Welcome to Better Know An Umpire, an effort to educate ourselves on the human elements who have ultimate decision-making power over some 2,500 Major League Baseball games a year.

Umpire Todd Tichenor has been savaged—savaged!—by citizens of the cyberworld for getting a little ejection happy last night, but there is one anonymous internet commenter who will not stand for this aggression! Rights will be wronged, one message board at a time.

Umpire Todd Tichenor made history (maybe? probably not) when he ejected four people in one inning of the Red Sox-Twins game last night. Hey, when you're a temporarily fill-in just called up from the minors, you've got to take your shots when you can get them.