Jeffrey Macias – Syndication Server

MLB Desert Invitational: Tennessee, Arizona games could feature umpire Jeffrey Macias

2023 MLB Desert Invitational: Tennessee, Arizona baseball games could feature umpire Jeffrey Macias

Opening day for Tennessee is slated for Feb. 17.

The Vols will play in the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational in Arizona Feb. 17-19. The MLB Desert Invitational field will consist of Tennessee, Arizona, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Michigan State and San Diego.

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Tennessee will play Arizona on opening day. The contest will take place at Salt Rivers Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. First pitch is slated for 8 p.m. EST and will be televised by MLB Network.

The contest between the Vols and Wildcats, as well as other Tennessee and Arizona games in the MLB Desert Invitational, could feature umpire Jeffrey Macias. He has a history of officiating Tennessee and Arizona games and did so last season.

Macias is from Phoenix, Arizona and his career has been highlighted by the likes of the New York Times dating back to his days as a minor league umpire in 2005.

Macias ejected Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello and Arizona head coach Chip Hale in back-to-back weeks last season.

During game No. 2 of the Tennessee-Alabama series on April 16, 2022, Macias served as a third base umpire and ejected Vitello and Vols’ pitching coach Frank Anderson.

Macias served as home plate umpire during game No. 1 and as second base umpire for the series finale between the Vols and Crimson Tide.

Vitello was suspended for the series finale and missed the Vols’ next three contests. Anderson was suspended for the series finale.

Macias served on the officiating crew for the Arizona-Arizona State series April 22-24, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. He was the second base umpire for game No. 1, the first base umpire in game No. 2 and home plate umpire in the series finale.

During the series finale, Wildcats’ head coach Chip Hale was ejected by Macias due to Chase Davis being deemed to not make an attempt in avoiding a pitch from the Sun Devils’ Jacob Walker.

Hale served as the Arizona Diamondbacks manager from 2015-16.

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Reaction to Jeffrey Macias ejecting Arizona head coach Chip Hale one week following Vols’ series

A look at reaction to Jeffrey Macias ejecting Arizona head coach Chip Hale one week following the Tennessee-Alabama baseball series.

Jeffrey Macias served on the officiating staff for the Arizona-Arizona State baseball series April 22-24 in Tucson, Arizona.

Macias was the second base umpire for game No. 1, the first base umpire in game No. 2 and home plate umpire in the series finale.

During the Arizona-Arizona State series finale on April 24, Wildcats’ head coach Chip Hale was ejected by Macias due to Chase Davis deemed to not make an attempt in avoiding a pitch from the Sun Devils’ Jacob Walker.

The Arizona-Arizona State series was one week following Macias ejecting Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello in the Vols’ series against Alabama at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

PHOTOS: Umpire Jeffrey Macias during Tennessee-Alabama series

In the Tennessee-Alabama series, Macias served as home plate umpire during game No. 1, third base umpire in game two and second base umpire for the series finale.

Vitello bumped into Macias in game No. 2 and was suspended for four games.

Below is reaction of Macias ejecting Hale from the Arizona-Arizona State game.

Tony Vitello discusses ejection, quirky set of circumstances in Alabama series

Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello discusses ejection and quirky set of circumstances in the Alabama series.

No. 1 Tennessee (34-3, 14-1 SEC) will play at Florida (23-14, 6-9 SEC) Friday-Sunday.

First pitch for Friday and Saturday’s games are slated for 6:30 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+). Sunday’s series finale is set for noon EDT (SEC Network+).

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is serving a four-game suspension following being ejected from game No. 2 of the Tennessee-Alabama series April 16.

Vitello bumped into umpire Jeffrey Macias during the April 16 contest. The fifth-year head coach is slated to return Sunday in the Vols’ series finale at Florida.

Third base coach Josh Elander is serving as Tennessee’s acting head coach during Vitello’s suspension.

Vitello still earns Tennessee’s wins and losses to his head coaching record while Elander is serving as acting head coach. If Elander were an interim head coach, and not an acting head coach, Vitello would not receive wins and losses during his suspension.

Vitello’s ejection and suspension caused Indiana University Southeast (NAIA) head coach Benjamin Reel to voice his opinion and concerns regarding Macias.

Reel initially reached out to Vols Wire and discussed how umpires should be held accountable for actions during games. He mentioned having umpires meet with media following games like coaches do would help with transparency of decisions made during contests.

“There is no accountability amongst officials,” Reel told Vols Wire. “Their job is to put their ego and pride aside and work together to get the call right. Unfortunately there are the Jeff’s of the officiating world.

“As coaches, our losses are public information, so maybe their losses need to be public as well.”

Macias was the home plate umpire for Tennessee’s game against Texas in the College World Series last season.

Tennessee assistant coach Ross Kivett was ejected in the game. He was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Umpire Jeffrey Macias during the Tennessee-Alabama baseball series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Ahead of game No. 1 of the Tennessee-Florida series, Vitello met with media for the first time since his ejection and suspension.

Vitello was asked about being ejected by Macias in the Alabama series and the history of having him officiate Tennessee’s games.

“The quirky set of circumstances, there is a little bit of history there, but that day started out – I saw that whole crew earlier in the day,” Vitello said. “I could have been more relaxed in that game, but a crazy set of circumstances that weren’t handled well led to all that, and the rest of that crew, de-escalation is a big deal. They did a phenomenal job and did a phenomenal job the rest of the weekend, too.

“Data, unfortunately, is a big part of what goes on now. Those next two games, those scores were off the charts and the rest of the game was handled well.”

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SEC releases statement on Tony Vitello, Frank Anderson ejections

The SEC releases a statement on Tony Vitello and Frank Anderson being ejected during Saturday’s Tennessee-Alabama game.

No. 1 Tennessee (33-3, 14-1 SEC) defeated Alabama (24-13, 8-7 SEC), 15-4, Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tennessee’s game No. 3 victory claimed a series win against Alabama. The Vols have a five-game lead in the SEC East division.

Josh Elander details Tony Vitello, Frank Anderson ejections

During Saturday’s game No. 2, third base umpire Jeffrey Macias ejected Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson.

Vitello has been suspended four games, including Sunday’s series finale against Alabama. Anderson served his one-game suspension Sunday.

The Southeastern Conference released a statement to Vols Wire on Tennessee’s ejections.

Penalties related to ejections are governed by the NCAA. By procedure, umpires file a post-game report to the NCAA and the NCAA then provides a report (generally the following morning) to the conference office to confirm any related penalties associated with the ejection, at which time any penalties are communicated to the school.

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