bradley asked Winters if he had been one of the umpires, and Winters told him that he had indeed thrown his bat. Bradley began arguing about the allegation, and Winters replied that he should "shut the fuck up and play the game," whereupon Bradley continued to argue and complained that Winters was "treating him like a piece of (expletive)." Winters reportedly replied that Bradley was an "(expletive) piece of (expletive)," after which Bradley lunged at Winters and tore an anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his knee while being restrained by manager Bud Black
Bud Black
Harry Ralston "Bud" Black is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.-College:Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview...
. Bradley later called Winters' reaction "the most unprofessional and most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. It's terrible. And now, because of him, my knee's hurt." Three days later, Major League Baseball suspended Winters for the remainder of the 2007 season due to his aiming a profanity at Bradley.
Former Giants player Charlie Hayes
Charlie Hayes
Charles Dewayne Hayes is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , Colorado Rockies , Pittsburgh Pirates , Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros...
also accused Winters of telling him to "go fuck himself" after Hayes was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in a June 1998 game, after which Hayes had to be restrained by then manager Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
; Winters denied that he had said that.