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Saturday, July 19, 2014

MLB Instant Replay Reviews 738-746: July 19, 2014

July 19, 2014 featured the following MLB Umpire Instant Replay Review decisions:


TypeR#PosUmpireRU#TeamRT#NameInnPreResult

R7382BConroy, Chris12TEX23Ron Washington3SafeOverturned
r7392BDiaz, Laz7CLE27Terry Francona1Not HRConfirmed
R7402BFagan, Clint13PIT29Clint Hurdle6SafeOverturned
r741HPWelke, Tim11PIT30Clint Hurdle8OutConfirmed
r742HPCarapazza, Vic12WAS27Matt Williams1OutConfirmed
R743HPO'Nora, Brian12HOU20Bo Porter3HBPOverturned
R7441BPattillo, Marcus8CWS20Robin Ventura4OutOverturned
R7452BReyburn, DJ12HOU21Bo Porter4SafeOverturned
R7462BWolf, Jim10PHI23Ryne Sandberg7SafeStands

Instant Replay Review Decision Video Clips (MLB.com/MLBAM)
Video 738: TEX@TOR: Rangers challenge call, overturned in 3rd
Video 739: CLE@DET: Brantley's double confirmed in the 1st
Video 740: COL@PIT: Blackmon out stealing after challenge in 6th
Video 741: COL@PIT: CarGo throw out Cutch, confirmed in 8th
Video 742: MIL@WSH: Out at the plate confirmed in the 1st
Video 743: HOU@CWS: Hit by pitch overturned in the 3rd
Video 744: HOU@CWS: Out at first overturned in the 4th
Video 745: HOU@CWS: Abreu out after challenge in the 4th
Video 746: PHI@ATL: Johnson safe as call stands in the 7th

Friday, July 18, 2014

MLB Ejections 126-127: Cory Blaser (1-2; Prado, Gibson)

HP Umpire Cory Blaser ejected Diamondbacks 3B Martin Prado and Manager Kirk Gibson for arguing a strike one call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Cubs-Diamondbacks game. With none out and none on, Prado took a 0-0 fastball from Cubs pitcher Justin Grimm for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and at the top of the knee (px .682, pz 1.648 / sz_bot 1.460), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 5-4. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

These are Cory Blaser (89)'s first, second ejections of the 2014 MLB Regular Season.
Cory Blaser now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 7).
Crew Chief Jim Joyce now has -4 points in Crew Division (-6 Prev + 2 Correct Call = -4).

These are the 126th, 127th ejections of the 2014 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 55th player ejection of 2014. Prior to ejection, Prado was 2-4 in the contest.
This is the D-Backs' 3rd ejection of 2014, 4th in the NL West (COL 7; LAD 6; SF 4; ARI 3; SD 2).
This is Martin Prado's first career MLB ejection.
This is Kirk Gibson's first ejection since June 16, 2014 (Ted Barrett; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).
This is Cory Blaser's first ejection since July 16, 2011 (Jim Tracy; QOC = N [Safe/Out]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7/18/14
Video: Grounding out in the 8th, Prado crosses the line running past Blaser, leading to dual tosses (ARI)

MLB Instant Replay Reviews 729-735: July 18, 2014

July 18, 2014 featured the following MLB Umpire Instant Replay Review decisions:

TypeR#PosUmpireRU#TeamRT#NameInnPreResult
R7292BHudson, Marvin8PIT28Clint Hurdle5SafeStands
R7301BWelke, Tim10COL29Walt Weiss8SafeOverturned
R7311BCarapazza, Vic11MIL16Ron Roenicke7OutOverturned
R732HPBellino, Dan9CWS19Robin Ventura1OutConfirmed
r7331BO'Nora, Brian11HOU19Bo Porter5Not HRConfirmed
R7341BDiMuro, Mike13TB37Joe Maddon5OutOverturned
R7353BHamari, Adam8LAA27Mike Scioscia10SafeOverturned

R736HPWendelstedt, Hunter10TB38Joe Maddon5HBPStands
R7371BMarquez, Alfonso4SEA27Lloyd McClendon16SafeConfirmed

Instant Replay Review Decision Video Clips (MLB.com)
Video 729: COL@PIT: Pirates challenge safe call in the 5th
Video 730: COL@PIT: Rockies challenge safe call in 8th inning
Video 731: MIL@WSH: Brewers challenge out call at first in 7th
Video 732: HOU@CWS: White Sox challenge call at home in 1st
Video 733: HOU@CWS: Umpires review a Castro foul ball in 5th
Video 734: TB@MIN: Rays challenge out all [sic] at first in 5th
Video 735: SEA@LAA: Umpires review safe call at second in 10th
Video 736: TB@MIN: Hit-by-pitch call challenged in the 5th
Video 737: SEA@LAA: Mariners challenge Trout's double in 16th

Case Play 2014-02: Turning Away Interference Double Play

2B Umpire Angel Campos' interference call on the turn of a double play attempt during Friday's Brewers-Nationals game provides us with a quick post-All-Star Break Case Play. This peculiar sequence occurred right out of the gate, in the bottom of the 1st inning with Milwaukee protecting a 1-0 lead. With none out and one on, Nationals batter Anthony Rendon hit a 3-2 fastball on the ground to Brewers shortstop Jean Segura, who threw to second baseman Scooter Gennett as Nationals baserunner R1 Denard Span slid into second base, Span beating the throw, before Gennett threw to first baseman Mark Reynolds ahead of B1 Rendon's arrival.

After Campos' initial and factually correct ruling that Gennett did not tag second base prior to Span's arrival, Span's popped out of his feet-first slide and made contact with Gennett, U2 Campos identifying the interference as Reynolds caught Gennett's throw at first base, good for U1 Vic Carapazza's out call.

In response to Span's post-slide actions, Campos ruled R1 Span out for intentionally interfering with Gennett's attempt to retire B1 at first base, declaring B1 Rendon out for the actions of his teammate, a double play.

After argument from Nationals Manager Matt Williams, 3B Umpire and Crew Chief Bill Miller assembled the umpires: Campos, Carapazza and HP Umpire Chad Fairchild, and after consultation, R1 Span was declared out while B1 Rendon was awarded first base.

Question: Is this the proper call and application of rules? Should both Nationals players have been ruled out, safe, etc.? If so, what runners should be placed (if any) and where (if applicable)? What rule(s) apply?

This Case Play is of the Group variety and expires no earlier than the final out of the final regularly scheduled game Monday, July 21. Participants may receive up to two UEFL points for discussion and solution.

Answer: Pursuant to the Definition of Interference, the ball is dead immediately when interference occurs. As a result, B1's status as a practical manner is irrelevant. If R1 intentionally interfered with a throw, both players are out. If he did not, only B1 is out.

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Washington Nationals, 7/18/14
Video: Brew Crew-Nats game encounters a five-minute first-inning delay on interference play (WAS)

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Discussions: 2014 MLB All-Star Game

Crew Chief Gary Cederstrom leads the All-Star Game umpires as the Mid-Summer Classic's home plate umpire. He is joined in Minnesota by 1B Umpire Jeff Nelson, 2B Umpire Bob Davidson, 3B Umpire Scott Barry, LF Umpire Todd Tichenor and RF Umpire Vic Carapazza. Veteran Jerry Layne serves as the Replay Official at MLBAM headquarters in New York. The UEFL opens the floor for 2014 All-Star Game discussion. Notes include home plate umpire performance according to pitch f/x and UEFL Rules 6-2-b-a (horizontal bound, "Kulpa Rule") and 6-2-b-b (vertical strike zone, "Miller Rule"). Plays include significant plays, if such plays occur.

- 7/15/14, NL@AL: HP Umpire Gary Cederstrom: pfx (87/88 Balls + 29/34 Strikes = 116/122 = 95.1%).

Close or Notable Plays (Green = QOC Correct / Red = QOC Incorrect / Yellow = QOC Irrecusable).
- 1B Umpire Jeff Nelson rules McCutchen safe at first base on diving try, throw by Derek Jeter
- 3B Umpire Scott Barry rotates to call Tulowitzki safe at second on sliding try for a double
- 3B Umpire Scott Barry calls Ramirez safe on dive back to third on pitch off the backstop

Replay Review Records (2014 Season, Opening Day through All-Star Break) - RAP
PU Gary Cederstrom: .250 (2/8).
U1 Jeff Nelson: .500 (4/8).
U2 Bob Davidson: .647 (11/17).
U3 Scott Barry: .833 (5/6).
U4 Todd Tichenor: .556 (5/9).
U5 Vic Carapazza: .800 (8/10)

Crew Chief and Managers' Challenge Success Percentages:
NL Manager Mike Matheny: .211 (4/19), including a Manager's Challenge Success % of .143.
AL Manager John Farrell: .520 (13/25), including a Manager's Challenge Success % of .550.

Monday, July 14, 2014

MLB Ejection & Replay Review Stats: Week 15 Sabermetrics

Ejection & Instant Replay Review Statistics and Sabermetrics are now available for MLB Week 15. As the numbers and trends solidify, Close Call Sports and the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League continues with the strategic statistics reporting, the first measure of umpire-centric sabermetrics in professional baseball. Visit Instant Replay Review Statistics 101: Week 1 Sabermetrics for an introduction to Ejection & Replay Review definitions and terms, including Review Affirmation Percentage (RAP), also known as QOC (Quality of Correctness), Replay Percentage of Success (RPS), alternatively, 1.000 - RAP = RPS, and Manager's Challenge Success Percentage (CSP). Also included is Team Success Percentage (TSP), which includes all Replay Reviews; both Manager's Challenges and Crew Chief Reviews.

With Week 15 of the MLB Regular Season in the books, the UEFL recaps traditional ejections, plus professional baseball's "this time it counts" living experiment with Instant Replay Reviews.

We begin this week's sabermetric analysis with umpire ejections. Games Played: 1423 of 2430.
Ejections: 125 (on pace for 213 [+2 from last wk] Ejections). (Compare to: 180 Ejections in 2013)
"Team most active" (Team with most Ejections): Boston Red Sox - 10 (Rockies, Rangers, Cubs - 7).
"Team least active" (Team with least Ejections): CLE Indians, LA Angels, WAS Nationals - 1.
"Manager ejections leader" (Manager ejected most often): Rick Renteria - 5.
"Player ejections leader" (Player ejection leader): Andrus, Kemp, Murphy, Tulowitzki - 2.
"Umpire leader" (Umpire with most Ejections): Jordan Baker, Dan Bellino, Bill Miller - 5.
"Crew most active" (Crew Chief whose crew has most Ejections): Bill Miller - 12.
"Most accurate umpire" (Umpire with greatest Simple QOC): Mark Carlson - 1.000 in 4/4.
"Overall QOC percentage" (Overall QOC Y value): .742 (69 Y / 24 N) + 32 Irrecusable = 125 Total.
"Team Status Pre-Ejection" (Winning-Losing-Tied [W-L-T] Record prior to Ejection): 27-68-30.
"Team Status Post-Ejection" (Game Record [W-L]): 45-80. (Delta: 18-12; WPCT: .600).

Next up is the category of Instant Replay Reviews.
Replay Reviews & Decisions Rendered: 728 (on pace for 1,243 [+10 from last wk] Replay Reviews)
- Crew Chief Reviews (Replay Reviews initiated by the Umpire Chief): 121 (17%), .711 RAP.
- Manager's Challenges (Replay Reviews initiated by the Club Manager): 607 (83%), .479 RAP.
"Team Most Used" (Made use of Replay Review most often): Toronto Blue Jays - 37.
"Team Least Used" (Least use of Replay): Milwaukee Brewers - 15.
"Manager's Challenge Leaders" (Most challenges filed): John Gibbons - 32.
"Most successful Manager" (Manager with highest CSP): Mike Redmond - .778 (14/18).
"League average Manager" (Average CSP for all Managers): .521.
"Least successful Manager" (Manager with lowest CSP): Mike Matheny - .143 (2/14).
"Most successful team in review" (Team with highest TSP): Atlanta Braves - .750 (12/16).
"Least successful team in review" (Team with lowest TSP): St. Louis Cardinals - .211 (4/19).
"Umpire most questioned" (Most Replay Reviews): Bob Davidson - 17 (.647 RAP).
"Crew most questioned" (Crew Chief whose crew has most Reviews): Bill Miller - 44 (.682 RAP).
"Most accurate umpire" (Umpire with greatest RAP): Chris Guccione - 1.000 in 7/7.
"Ump of greatest overturn" (Umpire with lowest RAP): Tom Woodring - .000 in 0/3.
"Overall affirmation or QOC percentage" (Overall RAP): .518 (377/728 Affirmed Replay Reviews).
Team Status Pre-Review (Winning or Losing prior to review [Win-Loss-Tied]): 243-299-181.
Team Status Post-Review (Game Record [W-L]): 334-389. (Delta: 91-90; WPCT: .503).

Actual data (Raw Data for Replay Reviews):

Sunday, July 13, 2014

MLB Instant Replay Reviews 723-728: July 13, 2014

July 13, 2014 featured the following MLB Umpire Instant Replay Review decisions:

TypeR#PosUmpireRU#TeamRT#NameInnPreResult
R7231BBarrett, Ted11MIA23Mike Redmond4SafeOverturned
R724HPBarber, Sean9TB36Joe Maddon6OutOverturned
R7252BO'Nora, Brian10ATL16Fredi Gonzalez1SafeOverturned
R726HPKellogg, Jeff6CHC35Rick Renteria8OutConfirmed
R7271BGuccione, Chris7COL28Walt Weiss4OutConfirmed
R7281BGorman, Brian7LAD26Don Mattingly7SafeStands

Instant Replay Review Decision Video Clips (MLB.com)
Video 723: MIA@NYM: Marlins challenge safe call in the 4th
Video 724: TOR@TB: Rays challenge out call at the plate in 6th
Video 725: ATL@CHC: Stolen base overturned for an out in 1st
Video 726: ATL@CHC: Castro confirmed out at home plate in 8th
Video 727: MIN@COL: Out confirmed after challenge in the 4th
Video 728: SD@LAD: Safe call at first stands in the 7th