Cronenworth Runs Into Umpire, Ruled Out at 2nd Base

Padres baserunner Jake Cronenworth ran into 2B Umpire Ryan Wills on an infield ground ball as he tried to reach second base, falling over and allowing the Cubs plenty of time to get the out. Should this have been umpire interference or is this nothing...and where should an umpire stand on a play at second base?

To begin, this collision is not umpire interference as there are only two forms of umpire interference in the rulebook: one, when the umpire interferes with the catcher's throw to retire a runner (or interferes with the catcher returning the ball to the pitcher); and, two, when the umpire working inside (as Wills did here) gets hit by a batted ball before the ball has passed an infielder, provided it did not first touch the pitcher.

Thus, there is no umpire interference and no reason to declare the ball dead: 2B Umpire Wills is considered part of the field as Cronenworth runs into him and the out call prevails.

As for position, although an initial stance of Deep B along the infield grass is proper, perhaps we can borrow from the wild pitch principle of clearing the catcher to, instead, "clear the base path" (or potential base path, which includes the baseline) and thus avoid the likelihood of a runner running into the back of an umpire preparing to take a play at the action base.

Video as follows:

Aaron Judge's Bullpen Crashing Catch & Carry

After Dodgers batter Max Muncy demonstrated how to legally run within the runner's lane and was therefore safe when hit in the back by Yankees catcher Jose Trevino's throw, New York outfielder Aaron Judge crashed through the bullpen fence and gate in right field while catching JD Martinez's fly ball.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone soon left the dugout to argue as the umpires awarded R1 Muncy second base on the play, and Crew Chief Marvin Hudson had to explain baseball's catch-and-carry rule to the New York skipper, who had originally sought to challenge the boundary and runner placement call. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts chuckled when told Boone was not challenging the play after all.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(1) states that a batter is out when their "fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder." In order for the catch to be legal, the fielder "must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface and neither foot inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area."

OBR 5.06(b)(3)(C) states that each runner (other than the batter) may advance one base when "A fielder, after catching a fly ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area." The one base award is made from the runner's "last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out of play area."

Accordingly, fielder Judge legally caught the fly ball while still on the playing surface, but then stepped into the bullpen and out of play, resulting in a dead ball. Pursuant to the rules, that meant R1 Muncy—obliged to remain on or go back to first base to tag up on the caught fly ball—was awarded second base on Judge's catch and carry.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 086 - Charlie Ramos (1; John Schneider)

HP Umpire Charlie Ramos ejected Blue Jays manager John Schneider (strike one call to Vlad Guerrero; QOCN) in the top of the 9th inning of the #BlueJays-#Mets game. With two out and one on (R2), Guerrero took a first-pitch cutter from Mets pitcher David Robertson for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -1.18, pz 1.45 [sz_bot 1.68 / RAD 1.56 / MOE 1.48]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 1-1. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

This is Charlie Ramos (111)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

This pitch was located 3.19 horizontal and 0.36 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 86th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 40th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 40 Managers, 37 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Toronto's 2nd ejection of 2023, T-4th in the AL East (NYY 6; BAL, BOS 3; TOR, TB 2).

This is John Schneider's 1st ejection since Sept 6, 2022 (Jeff Nelson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Charlie Ramos' first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Mets, 6/3/23 | Video as follows:

Chicago Walks Off After Wild Pitch Hits Cory Blaser in Head

Chicago defeated Detroit on an extra-inning walk off wild pitch after Tigers pitcher Jose Cisnero’s fastball to Tim Anderson hit HP Umpire Cory Blaser directly and caromed away, allowing White Sox baserunner Yoan Moncada to score from third base. Let’s talk bonus runner, interference, and humanity.

As for a game-ending injury a la a pitch to the mask, there is fortuitously no debate of stay in vs come out: with the game over, there is no doubt the umpire will get immediate medical attention.

Video as follows:

Umpires Forget Count - How To Recover a Lost Number

Baseball is primarily a sport of counting: four balls, three strikes, three outs, and whoever's score is greater than the other team's usually wins. HP Umpire Ryan Additon momentarily lost track of the count in Minnesota after calling a strike and forgot to add it on, Twins batter Royce Lewis remaining at home plate Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee held up three fingers. After crew consultation, the count was fixed and batter Lewis properly declared out on three strikes.

