MLB Ejection 002 - Chris Segal (1; Derek Shelton)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Twins manager Derek Shelton (automated ball/strike system challenge & overturn timing; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Twins-#Orioles game. With one out and one on, Twins batter Josh Bell took a 3-2 slider from Orioles pitcher Ryan Helsley for a called fourth ball, overturned to a called third strike upon ABS challenge by pitcher Helsley. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.80, pz 2.43), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 8-6. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 8-6.

This is Chris Segal (96)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

*This pitch was located 0.86 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

Challenges must be made immediately after the umpire’s call (roughly within two seconds after the play).

This is the 2nd ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 2nd manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 2 Managers, 0 Coaches, 0 Players.

This is Minnesota's 1st ejection of 2026, 1st in the AL Central (MIN 1; CWS, CLE, DET, KC 0).

This is Derek Shelton's 1st ejection since August 30, 2024 (Brian Walsh; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Segal's 1st ejection since September 21, 2024 (Pat Murphy; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Minnesota Twins vs Baltimore Orioles, 3/29/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 179 - Chris Segal (2; Pat Murphy)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Brewers manager Pat Murphy (strike one call to Joey Ortiz; QOCN) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Brewers game. With two out and none on, Brewers batter Ortiz took a 1-0 cutter from Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly for a called first strike before striking out. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 1.02, pz 2.48), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 3-0. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 5-0.

This is Chris Segal (96)'s 2nd ejection of 2024.

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

This pitch was located 1.27 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 179th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 89th manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 89 Managers, 30 Coaches, 59 Players.

This is Milwaukee's 9th ejection of 2024, 1st in the NL Central (STL 10; MIL 9; PIT 7; CHC 6; CIN 5).

This is Pat Murphy's 5th ejection of 2024, 1st since August 21 (Brian Walsh; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Segal's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since July 30 (Heliot Ramos; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Milwaukee Brewers, 9/21/24 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 133 - Chris Segal (1; Heliot Ramos)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Giants CF Heliot Ramos (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Athletics-#Giants game. With none out and none on, Ramos took a 3-2 changeup from A's pitcher JP Sears for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and at the midpoint (px -0.40, pz 3.23 [sz_top 3.09 / RAD 3.21 / MOE 3.29]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the A's were leading, 4-0. The A's ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Chris Segal (96)'s 1st ejection of 2024.

*This pitch was located 0.72 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 133rd ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 48th player ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 66 Managers, 19 Coaches, 48 Players.

This is San Francisco's 7th ejection of 2024, 1st in the NL West (SF 7; ARI, SD 6; COL 3; LAD 0).

This is Heliot Ramos' first career MLB ejection.

This is Chris Segal's 1st ejection since July 2, 2022 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants, 7/30/24 | Video as follows:

June 2023 Top 5 Calls of the Month

For June 2023, tmac has selected a Top 5 calls showcasing five MLB umpires whose efficient use of mechanics, positioning, and patience enables them to correctly officiate some difficult plays.

We also pause to remember Northwoods League Umpire Conor McKenzie, who passed away last weekend while en route to officiate a Northwoods League game in Madison.

Top 5 Calls of the Month - June 2023

5. Ben May's plate at the plate in Milwaukee.

4. Jeff Nelson's catcher's interference call in Milwaukee, a day later.

3. Andy Fletcher's legal plate blocking at home in San Francisco.

2. Chris Segal's swim move of a runner in Arlington.

1. Todd Tichenor's dancing out of the way of a foul ball in Kansas City.

Video as follows:

A Circus Play in LA as Giants-Dodgers Run Rules Gamut

Perhaps most known for a circus play in the 11th inning featuring Casey Schmitt's dropped fly ball, Jakob Junis' wild throw, and baserunning blunders by Michael Busch and Mookie Betts, Friday's Giants-Dodgers game in LA ran the rules gamut for umpire David Rackley's crew, with a light failure during live play and a balk vs "starting from scratch" vs disengagement issue scattered about a game that begin with Dodgers rookie pitcher Emmet Sheehan throwing six no-hit innings before being pulled for a bullpen that gave the game away.

In the bottom of the 5th, the stadium lights went out during JD Martinez's fly ball double off the left field wall, preventing Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford from catching left fielder Michael Conforto's relay throw as Dodgers baserunner Betts scored and Will Smith rounded third base, 1B Umpire Chris Segal looking exasperated as the lights went out. Although the stadium lights were shut off due to a trigger-happy operator incorrectly assuming Martinez's fly ball was a home run, this nonetheless falls under the light failure part of the rulebook.

Official Baseball Rule 5.12(b)(2) states the ball becomes dead when an umpire calls "Time" and that an umpire may call "Time" during live play "when light failure makes it difficult or impossible for the umpires to follow the play." Although the rule does not specify how to remedy the situation, elastic clause OBR 8.01(c) ("Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules") allows umpires to use their discretion to resolve the issue of light failure during play. In this case, R3 Betts scored prior to the lights going out (or, at least, prior to Crawford receiving the throw) but had R1 Smith, on third base, attempted to run home as a result of Crawford dropping the ball, the most likely outcome would be to call "Time" and place Smith back on third base.

In the top of the 8th, Giants batter Mike Yastrzemski requested "Time" from HP Umpire Nate Tomlinson as Dodgers pitcher Tayler Scott appeared to prematurely stop his motion from stretch to come set. Although this could have been a start-stop balk call, OBR 5.04(b)(2) Comment, if the umpire deemed Yastrzemski's time request caused the pitcher to stop, states, "Both the pitcher and batter have violated a rule and the umpire shall call time and both the batter and pitcher start over from “scratch.”"

Finally, in the bottom of the 11th, the entire crew got involved on a wild play when Dodgers batter Betts hit an infield pop fly that was dropped by Giants third baseman Schmitt, thrown wildly past first base and to the outfield wall in foul territory by pitcher Jakob Junis, and resulted in Dodgers baserunner R3 Michael Busch being tagged out beyond third base as a baserunning blunder led to a rundown.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 088 - Chris Segal (3; Mark Kotsay)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (ball one call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Athletics-#Mariners game. With none out and none on, Mariners batter Julio Rodriguez took a first-pitch cutter from A's pitcher Paul Blackburn for a called first ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.57, pz 1.61 [sz_bot 1.61 / RAD 1.49 / MOE 1.57]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Athletics were leading, 1-0. The Mariners ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

This is Chris Segal (96)'s 3rd ejection of 2022.

Chris Segal now has 6 points in the UEFL Standings (8 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 6).

Crew Chief Andy Fletcher now has 3 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 3).

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

This is the 88th ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 44th manager ejection of 2022.

This is Oakland's 4th ejection of 2022, 4th in the AL West (LAA, SEA 7; HOU 5; OAK 4; TEX 0).

This is Mark Kotsay's 3rd ejection of 2022, 1st since June 1 (Mike Muchlinski; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Segal's 3rd ejection of 2022, 1st since May 31 (Manny Machado; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners, 7/2/22 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 051-52 - Chris Segal (1-2; Machado, Melvin)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Padres 3B Manny Machado and manager Bob Melvin (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Padres-#Cardinals game. With two out and none on, Padres batter Machado took a 2-2 sinker from Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px 0.57, pz 1.85 [sz_bot 1.76 / RAD 1.64]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were officiated properly, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 2-0. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 3-2, in 10 innings.

These are Chris Segal (96)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2022.

Chris Segal now has 8 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 8).

Crew Chief Ted Barrett now has 5 points in Crew Division (3 Prev + 2 Correct Calls = 5).

*This pitch was located 3.55 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 51st and 52nd ejections of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 25th manager ejection of 2022.

This is San Diego's 2/3rd ejection of 2022, T-1st in the NL West (ARI, SD 3; LAD, SF 1; COL 0).

This is Manny Machado's 1st ejection since August 20, 2021 (Doug Eddings; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Bob Melvin's 2nd ejection of 2022, 1st since May 1 (Jeremie Rehak; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Segal's 1st ejection since July 31, 2021 (Eugenio Suarez; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs. St Louis Cardinals, 5/31/22 | Video as follows:

Ask a Teachable - Chris Segal Stays at the Florida Lodge

In this Ask the UEFL-Tmac's Teachable Moments hybrid analysis, we review HP Umpire Chris Segal's stuck ball call on a wild pitch to the backstop that lodged between the warning track ground and protective padding in Miami.

This sequence began when Marlins batter Brian Anderson attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 pitch from Milwaukee's Aaron Ashby, which bounced to the backstop.

HP Umpire Segal immediately (using his left arm) appealed to 1B Umpire Dan Merzel, who signaled with his first that the batter did indeed swing for strike three. Segal then indicated an uncaught third strike with his right hand and tracked the baseball to the backstop behind home plate, finding that the ball stuck between the ground and wall padding, calling the play dead due to the lodge, and awarding batter-runner Anderson first base.

The lodged ball call, which was confirmed via Replay Review, originates from Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(4), which includes the phrase "if it sticks in such fence, scoreboard, shrubbery or vines" in relation to the outcome of "Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance." Whether or not the catcher or any fielder subsequently plays the ball is immaterial: the ball is dead the moment it is declared stuck and out of play.

To review, the general premise regarding balls going out of play (such as by being lodged or stuck) is to award two bases for a batted (from time of pitch) or thrown (time of pitch for a first play by an infielder, time of throw for most other cases) ball and one base for a pitched ball (from time of pitch).

Video as follows:

Teachable - Chris Segal's Sacrifice Pop Up Play at the Plate

This Tmac's Teachable Moment follows HP Umpire Chris Segal as officiating's Birdman calls Brewers baserunner Kolten Wong safe on a close play at home plate during a tag-up on a foul fly ball to Washington first baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

The Play: With one out and two on (R1, R3), Brewers batter Omar Narvaez hit a fly ball into foul territory in front of the first-base dugout in Milwaukee. Nationals first baseman Zimmerman caught the fly ball to retire Narvaez as Brewers baserunner R3 Wong tagged up and attempted to score, Wong sliding into home plate just before Zimmerman was able to apply a tag.

Umpiring Analysis: For plate umpire Segal, staying at home plate instead of drifting toward foul territory to rule on the fly ball ensured the umpire was in the best starting position to rule on Wong's slide at home. 3B Umpire Mark Carlson at third base lined up Wong's departure to ensure its timelines while 1B Umpire Jordan Baker covered routine-turned-de-facto "sacrifice fly" in foul territory and 2B Umpire James Hoye prepared to rule on a potential play on trailing baserunner Christian Yelich, if one were to have occurred. Segal's call was confirmed via Replay Review.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 119 - Chris Segal (3; Eugenio Suarez)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez (strike three call; QOCN) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Reds-#Mets game. With one out and two on (R1, R3), Suarez took a 1-2 fastball from Mets pitcher Seth Lugo for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and waist-high (px 0.93, pz 3.01 [sz_bot 3.28]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 4-3. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 5-4, in 10 innings.


This is Chris Segal (96)'s 3rd ejection of 2021.

Chris Segal now has 6 points in the UEFL Standings (8 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 6).

Crew Chief Mark Carlson now has 10 points in Crew Division (10 Previous + 0 QOCN = 10).

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

This pitch was located 0.19 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 119th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 46th player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Suarez was 1-4 (HR, SO) in the contest.

This is Cincinnati's 8th ejection of 2021, 2nd in the NL Central (MIL 9; CIN 8; CHC, STL 5; PIT 3).

This is Eugenio Suarez's 1st ejection since July 19, 2019 (Carlos Torres; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Segal's 3rd ejection of 2021, 1st since May 15 (Travis Shaw; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets, 7/31/21 | Video as follows:

Teachable - Chris Segal's Foul Line Pickoff Play

On this edition of Tmac's Teachable Moments, 3B Umpire Chris Segal has an out call upheld on Padres baserunner Jurickson Profar's slide into third base against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles appeared to have Profar picked off on a throw to second as middle infielder Chris Taylor held the ball with Profar well off of second base. 3B Umpire Segal therefore knows a tag is coming and puts himself into position behind the base, in line to see third baseman Justin Turner's timely tag, an out call upheld via Replay Review.

By moving into foul territory, effectively along the second-to-third baseline extended, Segal ensured a look at the keyhole angle necessary to see Turner's tag on Profar's hand before Profar made contact with third base. One might even say Segal found himself a bird's eye view.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 041 - Chris Segal (2; Travis Shaw)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Brewers 3B Travis Shaw (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #Braves-#Brewers game. With two out and none on, Shaw took a 3-2 fastball from Braves pitcher Ian Anderson for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.01, pz 1.57 [sz_bot 1.63 / RAD 1.51]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Braves were leading, 4-0. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 5-1.

This is Chris Segal (96)'s 2nd ejection of 2021.

Chris Segal now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (3 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 7).

Crew Chief Mark Carlson now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 QOCY = 3).

*This pitch was located 1.75 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 41st ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 16th player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Shaw was 0-2 (SO) in the contest.

This is Milwaukee's 3rd ejection of 2021, T-1st in the NL Central (CIN, MIL 3; CHC, PIT 2; STL 1).

This is Travis Shaw's 1st ejection since Sept 21, 2018 (Marty Foster; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Segal's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since April 28 (Joe Girardi; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Wrap: Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 5/15/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 021 - Chris Segal (1; Joe Girardi)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Phillies manager Joe Girardi (warnings/non-ejection) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Phillies-#Cardinals game. With none out and none on, Phillies batter Bryce Harper took a first-pitch sinker from Cardinals pitcher Genesis Cabrera for a hit-by-pitch before subsequent Phillies batter Didi Gregorius took a first-pitch fastball from Cabrera for a hit-by-pitch, the only two hit batsmen of the game, resulting in warnings. Replays indicate that both HBP events resulted in injury delays, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 5-3. 

This is Chris Segal (96)'s 1st ejection of 2021.
Chris Segal now has 3 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Prev + 2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable Call = 3).
Crew Chief James Hoye now has 1 point in Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Irrecusable Call = 1).

This is the 21st ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 13th manager ejection of 2021.

This is Philadelphia's 1st ejection of 2021, T-2nd in the NL East (NYM 2; MIA, PHI 1; ATL, WAS 0).

This is Joe Girardi's 1st ejection since Sept 21, 2020 (Junior Valentine; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Segal's 1st ejection since August 9, 2019 (Brett Gardner; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 4/28/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Names Rookie MLBU Crew Chief for Season Finale

MLB will shuttle postseason-bound umpires to first-round cities in advance of baseball's expanded playoffs, leaving young umpires on their own for regular season finales. Enter Chris Segal, named a Crew Chief in his rookie season on Major League Baseball's full-time umpiring staff.

Some teams name players as interim managers for the final day of the regular season. MLB names Birdman a Crew Chief.

With 16 teams set to advance to the postseason, many ballparks on Sunday aren't in need of personnel movement—either because one of the two teams will play postseason games or because the stadiums happen to be fairly close to another venue which will host postseason games—but in Kansas City, both the home Royals and visiting Tigers were eliminated from playoff contention, meaning that the umpiring crew of Ron Kulpa, Manny Gonzalez, Todd Tichenor, and Chris Segal could be reallocated.

Accordingly, Sunday's crew in KC saw the subtraction of Kulpa, Gonzalez, and Tichenor, leaving first-year full-timer Segal in charge of a crew of Triple-A triple digits: Erich Bacchus, Alex MacKay, and Paul Clemons. First-year full-time staffers generally are not eligible for postseason assignments, allowing the crew's more veteran members in MLB's more spread-out Central Division (e.g., many teams on the east coast are in relatively close proximity to each-other) a head-start on commuting to their October destinations.

2020 No-Hitter 2, Chris Segal (1; Alec Mills)

HP Umpire Chris Segal called Chicago Cubs pitcher Alec Mills' no-hitter against the Brewers in Milwaukee Sunday afternoon, joined by Crew Chief Ron Kulpa (1B), alongside umpires Manny Gonzalez (2B) and Todd Tichenor (3B). MIL Manager Craig Counsell was ejected during the 5th inning for arguing an appeal play.

The Virginia-born Segal, officiating his first career no-hitter, saw 296 pitches, of which 163 were callable.

As we have documented in the past, three separate plate scores exist. Segal's Zone Evaluation-equivalent (two-inch margin of error) score was 97.6%, UEFL f/x (one-inch margin of error) score was 93.9%, and zero-error/broadcast score was 91.4%.

Related Post: MLB Ejection 56 - Ron Kulpa (1; Craig Counsell) (9/13/20).

The UEFL f/x look:

Balls: 105 called balls outside strike zone / 3 called balls within strike zone = 105 / 108 = 97.2%.

Strikes: 48 called strikes within strike zone / 7 called strikes outside strike zone = 48/55 = <90.0%.

Total Raw Accuracy Score for Segal = 153/163 = 93.9% Accuracy (+4 CHC/skew favored Cubs).

MLB Hires Senior Call-Up Chris Segal to Umpire Staff

Umpire Chris Segal's extended walk along the Triple-A call-up tightrope has ended with Birdman safely through to the other side, as MLB hired Segal to the full-time staff. The senior member of Major League Baseball's 2020 hiring class, Segal spent six years as a fill-in umpire before getting the final call.

With 637 games of big league experience since his April 15, 2014 debut to go along with a Minor League career through the Appalachian, South Atlantic, Florida Instructional, Carolina, Arizona Instructional, Texas, Southern, Pacific Coast, and International Leagues, the 37-year-old from Falls Church, Virginia finally joins the staff after 12 MLB ejections and is now the second umpire to have run a half-marathon over the 2019-20 offseason to subsequently join the major league staff (Nic Lentz).
Related Post: Major League Umpiring Debut: Chris Segal (96) (4/15/14).
Related Post: Triple-A Tradition? Young Umps Run for Charity (2/17/20).

During our 2019 All-Star Break review of MiLB call-up umpires, we rated Segal as #1 and most likely to be hired over the 2019-20 offseason, followed closely behind Ryan Blakney, who was the only 2019 call-up to score a higher replay score than Segal.
Related Post: MLB Call-Up Umpire Hiring Outlook - 2019 Break (7/11/19).

Segal is also the second hire of 2020 to have incurred the wrath of Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. Segal ejected Brett Gardner in August 2019 after Gardner banged his bat on the ceiling of New York's dugout at Rogers Centre.

Although Segal drew heat from mainstream sports media for the ejection, MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre supported his fill-in umpire, saying that "Gardner earned being thrown out...there was so much carping from the dugout that he pulled the trigger on [who] he assumed was Gardner."
Related Post: MLB Ejection 157 - Chris Segal (1; Brett Gardner) (8/9/19).
Related Post: Joe Torre Backs Ump Segal in Gardner Ejection (8/13/19).

And, thus, Segal becomes the second youngster bemoaned by Boone to subsequently land a permanent MLB job. News of Segal's hiring was first reported by Ump Life.

Triple-A Tradition? Young Umps Run for Charity

The 2019-2020 offseason may have established a new @UmpsCare tradition and possible fitness test for young umpires climbing the MiLB-to-MLB ladder as Nic Lentz, Brennan Miller, Erich Bacchus, and Chris Segal all ran half-marathons for charity over the winter months.

Bacchus, Lentz, and Miller each ran the Holly Springs Half Marathon in North Carolina in November while Segal took to the Colonial Half Marathon course (Williamsburg, Virginia) in February.

The professional umpires, all of whom will call MLB Spring Training games in 2020, ran to fundraise for UMPS CARE Charities under the heading "UMPS CARE Run for Bears," so-named for the charity's in-season Build-A-Bear Workshop experience for children.

In addition to helping to finance Umps Care's in-season programs such as Build-A-Bear, Blue for Kids hospital visits, and on-field events such as Blue Crew Tickets, the young umps coincidentally proved their physical fitness to baseball observers.

A traditional half-marathon is 13.1 miles (21 kilometers) in length.

Chris Segal's KC Catch & Carry Scores Game Winner

Lack of rules knowledge led to a game-winning run in Kansas City when 3B Umpire Chris Segal awarded A's runners a base after Royals third baseman Chelsor Cuthbert caught batter Corban Joseph's fly ball, only to step with it into the third base dugout—what's known as a catch and carry and whose penalty is "Time" and a one-base award (batter is out).

Oakland won the game by a single run—the one that was awarded on the catch-and-carry, making it all the more painful and preventable when Cuthbert said after the game that he didn't know the rule.

The Play: With one out and runners on second and third base in the top of the 9th inning of Thursday's Athletics-Royals game, Athletics batter Joseph hit a fly ball in foul territory near Oakland's third-base dugout. Kansas City fielder Cheslor Cuthbert reached over the dugout to make the catch and then jumped into the dugout so as not to fall.

Segal calls Cuthbert's catch in Kansas City.

The Call: 3B Umpire Chris Segal called the batter out on Cuthbert's legal catch (both feet were on the playing field at the time of the catch, as the top step or lip of the dugout is considered part of the live ball territory) and then called "Time" as a result of Cuthbert stepping fully into the dugout. Segal then awarded A's baserunner R3 Seth Brown home plate (from his origin at third base) and runner R2 Jurickson Profar third base (from his origin at second base).

The Rule: Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(3) states, "Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when—A fielder, after catching a fly ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area" while 5.06(b)(3)(C) Comment states, "If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should step or fall into any out-of-play area, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area."

Finally, to cover all our bases, OBR 5.09(a)(1) Comment indicates, "A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed. A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area."
Related Post: Case Play 2019-1 - Modified Catch & Carry [Solved] (5/6/19).

Cuthbert looks on as Segal enforces the rule.

Player Admits Not Knowing Rule: After the game, Cuthbert told the media that he didn't know the rule: "The umpire said the runners were going to advance a base. I didn't know that rule. Every day you learn something in baseball." With Oakland winning by a 9-8 final score, that lack of rules knowledge very likely hurt Kansas City's chances to win the game.

BONUS: Watch HP Umpire Bill Welke explain to Ned Yost and the Royals dugout the reason for Segal's call. This is what we mean by backing up a crewmate on a rudimentary rules-related play or call.

Video as follows:

Joe Torre Backs Ump Segal in Gardner Ejection

Speaking to New York media ahead of a pregame ceremony at Yankee Stadium, MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre backed Chris Segal's ejection of Brett Gardner in Toronto, even if the umpire misattributed Cameron Maybin's voice, saying that Gardner's actions at Rogers Centre merited an ejection.

Said Torre, "Watching enough video and stuff, Gardner earned being thrown out...Maybe not that particular time, but he certainly had the right to be thrown out, even though the umpire, I think there was so much carping from the dugout that he pulled the trigger on what he assumed was Gardner."

Gil's Call: In my column over the weekend pertaining to this sequence, I wrote that Gardner repeated that which he had gotten away with weeks earlier in the Bronx: he pounded his bat against the dugout ceiling while his manager Aaron Boone and others on the NYY bench chirped unsporting content at the plate umpire.
Related Post: Why Umpire Chris Segal Ejected Brett Gardner (8/11/19).
Related Post: MLB Ejection 157 - Chris Segal (1; Brett Gardner) (8/9/19).

Joe Torre agrees: Gardner earned it.

My read on the situation was Gardner's three-week old reputation, combined with an excessive amount of bench jockeying from his teammates and coaches resulted in a situation in which Gardner was ejected "because of circumstance." I wrote, "Gardner was indeed guilty of some degree of unsportsmanlike conduct...he just didn't plant the straw that broke the camel's back. His offense was somewhere underneath that pile."

Either Torre reads our site or, what's much more likely, he reviewed Segal's report, spoke with him, and understood what happened, in context. NJ.com's Brendan Kuty summarized Torre's comments thusly: "Considering the things Gardner had said and done before Maybin yelled at Segal, it wasn’t completely unreasonable for Segal to believe it was Gardner’s voice instead of Maybin’s. Gardner had also banged his bat repeatedly against the dugout in protest of Segal."

Or, as I wrote on Sunday, "[Gardner] hits his bat on the dugout ceiling in protest."

Yet just because Gardner earned his ejection doesn't mean that Segal didn't make a mistake in stating the ejection was due to a verbal comment (made by Maybin); had Segal said that Gardner was ejected for banging his bat on the dugout, we wouldn't be here today: "I know there’s been talk about umpires when they make a mistake or they miss a call they don’t have any repercussions—that’s not true," said Torre. And speaking generally, he continued: "They watch their game every single day. They get rated, whether it’s on the bases or balls and strikes [editor's note: remember, it's the Z-E numbers, not the faulty public-facing info]. And next month, when we meet for postseason, that plays a role, that plays a part, deciding who goes to the postseason."
Related Post: Call for Umpire Accountability & the 97% Plate Score (4/19/19).

Come October, the baseball world won't see Chris Segal's name on the postseason roster—there's a zero percent chance of that, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the Gardner ejection, even if a handful of frustrated fans inevitably try to make that connection in a month's time. Segal is a call-up umpire, and such fill-in umps are not eligible for the MLB postseason.

Video as follows:

Why Umpire Chris Segal Ejected Brett Gardner

After HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Yankees CF Brett Gardner in Toronto, he claimed the ejection pertained to a profane personal insult. While video suggests the "you're f*ing terrible" comment did come from New York's dugout, Cameron Maybin—not Gardy—appeared to be the offender. So why did Gardner get run? Reputation has a way of latching onto people in baseball (just ask Angel Hernandez) and for Brett Gardner, such a reputation—primarily earned within the span of three weeks—most likely did him in, seducing the scourge of mistaken identity.

By now, the ejection report is familiar—Segal ejects Gardner in the 4th after a couple of contested ball/strike calls from the Yankees dugout—but to understand the full nature of this ejection, we travel back to July 18, 2019, and later on, we'll travel back to 2009 to see how another MLB umpire handled a similar situation.
Related Post: MLB Ejection 157 - Chris Segal (1; Brett Gardner) (8/9/19).
Related Post: MLB Ejection 123 - Brennan Miller (1; Aaron Boone) (7/18/19).

Gardner's Groundwork: In July, Brennan Miller ejected Aaron Boone at Yankee Stadium for arguing a strike one call to DJ LeMahieu, which had followed a contested strike call to Gardner during a preceding at-bat. This was the infamous "f*ing savages' ejection linked above and this ejection had everything to do with what happened in Toronto.

While Boone took the ejection in July, the modus operandi—the circumstance of ejection—is what's most important, as several elements appeared both in Boone's July ejection and Gardner's August dismissal.