The Highest Level of Disciplinary Action in History
Lee Min-ho, a referee from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) who sparked controversy over a 'concealed misjudgment,' is being expelled from the KBO. This is the strongest disciplinary action ever taken by the KBO against a referee.
On the 19th, the KBO announced, "Today, we held a personnel committee meeting to review the disciplinary actions against three referees who compromised the league's fairness due to errors related to the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike System) judgment and inappropriate conduct during the game between the NC Dinos and Samsung Lions held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 14th." They stated, "We have terminated the contract with referee Lee Min-ho." Furthermore, "Referee Moon Seung-hoon has been suspended without pay for three months, and additional personnel measures will be taken after the suspension ends. Referee Chu Pyung-ho has been suspended without pay for the maximum period of three months."
In the problematic game, Lee was the chief umpire, while Moon and Chu served as the home plate umpire and third base umpire, respectively, both equipped with in-ear devices to receive ABS strike and ball calls. During the bottom of the third inning with two outs and a runner on first, with NC leading 1-0, Samsung's Lee Jae-hyun was at bat. On the second pitch from NC starter Lee Jae-hak, umpire Moon called a 'ball.' However, the ABS judged the pitch as a 'strike.'
The ABS, introduced by the KBO this year, is a machine that determines 'strike or ball' and communicates the result to the home plate umpire via an in-ear device. Unless there is a 'reading error,' umpires must follow the ABS judgment. The second pitch from Lee Jae-hak was judged by the ABS as a 'clear strike.' KBO ABS control room staff also heard the machine's 'strike call.' However, umpire Moon called it a 'ball.' NC, having confirmed via the dugout tablet PC that the second pitch passed through the strike zone, protested to the umpiring crew. This occurred after Lee Jae-hak had already thrown three more pitches.
The four umpires, including the home plate umpire and the chief umpire, gathered to discuss whether to accept NC's protest. Soon, the chief umpire took the microphone and addressed the fans, saying, "When player Kim Ji-chan attempted to steal a base, the pitch (Lee Jae-hak's second pitch) was communicated to the umpires as a 'ball' via audio. However, after checking the ABS monitor, it was judged as a strike. NC appealed, but according to the rules, protests must be made before the next pitch begins. Since the 'appeal period' has passed, the original call (ball) will stand."
However, before the chief umpire publicly explained the rules, a quiet conversation among the umpires revealed a different story. During the four-umpire consensus process, the chief umpire was caught on the broadcast saying to the home plate umpire, "You clearly said the audio was recognized as a ball. That's the only way out for us." Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the KBO requested written statements from the referees and conducted fact-finding. They excluded the three referees from their duties while discussing the disciplinary measures. The personnel committee decided to terminate the contract of Lee Min-ho, effectively firing him. Moon and Chu received severe penalties of three-month suspensions.
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