Umpires behind the plate generally use an indicator (sometimes incorrectly termed a "clicker" on TV) to keep track of balls and strikes, but sometimes during the course of a long game or season, it's easy to lose focus. At the MLB (and MiLB) level, and for those NCAA with video replay capability, fortunately, checking the count is a reviewable play—it is a Crew Chief review so no manager has to challenge it.

How do you to count to three? You just Add it on | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 085 - DJ Reyburn (2; Corbin Burnes)

HP Umpire DJ Reyburn ejected Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes (strike one call to Victor Caratini; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Brewers-#Reds game. With none out and none on, Caratini took a first-pitch curveball from Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the midpoint (px 0.87, pz 3.05 [sz_top 3.28]), the call was correct.*

This is DJ Reyburn (17)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

This pitch was located 0.53 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 85th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 37th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 37 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Milwaukee's 5th ejection of 2023, 2nd in the NL Central (STL 6; MIL 5; CIN, PIT 3; CHC 2).

This is Corbin Burnes' first career MLB ejection.

This is DJ Reyburn's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 5 (Tim Anderson; QOC = U [Unsporting]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds, 6/2/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 084 - Marvin Hudson (3; Jeff Banister)

HP Umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Diamondbacks bench coach Jeff Banister (strike three call to Pavin Smith; QOCY) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the #Rockies-#Dbacks game. With two out and none on, Diamondbacks batter Smith took a 2-2 fastball from Rockies pitcher Connor Seabold for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.60, pz 2.65), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rockies were leading, 1-0. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Marvin Hudson (51)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

This pitch was located 18.17 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 84th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 9th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 36 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Arizona's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL West (ARI 5; COL 4; LAD 3; SD 2; SF 0).

This is Jeff Banister's 1st ejection since August 16, 2022 (Cory Blaser; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Marvin Hudson's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 28 (Pedro Grifol; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs Arizona Diamondbacks, 6/1/23| Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 083 - Stu Scheurwater (1; Phil Nevin)

HP Umpire Stu Scheurwater ejected Angels manager Phil Nevin (strike three call; QOCN) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Angels-#Astros game. With one out and the bases loaded, Angels batter Taylor Ward took a 3-2 sinker from Astros pitcher Hector Neris for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.69, pz 1.45 [sz_bot 1.69 / RAD 1.57 / MOE 1.49]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 4-2. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Stu Scheurwater (85)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located -0.48 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 83rd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 39th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 36 Players, 8 Coaches.

This is LA's 2nd ejection of 2023, 4th in the AL West (SEA 4; HOU, OAK 3; LAA 2; TEX 1).

This is Phil Nevin's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (Will Little; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

This is Stu Scheurwater's 1st ejection since August 23, 2022 (Brandon Drury; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Angels vs Houston Astros, 6/1/23 | Video as follows:

Call of the Month - May 2023

Umpires Jansen Visconti and Pat Hoberg combine for May 2023's Calls of the Month as tmac takes us through a fan interference play in Seattle, called by 1B Umpire Visconti, and a tag play in Washington, called by HP Umpire Hoberg.

Both plays feature touches nearly imperceptible in real time (and not necessarily on replay either) and that's why Visconti and Hoberg are our May 2023 co-calls of the month.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 082 - Jordan Baker (1; Dylan Floro)

HP Umpire Jordan Baker ejected Marlins pitcher Dylan Floro (balls/strikes; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Padres-#Marlins game. With none out and none on, Padres batter Fernando Tatis walked, stole second and advanced to third base on a throwing error, Juan Soto walked, Xander Bogaerts singled, Rougned Odor reached on a fielder's choice with a throwing error, and Matt Carpenter doubled. Replays indicate all callable pitches during Floro's appearance in the game were properly officiated, including ball four to Tatis to start the inning, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 8-4. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 9-4.

This is Jordan Baker (71)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

This is the 82nd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 36th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 38 Managers, 36 Players, 8 Coaches.

This is Miami's 7th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL East (MIA 7; PHI 5; NYM 2; ATL 1; WAS 0).

This is Dylan Floro's first career MLB ejection.

This is Jordan Baker's 1st ejection since August 26, 2021 (John Schneider; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Miami Marlins, 5/30/23 | Video as follows: