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Saturday, August 13, 2016

MLB Ejections 133|134 - Eric Cooper (2|3; Anderson, Weiss)

HP Umpire Eric Cooper ejected Rockies P Tyler Anderson for throwing at Phillies batter Maikel Franco and Rockies Manager Walt Weiss for arguing Anderson's ejection in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Rockies-Phillies game. With none out and none on, Franco took a first-pitch fastball from Anderson for a hit-by-pitch, having hit a three-run home run in his preceding at-bat. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and struck Franco on his knee, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 3-0. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

This is Eric Cooper (56)'s second, third ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Eric Cooper now has 1 point in the UEFL Standings (-3 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable] = 1).
Crew Chief Gary Cederstrom now has 9 points in Crew Division (7 Previous + 2*[1 Irrecusable] = 9).

This is the 133rd, 134th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 64th player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Anderson's line was 3.0 IP, 4 ER, HR, HBP.
This is the 54th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is Colorado's 4/5th ejection of 2016, 1st in the NL West (COL 5; ARI, LAD, SF 4; SD 3).
This is Tyler Anderson's first career MLB ejection.
This is Walt Weiss' 2nd ejection of 2016, 1st since April 25 (Lance Barrett; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Eric Cooper's first ejection since August 4, 2016 (Khris Davis; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 8/13/16 | Video available via "Read more"

MLB Ejection 132 - Doug Eddings (2; Marwin Gonzalez)

HP Umpire Doug Eddings ejected Astros 1B Marwin Gonzalez for arguing a strike two call in the top of the 9th inning of the Astros-Blue Jays game. With none out and none on, Gonzalez took a 0-1 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Roberto Osuna for a called second strike before striking out swinging on an ensuing pitch. Replays indicate the 0-1 pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh high (px -1.151, pz 2.001), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Blue Jays were leading, 4-2. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Doug Eddings (88)'s second ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Doug Eddings now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (4 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 2).
Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has 5 points in Crew Division (5 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 5).

This is the 132nd ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 63rd player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Gonzalez was 1-4 (SO) in the contest.
This is Houston's 6th ejection of 2016, 1st in the AL West (HOU 6; OAK 5; LAA, TEX 4; SEA 1).
This is Marwin Gonzalez's first ejection since August 26, 2012 (David Rackley; QOC = Y [Out/Safe]).
This is Doug Eddings' first ejection since May 16, 2016 (Brad Ausmus; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Houston Astros vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 8/13/16 | Video available via "Read more"

Friday, August 12, 2016

MLB Ejection 131 - Bill Miller (4; Craig Counsell)

HP Umpire Bill Miller ejected Brewers Manager Craig Counsell for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Reds-Brewers game. Replays indicate all nine callable pitches thrown by Reds pitcher Michael Lorenzen to Brewers batters Scooter Gennett, Chris Carter, Hernan Perez, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis during the relevant half inning were properly officiated (9/9 = 100% Accuracy), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 7-0. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Bill Miller (26)'s fourth ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Bill Miller now has 11 points in the UEFL Standings (7 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 11).
Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 4).

This is the 131st ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 53rd Manager ejection of 2016.
This is Milwaukee's 1st ejection of 2016, T-4th in the NL Central (PIT 12; CIN 6; CHC 3; MIL, STL 1).
This is Craig Counsell's first ejection since August 15, 2015 (Fieldin Culbreth; QOC = U [Replay Review]).
This is Bill Miller's first ejection since June 29, 2016 (Andy Green; QOC = N [Runner's Lane Interference]).

Wrap: Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 8/12/16 | Video available via "Read more"

Alternate Link: Counsel gets run between innings under the pretense of a double switch (MIL)

Score it 1-U1-6-3 - The Umpire-Assisted Double Play

An infield ground ball deflected off an umpire, resulting in a double play during the Cubs-Dragons (A) game.

Double deflection; ball remains live.
With none out and one on (R1) in the top of the 5th inning, South Bend Cubs batter P.J. Higgins hit a ground ball back to the mound and off pitcher Alex Webb's back, deflecting into the legs of 1B Umpire Isaias Barba, working inside due to the runner on first, and caromed to shortstop Luis Gonzalez, who stepped on second base and threw to first baseman James Vasquez for the twin killing.

Replays indicate the ball indeed made contact with F1 Webb before striking U1 Barba, who himself displayed an abbreviated "safe" mechanic to indicate the ball was to remain live; HP Umpire Tom Hanahan, like Barba, likewise properly made no "Time" call, instead, keeping the play alive.

Although most batted balls that end up striking a B or C-positioned infield umpire (e.g., a second base umpire working on the infield grass) result in a dead ball, this wasn't the case in Dayton. Here's why:

Official Baseball Rule 5.06(c)(6) states that a batted ball becomes dead when, "A fair ball touches a runner or an umpire on fair territory before it touches an infielder including the pitcher, or touches an umpire before it has passed an infielder other than the pitcher; runners advance, if forced."

In other words, because the ball first touched pitcher Webb, the first part of the sentence takes precedence and, accordingly, Rule 5.06(c)(6) does not apply, meaning the ball was not dead when it subsequently touched U1 Barba (NOTE: the grammatical structure of this rule incorrectly suggests that, logically, the two conditions are independent of each other when, in fact, the first criterion, if excluded by the failure of its own dependent clause [i.e., if "before it touches an infielder including the pitcher" is not satisfied], supersedes the second). Had the ball not touched pitcher Webb (and simply passed him) and instead first touched umpire Barba, all else equal, the second part of the sentence would indicate that the play should be ruled dead.

Put simply, I would modify 5.06(c)(6) by adding just one word: [Ball is dead when-] "A fair ball touches a runner or umpire before it has touched any infielder, including the pitcher, or first touches an umpire before it has passed an infielder other than the pitcher." This is less confusing than present-day 5.06(c)(6)'s ambiguous language. Even more simply, 5.06(c)(6) has no bearing on any play unless the ball's first touch is of an umpire (or runner). (This is my non-official interpretation.)

OBR 5.06(c) also prescribes the outcome of a dead ball which results from 5.06(c)(6): "The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out." In the aforementioned play, had the ball not touched F1 Webb and a dead ball resulted upon the first touch of U1 Barba, the proper call would have been to award the batter first base, which would have subsequently forced R1 to second base (if the only baserunner began the play on second [or third] base, however, [s]he would have been returned to second [or third] base, since there would be no forced reason to advance due to the batter becoming a runner and being awarded first base). For scoring purposes, the batter awarded first base would be credited with a single.

Video available via "Read more"

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

MLB Ejection 130 - Pat Hoberg (3; Don Cooper)

HP Umpire Pat Hoberg ejected White Sox Pitching Coach Don Cooper for arguing a ball three call in the bottom of the 1st inning of the Royals-White Sox game. With none out and none on, Royals batter Paulo Orlando took a 2-2 fastball from White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana for a called third ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh high (px -.998, pz 2.454), that the ball two pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and above the midpoint (px -.772, pz 3.515 [sz_top 3.500]), and that ball one was located off the plate (px 1.311), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0.

This is Pat Hoberg (31)'s third ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Pat Hoberg now has 11 points in the UEFL Standings (6 Previous + 3 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 11).
Crew Chief Mike Everitt now has 9 points in Crew Division (8 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 9).

This is the 130th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is Chicago's 7th ejection, 1st in the AL Central (CWS 7; CLE, DET, KC, MIN 5).
This is Don Cooper's 2nd ejection of 2016, 1st since June 24 (Angel Hernandez; QOC = Y [Balk]).
This is Pat Hoberg's first ejection since July 27, 2016 (Larry Bowa; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals, 8/10/16 | Video available via "Read more"

MLB Ejection 129 - Cory Blaser (2; Barry Bonds)

HP Umpire Cory Blaser ejected Marlins Hitting Coach Barry Bonds for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Giants-Marlins game. With two out and two on, Marlins batter Chris Johnson took a 2-2 slider from Giants pitcher Will Smith for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and belt high (px 1.311, pz 2.872), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Giants were leading, 1-0. The Giants ultimately won the contest, 1-0.

This is Cory Blaser (89)'s second ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Cory Blaser now has -3 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -3).
Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has 4 points in Crew Division (4 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 4).

This is the 129th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is Miami's 4th ejection of 2016, 3rd in the NL East (ATL 7; NYM 5; MIA 4; WAS 3; PHI 1).
This is Barry Bonds' first ejection since August 4, 2006 (Ron Kulpa; QOC = U [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Cory Blaser's first ejection since May 6, 2016 (AJ Pierzynski; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Francisco Giants vs. Miami Marlins, 8/10/16 | Video available via "Read more"

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Injury - Marvin Hudson Tweaks Leg, Leaves & Returns

1B Umpire Marvin Hudson suffered a leg injury while tracking a foul ball, and temporarily left Sunday's game as a result.

With two out in the top of the 1st inning of the Angels-Mariners game, Angels batter Albert Pujols hit a foul fly ball past first base and onto the warning track in foul right field. During the play, Hudson appeared to twist his knee while turning toward and running into foul territory.

Crew chief Jim Joyce moved over from his second base position and served as first base umpire, alongside 3B Umpire James Hoye and HP Umpire Gabe Morales, until Hudson returned to the game later on in the contest.

MLB Ejection 128 - Lance Barrett (3; Mike Napoli)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Indians DH Mike Napoli for arguing a strike three call in the top of the 8th inning of the Indians-Yankees game. With none out and none on, Napoli took a 2-2 splitter from Yankees pitcher Tyler Clippard for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the midpoint (px 0.027, pz 3.510 [sz_top 3.230 / MOE 3.313]), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 3-1. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Lance Barrett (94)'s third ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Lance Barrett now has -9 points in the UEFL Standings (-7 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -9).
Crew Chief Dale Scott now has -6 points in Crew Division (-6 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = -6).

This is the 128th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 62nd player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Napoli was 1-4 (3 SO) in the contest.
This is Cleveland's 5th ejection of 2016, T-2nd in the AL Central (CWS 6; CLE, DET, KC, MIN 5).
This is Mike Napoli's first ejection since July 27, 2015 (Toby Basner; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Lance Barrett's first ejection since April 25, 2016 (Ryan Raburn; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees, 8/7/16 | Video available via "Read more"