Friday, September 11, 2015

MLB Ejection 198: Mark Carlson (3; Buck Showalter)

HP Umpire Mark Carlson ejected Orioles Manager Buck Showalter for arguing warnings (non-ejection) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Royals-Orioles game. With one out and one on, Orioles batter Chris Davis took a 0-1 fastball from Royals pitcher Franklin Morales for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and hit Davis in the lower back; there were a total of two HBP in the game (one by Morales, one by Orioles pitcher Mychal Givens), the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 9-6. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 14-8.

This is Mark Carlson (6)'s third ejection of 2015.
Mark Carlson now has 16 points in the UEFL Standings (14 Previous + 2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable = 16).
Crew Chief Mark Carlson now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 Irrecusable Call = 4).

This is the 198th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 94th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Orioles' 5th ejection of 2015, T-3rd in the AL East (TOR 11; BOS 9; BAL, NYY, TB 5).
This is Buck Showalter's 2nd ejection of 2015, 1st since June 4 (Brian Gorman; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Mark Carlson's first ejection since August 18, 2015 (Ned Yost; QOC = U [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles, 9/11/15
Video: Tempers flare after 8th inning HBP, Showalter tossed arguing for Morales' ejection (BAL)

Jim Wolf Leaves LAD-ARI After Foul Ball to Face

HP Umpire Jim Wolf left Friday's Dodgers-Diamondbacks game after a foul ball deflected onto his facemask. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, D-Backs batter Nick Ahmed fouled a first-pitch 97-mph fastball from Dodgers pitcher Pedro Baez back onto the right side of Wolf's facemask, knocking the traditional-style mask off Wolf's face and causing the veteran umpire to drop to his knees.

Wolf completed the bottom half of the inning (one additional batter) before departing the game. 1B Umpire Alan Porter took over behind the plate, with 2B Umpire Brian O'Nora sliding over to first base and 3B Umpire Mark Ripperger remaining on the left side of the infield. Later in the game, Arizona broadcast cameras showed Wolf in street attire speaking with Porter during the 6th inning intermission.

Wolf previously suffered a head injury after taking a foul ball to the facemask during a June 2014 game.

Video: Wolf is knocked to the ground by a fouled-off fastball to the face (ARI)

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

MLB Ejections 196-197: Bill Welke (3-4; Votto, Price)

HP Umpire Bill Welke ejected Reds 1B Joey Votto and Manager Bryan Price for arguing a strike two call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Pirates-Reds game. With one out and two on, Votto took a 1-1 sinker from Pirates pitcher Tony Watson for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh high (px -1.056, pz 1.951), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 5-3. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

These are Bill Welke (52)'s third and fourth ejections of 2015.
Bill Welke now has -3 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Previous + 2*[2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call] = -3).
Crew Chief Laz Diaz now has -3 points in Crew Division (-3 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = -3).

These are the 196th and 197th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 88th player ejection of 2015. Prior to ejection, Votto was 1-3 (2 SO) in the contest.
This is the 93rd Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Reds' 8/9th ejection of 2015, 1st in the NL Central (CIN 9; PIT 8; CHC, MIL, STL 6).
This is Joey Votto's 3rd ejection of 2015, 1st since August 2 (Joe West; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Bryan Price's 3rd ejection of 2015, 1st since May 23 (Jim Reynolds; QOC = U [Pre-game/NEC]).
This is Bill Welke's first ejection since July 4, 2015 (Brayan Pena; QOC = U-C [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds, 9/9/15
Video: Votto adamantly disputes a called second strike before head-butting Welke; Price tossed, too (CIN)

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

MLB Ejection 195: Tripp Gibson (5; Mike Scioscia)

3B Umpire Tripp Gibson ejected Angels Manager Mike Scioscia for arguing a strike three (check swing) call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Dodgers-Angels game. With two out and three on, Angels batter Kole Calhoun attempted to check his swing on a 0-2 fastball from Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw. This play is under further review by the UEFL Appeals Board (Check Swing). At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 6-2. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Tripp Gibson (73)'s fifth ejection of 2015.
Tripp Gibson now has ? points in the UEFL Standings (14 Previous + 2 MLB + ? = ?).
Crew Chief Mark Carlson now has ? points in Crew Division (3 Previous + ? Call = ?).

This is the 195th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 92nd Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Angels' 4th ejection of 2015, T-4th in the AL West (HOU, SEA 6; TEX 5; LAA, OAK 4).
This is Mike Scioscia's 3rd ejection of 2015, 1st since August 1 (Chris Segal; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Tripp Gibson's first ejection since June 28, 2015 (Mike Napoli; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 9/8/15
Video: Calhoun tries checking his swing on a 0-2 pitch, but leaves the bases loaded with a strikeout (LAD)
Video: Scioscia is tossed then jaunts out to shallow left field to dispute Gibson's strike three call (LAA)

Monday, September 7, 2015

MLB Ejection 194: Mike Muchlinski (2; Melvin Upton, Jr)

HP Umpire Mike Muchlinski ejected Padres CF Melvin Upton, Jr. for arguing a strike two call in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Rockies-Padres game. With none out and none on, Upton took a 2-1 fastball from Rockies pitcher John Axford for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh high (px .885, pz 2.095), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Rockies were leading, 6-4. The Rockies ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Mike Muchlinski (76)'s second ejection of 2015.
Mike Muchlinski now has -1 points in the UEFL Standings (-5 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct = -1).
Crew Chief Mike Winters now has 7 points in Crew Division (6 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 7).

This is the 194th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 87th player ejection of 2015. Prior to ejection, M Upton was 0-1 (BB) in the contest.
This is the Padres' 16th ejection of 2015, 1st in the NL West (SD 16; LAD, SF 8; COL 5; ARI 4).
This is Melvin Upton's first ejection since May 14, 2014, [as BJ] (Lance Barrett; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Mike Muchlinski's first ejection since August 1, 2015 (Lloyd McClendon; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres, 9/7/15
Video: After grounding out, Upton grieves the early strike call and gets sent packing two outs early (SD)

MLB Ejection 193: Marvin Hudson (3; Dan Jennings)

HP Umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Marlins Manager Dan Jennings for arguing a strike one call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Brewers-Marlins game. With two out and none on, Marlins batter Derek Dietrich took a 0-0 curveball from Brewers pitcher Zach Davies for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -.396, pz 1.267 [sz_bot 1.440 / MOE 1.357]), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 9-1. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 9-1.

This is Marvin Hudson (51)'s third ejection of 2015.
Marvin Hudson now has -2 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Hunter Wendelstedt now has 10 points in Crew Division (10 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 10).

This is the 193rd ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 91st Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Marlins' 4th ejection of 2015, T-4th in the NL East (WAS 7; NYM, PHI 5; ATL, MIA 4).
This is Dan Jennings' 3rd ejection of 2015, 1st since August 7 (David Rackley; QOC = Y-C [Check Swing]).
This is Marvin Hudson's first ejection since May 20, 2015 (Matt Williams; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Miami Marlins, 9/7/15
Video: Jennings is run after complaining about strike one from the dugout in the 7th inning (MIA)

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Running Lane Interference and Advancing to 1st Base

Running (runner's) lane interference out calls involving the 45-foot line between home plate and first base have produced discussions and ejections throughout the 2015 season, most recently on an RLI no-call in San Diego by HP Umpire Ted Barrett on Dodgers batter-runner (BR) Andre Ethier, resulting in a three-run error on a throw down the right field line. So what makes some BRs guilty of RLI and some not? Stay tuned to find out:

Some broadcasters, like Ray Fosse, do not grasp
the rule ("the running path no longer exists" is,
obviously, a completely inaccurate statement).
The Rule: 5.09(a)(11) (2014 OBR Rule 6.05(k)) states that a batter is out when, "In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead." The rule's comment clarifies what exactly is included in the running lane: "The lines marking the three-foot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane or on the lines marking the lane." As the first base bag is physically located in fair territory, the BR is allowed to exit the three-foot running lane "in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first base." Essentially, the lane and first base share only that portion of the foul line marked by the white painted line ("chalk line").

This RLI no-call was correct primarily because
of the poor throw, but also because B1 appeared
to comply with the lane restriction of the rule.
The Interpretation: Jim Evans addresses a key exclusion of the exiting-the-lane courtesy afforded to runners in the immediate vicinity of first base: "A runner who has advanced the entire distance from home plate to first in fair territory making no effort to run within the lane is not extended the same leniency as the runner who runs in the lane as required and then cuts into fair territory near the base to touch it." Wendelstedt discusses quality of the throw: "The determination is not whether the throw is true, but whether it could still reasonably retire the runner."

Comment: RLI only occurs when B1 interferes with the fielder taking throw at first base (usually first baseman F3 or, if a bunt, second baseman F4). It is the responsibility of the fielder making the throw (usually catcher F2 or pitcher F1, possibly F3 or F5 on a bunt, etc.) to ensure that the throw could reasonably retire the runner if not for the potential interference. If the throw cannot reasonably retire the runner, it is not RLI.

Jurisdiction: Though either the home plate or first base umpire may technically make this call, the plate umpire has primary responsibility for actions of the batter-runner, including possible RLI.

Sample Ejection (and Argument) Plays Regarding Runner's Lane Interference (or No-Calls):
7/13/13: MLB Ejection 095-Carapazza (Gardenhire). In this ejection, B1 Clete Thomas hits a grounder in front of the pitcher's mound, fielded by F1, whose throw to first base is not caught by F3. PU Carapazza ruled B1 Thomas out for RLI, ruling that Thomas ran the entire length from home to first in fair territory and outside of the three-foot lane, and, in doing so, interfered with F3 taking the throw at first base. (QOCY. Replays indicate...Interference [BR out of lane, reasonable quality throw. Because he ran entire length to first base out of lane, he is not given the exit-the-lane courtesy/exemption].)

8/13/14: MLB Ejection 152-Davis (Girardi). In this ejection, B1 Stephen Drew hits a grounder infant of home plate, fielded by F2, whose throw to first base sails into right field. PU Davis ruled B1 Drew ran outside of the lane in fair territory, and interfered with F3 taking the throw at first base. (QOCN. Replays indicate...No Interference [BR out of lane, throw could not have reasonably retired runner].)

8/17/15: MLB Ejections 164|5-Knight (Fuld, Melvin). In this pair of ejections, B1 Sam Fuld bunts a ball to F2, whose throw to first base hits B1 and is not caught by F3. PU Knight ruled B1 Fuld ran outside the lane in fair territory, and in doing so interfered with F3 taking the throw at first base. (QOCY. Replays indicate...Interference [BR out of lane entire distance to first base, reasonable quality throw]).

9/6/15: Non Ejection-Barrett (Murphy). In this play, B1 Andre Ethier hits a grounder to F1 Nick Vincent, whose throw to first base eludes the outstretched glove of a leaping F3. PU Barrett ruled no interference on the play because (1) B1 Ethier complied with the runner's lane rule and (2) F1's throw was wild; B1 did not interfere with F3. Had the throw been more accurate, it is likely that RLI still would not have been called due to B1's compliance with the rule (QOCY. Replays indicate...No Interference [BR ran within lane, throw could not have reasonably retired runner].)