Saturday, April 30, 2016

MLB Ejection 017 - Gerry Davis (1; Robin Ventura)

1B Umpire Gerry Davis ejected White Sox Manager Robin Ventura for arguing a Replay Review decision that upheld 2B Umpire Cory Blaser's slide interference no-call in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the White Sox-Orioles game. With none out and two on, Orioles batter Adam Jones hit a 1-2 splitter from White Sox pitcher Mat Latos on the ground to third baseman Todd Frazier, who tagged third base and threw to second baseman Brett Lawrie, who threw to first baseman Jose Abreu, Orioles baserunner R2 Hyun Soo Kim out at third, R1 Manny Machado out at second, and B1 Jones safe at first. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by White Sox Manager Ventura, Blaser's ruling that Machado's slide at second base was not a violation of the bona fide slide rule was affirmed. Play reviewed by the UEFL Appeals Board (Commissioner's Referral), and adjudicated as incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 2-1. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 8-7.

This is Gerry Davis (12)'s first ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Gerry Davis now has -1 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Previous + 2 MLB + -2 N-Crewmate = -1).
Crew Chief Gerry Davis now has -3 points in Crew Division (-3 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = -3).
*Click here for a refresher and Video Analysis of the New Bona Fide Slide FPSR Rule 6.01(j).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-8 states the UEFL Appeals Board may initiate an independent review of MLB Replay Review decisions and, accordingly, attribute a QOC that may conflict with MLB/NY's ruling.

This is the 17th ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
This is the 9th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is the White Sox's 1st ejection of 2016, T-2nd in the AL Central (DET 2; CWS, MIN 1; CLE, KC 0).
This is Robin Ventura's first ejection since August 15, 2015 (Joe West; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Gerry Davis' first ejection since July 27, 2015 (Craig Counsell; QOC = U [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles (American League Baseball), 4/30/16
Video: Double, not triple, play affirmed on slide rule non-call results in one ejection ("Read more")

Friday, April 29, 2016

MLB Ejection 016 - Mark Ripperger (1; Kevin Cash)

HP Umpire Mark Ripperger ejected Rays Manager Kevin Cash for arguing a ball three call in the top of the 5th inning of the Blue Jays-Rays game. With one out and none on, Blue Jays batter Russell Martin took a 2-2 fastball from Rays pitcher Drew Smyly for a called third ball before striking out swinging on the following pitch. Replays indicate the 2-2 pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh high (px -1.143, pz 2.009), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Blue Jays were leading, 1-0. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Mark Ripperger (90)'s first ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Mark Ripperger now has 4 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct = 4).
Crew Chief Joe West now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).
*Though it is apparent Cash's main complaint concerns disagreement over Ripperger's behavior or conduct, UEFL Rule 6-2-b-5-b indicates states, "Irrecusability shall be limited to the reasons listed in 6-2-b-5," and moreso, QOC shall be associated, "with the Quality of the call leading to ejection, as in Rule 4-2-b." Because Ripperger's reaction was to Smyly's reaction to a pitch call he disagreed with, the Reason for Ejection is, accordingly, Balls/Strikes.

This is the 16th ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
This is the 8th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is the Rays' 1st ejection of 2016, T-1st in the AL East (BAL, TB, TOR 1; BOS, NYY 0).
This is Kevin Cash's first ejection since August 28, 2015 (Brian O'Nora; QOC = N [Out/Safe]).
This is Mark Ripperger's first ejection since Sept 23, 2015 (Jonathan Papelbon; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays (American League Baseball), 4/29/16
Video: Cash rips into Ripperger for his reaction to Smyly's expression of disapproval ("Read more")

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

MLB Ejections 014|015 - Todd Tichenor (Phelps, Mattingly)

HP Umpire Todd Tichenor ejected Marlins P David Phelps and Manager Don Mattingly for arguing a ball four call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Marlins-Dodgers game. With one out and two on, Dodgers batter Joc Pederson took a 3-2 fastball from Phelps for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh high (px 1.067, pz 2.681) and that all other pitches during the at bat were properly officiated, the call was correct. At the time of the ejections, the Marlins were leading, 2-0. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 2-0.

These are Todd Tichenor (13)'s first and second ejections of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Todd Tichenor now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 2 QOCY] = 7).
Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 8 points in Crew Division (6 Previous + 2*[1 Correct Call] = 8).

These are the 14th and 15th ejections of the 2016 MLB regular season.
This is the 8th player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Phelps' line was 0.0 IP, BB.
This is the 7th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is the Marlins' 2/3rd ejection of 2016, 1st in the NL East (MIA 3; ATL, NYM, PHI, WAS 0).
This is Don Mattingly's 2nd ejection of 2016, 1st since April 22 (Brian Gorman; QOC = Y [B/S]).
This is David Phelps' first ejection since September 16, 2014 (Rob Drake; QOC = U [Throwing At]).
This is Todd Tichenor's first ejection since May 31, 2015 (Jeff Banister; QOC = N [Out/Safe]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs. Los Angeles Dodger (National League Baseball), 4/27/16
Video: Tichenor ejects Phelps for leaving his position to argue balls and strikes ("Read more")

MLB Ejection 013 - John Tumpane (1; John Gibbons)

HP Umpire John Tumpane ejected Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons for arguing a check swing (ball) call by 3B Umpire Alan Porter in the top of the 7th inning of the White Sox-Blue Jays game. With two out and one on, White Sox batter Adam Eaton attempted to check his swing on a 2-1 curveball from Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Chavez. Play reviewed and affirmed as correct by the UEFL Appeals Board (Check Swing). At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 3-0. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 4-0.

This is John Tumpane (74)'s first ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
John Tumpane now has ? points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 3 AAA + ? Call-Crewmate = ?).
Crew Chief Dan Iassogna now has ? points in Crew Division (0 Previous + ? Call = ?).

This is the 13th ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
This is the 6th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is the Blue Jays' 1st ejection of 2016, T-1st in the AL East (BAL, TOR 1; BOS, NYY, TB 0).
This is John Gibbons' first ejection since August 8, 2015 (Greg Gibson; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is John Tumpane's first ejection since May 21, 2015 (Kyle Seager; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays (American League Baseball), 4/27/16
Video: Gibbons is tossed from the dugout for arguing a check swing call in the 7th ("Read more")

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Unconfirmed - MLB to Promote Ump, A Look at Call-Ups

Unconfirmed: MLB will name a new full-time umpire to its staff in May 2016. This umpire would replace the departed Paul Schrieber, whose contract is set to expire at the end of April. Per our umpire sabermetrics and given past hiring behavior, we predict MLB will hire John Tumpane (37%), Adam Hamari (35%), or Clint Fagan (22%).

When putting together the umpire crew list for the 2016 season, MLB took care to leave two slots open to so-called full-time call-ups: AAA umpires by status who were assigned to a crew and would spend most of their time in 2016 not in Triple-A, but in the big leagues. As noted in the pre-season, one of these [Call-Up Umpire] slots accounted for Tim Welke's retirement, which will effectively occur only at the end of the 2016 season, while the other is for Paul Schrieber, who did not return to baseball in 2016.

Schreiber's contract reportedly expires April 30, 2016, effectively creating a vacancy on the MLB full-time staff. As we saw in 2015, when MLB hired Tripp Gibson, Mark Ripperger, and Will Little to the full-time staff, the Commissioner's Office selected three umpires with extensive experience during the 2014 season, including the coveted full-time [Call-Up Umpire] position. Gibson worked an MLB-leading 149 games in 2014, with Ripperger (142 games) and Little (141 gms) closely behind.

The 2014 MLB umpire crews had also featured several AAA rover positions to account for retiring and Disabled List umpires whose contracts ran into and through that season. For instance, Quinn Wolcott was named as a full-time MLB umpire in early July 2014, only when DL-bound umpire Gary Darling's retirement took effect and a contract-MLBU position opened up.

Here is a list of all 2016 Call-Up Umpires, sorted by MLB experience, coming into this season:
1) John Tumpane - 431 Games (6 in 2010, 68 in 2011, 10 in 2012, 80 in 2013, 138 in 2014, 129 in 2015).
2) Clint Fagan - 340 Games (5 in 2011, 16 in 2012, 69 in 2013, 119 in 2014, 131 in 2015).
3) Adam Hamari - 329 Games (48 in 2013, 127 in 2014, 154 in 2015).
4) Gabe Morales - 258 Games (123 in 2014, 135 in 2015).
5) Toby Basner - 235 Games (19 in 2012, 17 in 2013, 106 in 2014, 93 in 2015).
6) Chris Segal - 227 Games (111 in 2014, 116 in 2015).
7) Pat Hoberg - 215 Games (123 in 2014, 92 in 2015).
8) Tom Woodring - 156 Games (102 in 2014, 54 in 2015).
9) Sean Barber - 150 Games (92 in 2014, 58 in 2015).
10) Ben May - 118 Games (30 in 2014, 88 in 2015).
11) Ryan Blakney - 88 Games (88 in 2015).
12) Seth Buckminster - 67 Games (66 in 2014, 1 in 2015).
13) Stu Scheurwater - 47 Games (24 in 2014, 23 in 2015).
14) Carlos Torres - 19 Games (19 in 2015).
15) Chad Whitson - 15 Games (7 in 2014, 8 in 2015).
16) Anthony "A.J." Johnson - 6 Games (1 in 2014, 5 in 2015).
17) Ramon De Jesus - Rookie.
17) Nic Lentz - Rookie.
17) Roberto Ortiz - Rookie.

Underlined text indicates that umpire officiated the most regular season games of all 2016 call-ups during the indicated season.
Tumpane - 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014.
Fagan - 2012.
Hamari - 2015.

Sabermetric formula, hiring: (Games Worked/1000 + Games in 2015/411)/2.

Monday, April 25, 2016

MLB Ejections 011-012 - Lance Barrett (Weiss, Raburn)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Rockies Manager Walt Weiss and LF Ryan Raburn for arguing strike calls in the bottom of the 4th and 6th innings, respectively, of the Pirates-Rockies game. In the 4th, with two out and none on, Rockies batter Nick Hundley took a 1-2 changeup from Pirates pitcher Jeff Locke for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh high (px 1.179, pz 1.979), the call was incorrect. In the 6th, with one out and none on, Raburn took a 1-2 fastball from Locke for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -.817, pz 1.450 [sz_bot 1.53 / MOE 1.447 - visual evidence confirms the pitch was inside but its height relative to the bottom of the strike zone is deemed borderline]), the call was incorrect. At the time of Weiss' ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. At the time of Raburn's ejection, the Pirates were leading, 1-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

These are Lance Barrett (94)'s first and second ejections of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Lance Barrett now has -4 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2*[2 MLB - 4 QOCN] = -4).
Crew Chief Dale Scott now has -1 points in Crew Division (-1 Previous + 2*[0 Incorrect Call] = -1).

These are the 11th and 12th ejections of the 2016 MLB regular season.
This is the 5th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is the 7th player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Raburn was 0-3 (2 SO) in the contest.
This is the Rockies' 1/2nd ejection of 2016, T-1st in the NL West (COL, SD 2; ARI, LAD 1; SF 0).
This is Walt Weiss' first ejection since June 17, 2015 (Jerry Layne; QOC = U [Replay Review]).
This is Ryan Raburn's first career MLB ejection.
This is Lance Barrett's first ejection since August 9, 2015 (Jeff Banister; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies (National League Baseball), 4/25/16
Video: Barrett ejected Weiss, then Raburn, for arguing separate strikeouts ("Read more")

Sunday, April 24, 2016

MLB Ejection 010 - Sean Barber (1; Melvin Upton Jr)

HP Umpire Sean Barber ejected Padres LF Melvin Upton Jr for arguing a strike two call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Cardinals-Padres game. With two out and none on, Upton Jr took two fastballs from Cardinals pitcher Kevin Siegrist for called first and second strikes, before striking out on a later pitch. Replays indicate the first and second strikes were located over the inner edge of home plate and thigh high (px1 -.888, pz1 2.408; px2 -.811, pz2 1.848 [sz_bot 1.650]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 5-5. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 8-5.

This is Sean Barber (29)'s first ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Sean Barber now has 5 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 3 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 5).
Crew Chief Mike Everitt now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).
*QOC would be incorrect had px been greater than |.916|.

This is the 10th ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
This is the 6th player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Upton Jr was 1-4 (SO) in the contest.
This is the Padres' 2nd ejection of 2016, 1st in the NL West (SD 2; ARI, LAD 1; COL, SF 0).
This is Melvin Upton's first ejection since Sept 7, 2015 (Mike Muchlinski; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Sean Barber's first ejection since April 26, 2015 (Lloyd McClendon; QOC = U [USC-NEC]).

Wrap: St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres (National League Baseball), 4/24/16
Video: Barber ejected Upton during argument about balls and strikes ("Read more")

MLB Ejection 009 - Marvin Hudson (2; Nick Ahmed)

HP Umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Diamondbacks SS Nick Ahmed for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 12th inning of the Pirates-Diamondbacks game. With none out and one on, Ahmed took a 3-2 slider from Pirates pitcher Neftali Feliz for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and belt-high (px -1.001, pz 3.172), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Pirates led, 10-8. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 12-10, in 13 innings.

This is Marvin Hudson (51)'s second ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Marvin Hudson now has -3 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect = -3).
Crew Chief Bill Welke now has 0 points in Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 0).

This is the ninth ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
This is the 5th player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Ahmed was 0-4 (SO) in the contest.
This is the D'Backs' 1st ejection of 2016, T-1st in the NL West (ARI, LAD, SD 1; COL, SF 0).
This is Nick Ahmed's first career MLB ejection.
This is Marvin Hudson's first ejection since April 5, 2016 (Tom Wilhelmsen; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (National League Baseball), 4/24/16
Video: The first out of the 10th takes out Snakes' shortstop on post-AB dismissal ("Read more")