Report: MLB to question ump who blocked Frazier during walk-off HR
Umpires aren't usually in the middle of a walk-off celebration, but Tom Hallion found himself there for just a moment on Thursday, and the veteran arbiter might be in trouble because of it.
Hallion is expected to be questioned by Major League Baseball as to why he was blocking home plate while New York Mets third baseman Todd Frazier finished circling the bases after hitting his game-ending homer on Thursday, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
Frazier ended the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field with a long walk-off blast off Miami Marlins reliever Kyle Barraclough. As Frazier completed his trot and reached home plate, he was greeted by his exuberant teammates - and also Hallion, who was strangely standing in Frazier's direct path with both of his feet on home plate.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Hallion bumped chests with Frazier - who seemed surprised by the umpire's presence as he tried to get a toe on home plate - before leaving the field with what looked to be a smile on his face.
"I kind of bent down and put my foot through there and we could have been dancing," Frazier said afterward. "I bumped (Hallion). I had to get in there. He laughed a little bit. If he was stepping in for the charge, that would have been fun."
Although the league might not be too happy with Hallion's actions, the Mets didn't appear upset over the incident. Manager Mickey Callaway chalked it up to both a misunderstanding and a joke, as Hallion was not part of the umpiring crew for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader.
"(Hallion) was happy that he got to go home and he didn't have to umpire the second game," Callaway said. "So (the umpires) said he was just standing there happy that he got to go to dinner, that he didn't have to continue."
Although Hallion may indeed get a call from the league, SNY's Andy Martino reported Friday it's unlikely he'll be subject to any discipline.
The 62-year-old Hallion has been umpiring in the major leagues since 1985.