Saturday, August 23, 2025

Umpire Ejects Batboy (Ballboy?) After Controversial Call

Umpire Richy Arrendondo ejected a ball boy for arguing a series of calls during a Loons vs River Bandits game in MiLB's Midwest League. Having already tossed Quad Cities catcher Canyon Brown and manager Jesus Azuaje, the umpire mouthed "What are you doing?" toward the ball boy, who used the delivery of replacement baseballs as an opportunity to argue with the umpire, a no-no for auxiliary personnel.

HP Umpire Richy Arredondo ejected River Bandits catcher Canyon Brown, manager Jesus Azuaje, and the ball boy for arguing a ball four call, foul ball no-call, and balk call in the top of the 7th inning of the Loons-River Bandits game of MiLB's High-A Midwest League. With one out and one on, Loons batter Logan Wagner took a 3-1 pitch from River Bandits pitcher Mauricio Veliz for a called fourth ball, resulting in the ejection of catcher Brown. Following a two-RBI double by Jake Gelof, batter Joe Vetrano swung at a pitch for strike two, ruled a wild pitch that allowed Gelof to advance to third base, resulting in an argument from manager Azuaje that batter Vetrano actually fouled the pitch off (Azuaje was ejected here). Shortly thereafter, Gelof scored on a balk, resulting in the ejection of the ball boy for arguing while he delivered replacement baseballs.

Although we don't often encounter it, ball or bat attendant ejections fall under a lower category on officiating's tolerance hierarchy than managers, players, assistant coaches, and bench personnel. Attendants (in this case, a ball boy) are considered auxiliary personnel, are supposed to be impartial (e.g., not to argue or have a competing interest in the game and not to favour one team over the other), and are to be dismissed if they fail to maintain neutrality, as the ball boy did during this game.

Wrap: Great Lakes Loons vs Quad Cities River Bandits (Midwest Lg), 8/21/25 | Video as follows:

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

MLB Ejection 135 - Roberto Ortiz (5; José Caballero)

2B Umpire Roberto Ortiz ejected Yankees RF José Caballero (Replay Review decision that upheld out call/pace of play/disengagement no-call; QOCY) in the top of the 10th inning of the #Yankees-#Rays game. With one out and none on, Yankees batter José Caballero attempted to steal second base during Aaron Judge's at bat, thrown out by Rays catcher Hunter Feduccia to second baseman Brandon Lowe and affirmed as an out (call stands) upon Replay Review as the result of a manager's challenge by Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Replays do not conclusively indicate whether Lowe tagged Caballero while he was off the base, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 6-3. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 6-4, in 10 innings.

This is Roberto Ortiz (40)'s 5th ejection of 2025.
*Prior to the caught stealing, Caballero appeared to be awarded second base on a disengagement balk as a result of pitcher Pete Fairbanks throwing over to first base three times unsuccessfully during the same at-bat. However, replays indicate that after the second disengagement and pickoff attempt, 1B Umpire Ben May called "Time" to replace the baseball. As Fairbanks never re-engaged the pitcher's plate/rubber and thus HP Umpire Chad Fairchild never put the ball back into play, the ball never became live, the third "throw" did not legally occur, and, therefore there was no third "disengagement." Had R1 Caballero been "out" during the dead ball pickoff attempt, the out call would not have stood either.
Official Baseball Rule 5.12: "When an umpire suspends play, they shall call “Time.” At the umpire-in-chief’s call of “Play,” the suspension is lifted and play resumes. Between the call of “Time” and the call of “Play” the ball is dead."
OBR 5.12 continued: "After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes their place on the pitcher’s plate with a new ball or the same ball in their possession and the plate umpire calls 'Play.'"

This is the 135th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 39th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 73 Managers, 23 Coaches, 39 Players.
This is New York's 13th ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL East (NYY 13; BOS, TOR 7; BAL 5; TB 4).
This is José Caballero's first career MLB ejection.
This is Roberto Ortiz's 5th ejection of 2025, 1st since August 12 (Don Kelly; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Washington Nationals, 8/20/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 134 - Todd Tichenor (2; Miguel Cairo)

HP Umpire Todd Tichenor ejected Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo (ball two call to Mark Vientos; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Mets-#Nationals game. With one out and one on, Mets batter Vientos took a 1-1 curveball from Nationals pitcher Cole Henry for a called second ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and belt-high (px -1.17, pz 3.34), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 5-4. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Todd Tichenor (13)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.
This pitch was located 5.06 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 134th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 73rd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 73 Managers, 23 Coaches, 38 Players.
This is Washington's 6th ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL East (WAS 6; MIA, NYM 3; PHI 2; ATL 1).
This is Miguel Cairo's 3rd ejection of 2025, 1st since August 2 (Chris Guccione; QOC = U [Check Swing]).
This is Todd Tichenor's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since Aug 10 (Johnny Washington; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Washington Nationals, 8/20/25 | Video as follows:

Monday, August 18, 2025

MLB Ejection 133 - Mark Ripperger (3; John Schneider)

HP Umpire Mark Ripperger ejected Blue Jays manager John Schneider (strike three call to Davis Schneider; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #BlueJays-#Pirates game. With none out and none on, Blue Jays batter Schneider took a 1-2 curveball from Pirates pitcher Evan Sisk for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow beneath the knee (px 0.13, pz 1.51 [sz_bot 1.47 / RAD 1.35]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 2-2. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Mark Ripperger (90)'s 3rd ejection of 2025.
*This pitch was located 2.88 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 133rd ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 72nd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 72 Managers, 23 Coaches, 38 Players.
This is Toronto's 7th ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL East (NYY 12; BOS, TOR 7; BAL 5; TB 4).
This is John Schneider's 3rd ejection of 2025, 1st since July 13 (Tripp Gibson; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).
This is Mark Ripperger's 3rd ejection of 2025, 1st since June 29 (Dave Martinez; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 8/18/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 132 - James Hoye (5; Mike Shildt)

HP Umpire James Hoye ejected Padres manager Mike Shildt (Replay Review decision that overturned Xander Bogaert's HR to fan interference/out; QOCN) in the bottom of the 2nd inning of the #Giants-#Padres game. With none out and none on, Padres batter Xander Bogaerts hit a 3-1 fastball from Giants pitcher Robbie Ray on a fly ball to left field, whereupon outfield Heliot Ramos attempted to catch the fly ball as a fan did as well, ruled a home run by 2B Umpire DJ Reyburn and overturned to fan interference/out upon Replay Review as the result of a Crew Chief Review. Replays do not clearly and convincingly suggest whether or not the spectator reached out of the stands and over the playing field (and in doing so hindered the fielder), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Giants were leading, 4-0. The Giants ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is James Hoye (92)'s 5th ejection of 2025.
*The initial call's QOC may very well be Correct; however, the decision to overturn the original ruling was incorrect, for lack of clear and convincing evidence with which to overturn or confirm it.
Official Baseball Rules Definition: "Spectator interference occurs when a spectator (or an object thrown by the spectator) hinders a player’s attempt to make a play on a live ball, by going onto the playing field, or reaching out of the stands and over the playing field."

This is the 132nd ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 71st manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 71 Managers, 23 Coaches, 38 Players.
This is San Diego's 8th ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL West (SD 8; ARI 5; SF 4; LAD 3; COL 2).
This is Mike Shildt's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since July 8 (Brian Walsh; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is James Hoye's 5th ejection of 2025, 1st since July 20 (Tom Mansolino; QOC = U-c [Check Swing]).

Wrap: San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres, 8/18/25 | Video as follows:

Sunday, August 17, 2025

MLB Ejections 130-1 - Carapazza, Lentz (NYY-STL x2)

3B Umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Yankees coach Tanner Swanson and HP Umpire Nic Lentz ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (balls/strikes to Trent Grisham) in the 3rd and 7th inning of the #Yankees-#Cardinals game. In the 3rd, with one out and two on, Yankees batter Trent Grisham took a 2-2 sinker from Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 1.13, pz 2.61), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 3-0. In the 7th, with none out and none on, Yankees batter Grisham took 1-1 and 2-1 pitches from Cardinals pitcher Kyle Leahy for called second and third balls. Replays indicate the 1-1 pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the midpoint (px -0.42, pz 3.63) while the 2-1 pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the midpoint (px -0.64, pz 3.41 [sz_top 3.58]), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 4-3. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

This is Vic Carapazza (19)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.
This is Nic Lentz (59)'s 3rd ejection of 2025.

These are the 130th and 131st ejections of 2025.
This is the 70th manager ejection of 2025. 
This is the 23rd coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 70 Managers, 23 Coaches, 38 Players.
This is New York's 12th ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL East (NYY 12; BOS 7; TOR 6; BAL 5; TB 4).
This is St Louis' 5th ejection of 2025, 2nd in the NL Central (CHC 6; PIT, STL 5; CIN 4; MIL 2).
This is Tanner Swanson's first career MLB ejection.
This is Oliver Marmol's 5th ejection of 2025, 1st since July 13 (Brennan Miller; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Vic Carapazza's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since August 1 (Bryce Harper; QOC = U [Check Swing]).
This is Nic Lentz's 3rd ejection of 2025, 1st since June 1 (Taylor Walls; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs St Louis Cardinals, 8/17/25 | Video as follows: