MLB Ejection 035 - Dan Merzel (2; Craig Counsell)

1B Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Cubs manager Craig Counsell (ABS challenge denial/check swing/strike 3 call; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Cubs-#Pirates game. With none out and two on, Cubs batter Kevin Alcántara attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 slider from Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana, called a third strike by HP Umpire Shane Livensparger. As the batter immediately requested an ABS challenge by tapping his helmet, 1B Umpire Merzel ruled that the batter had swung at the pitch, resulting in denial of the challenge as the swinging strike call superseded the pitch location call. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.39, pz 2.12 [sz_bot 1.75]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 12-1. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 12-1.

This is Dan Merzel (3)'s 2nd ejection of 2026.

*The call is deemed QOCY/correct due to the pitch location measurement confirming the strike call.

This is the 35th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 22nd manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 22 Managers, 5 Coaches, 8 Players.

This is Chicago's 1st ejection of 2026, 1st in the NL Central (PIT 4; CHC, CIN 1; MIL, STL 0).

This is Craig Counsell's 1st ejection since August 28, 2025 (David Rackley; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Dan Merzel's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since April 7 (John Schneider; QOC = Y [Balk]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 5/26/26 | Video as follows:

About Cubs LF Matt Shaw's Fair Infield Single in San Diego

What is a fair ball? Cubs batter Matt Shaw hit an infield single in San Diego when Padres 3B Ty France picked up a batted ball as it rolled along the foul line, HP Umpire Dan Merzel explaining to manager Craig Stammen what he saw as Padres fans expressed outrage at the call.

So what happened?

This play comes up every few years, so we refer to the 2023 season's case of a fair infield single in New York, when HP Umpire Lance Barrett ruled Royals batter Bobby Witt Jr's bunt a fair ball after Yankees 3B DJ LeMahieu swiped his glove at the ball in fair territory.

Related Post: Why Was This Ball Called Fair in New York? (7/23/23).

To begin, we review the Official Baseball Rules' definition: "A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight."

There are two main standards for judging fair/foul: situations that consider whether a ball is on fair territory and situations that consider whether a ball is over fair territory.

A ball must be on fair territory to be considered fair in the case of: a batted ball settling between home and first/third base or first falling on fair territory beyond first/third base (e.g., in the outfield).

A ball must be over fair territory to be considered fair (whether or not it also touches [or is on] fair territory) for: a batted ball bounding to the outfield past first/third base, a batted ball that touches an umpire or player, or passes out of the playing field in flight (home run).

And, finally, a batted ball that touches first/second/third base is a fair ball.

Eagle-eyed viewers might also notice the rulebook's definition of foul ball is extremely similar, just substituting the phrase "foul territory" for "fair territory."

Thus we must also consider the following definitions: "FAIR TERRITORY is that part of the playing field within, and including the first base and third base lines, from home base to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards. All foul lines are in fair territory"; "FOUL TERRITORY is that part of the playing field outside the first and third base lines extended to the fence and perpendicularly upwards."

Finally, the MLB Umpire Manual interprets FAIR BALL as, "When in contact with the ground, a ball must be in contact with fair territory and not merely over fair territory in order to be adjudged to be fair."

MLBUM added this interpretation following the introduction of Replay Review ahead of the 2014 season, and it works well for outfield fair/foul decisions on reviewable plays in which the ball may or may not fall on the foul line, generally observed from a parallax-prone camera angle.

For the infield fair/foul decision regarding a batted ball that contacts a person, however, a few key differences arise. First, this is the infield not the outfield. Second, this is not presently a reviewable play. Third, the rulebook criteria for this infield play remains on or over fair territory, as opposed to the outfield play's on foul territory criterion. Fourth, the umpire's angle in calling this play generally positions their head above the foul line, not entirely "top-down" but at an angle greater than 45-degrees and, thus, closer to top-down than ground level.

And herein lies the problem: The umpire, looking from above the height of the ball (unless they were to place their head directly on the dirt), generally will see a baseball over fair territory, all else equal, if any part of the baseball is over the foul line, even if the baseball itself is not in contact with the line (it's a sphere, after all). Pursuant to the Official Baseball Rules, the umpire calls this a fair ball when touched by the fielder, which conflicts with the MLBUM interpretation, which itself conflicts with OBR. Lovely.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 007 - Dan Merzel (1; John Schneider)

HP Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Blue Jays manager John Schneider (no stop balk call on pitcher Kevin Gausman; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Dodgers-#BlueJays game. With none out and one on, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman was called for a balk during delivery to Dodgers batter Alex Freeland, advancing baserunner R1 Hyseong Kim to second base. Replays indicate Gausman, pitching from Set Position, failed to come to a stop during his delivery, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 2-0. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

This is Dan Merzel (3)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(13): "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop."

This is the 7th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 7th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 7 Managers, 0 Coaches, 0 Players.

This is Toronto's 1st ejection of 2026, 1st in the AL East (BAL, BOS, TOR 1; NYY, TB 0).

This is John Schneider's 1st ejection since Sept 19, 2025 (Nestor Ceja; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

This is Dan Merzel's 1st ejection since July 2, 2023 (Aaron Boone; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Toronto Blue Jays, 4/7/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 180 - Alan Porter (5; Alex Cora)

3B Umpire Alan Porter ejected Red Sox manager Alex Cora (obstruction call by 2B Umpire Dan Merzel on 2B Vaughn Grissom; QOCY) in the top of the 1st inning of the #Twins-#RedSox game. With one out and one on (R2), Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta threw to second baseman Grissom in an attempt to pick off Twins baserunner R2 Byron Buxton at second base, ruled safe by 2B Umpire Merzel. Upon crew consultation, the call was changed to obstruction (Type 1) against infielder Grissom, with baserunner R2 Buxton award third base. Replays indicate fielder Grissom placed his leg and knee in the runner's base path without possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the throw requiring occupation of that space, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 8-1.

This is Alan Porter (64)'s 5th ejection of 2024.

*Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(1): "If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire’s judgment, if there had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base they had last legally touched before the obstruction."

Related Post: Obstruction Calls Are 2024's Point of Emphasis (2/14/24).

This is the 180th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 90th manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 90 Managers, 30 Coaches, 59 Players.

This is Boston's 5th ejection of 2024, 5th in the AL East (NYY 10; TOR 9; BAL, TB 6; BOS 5).

This is Alex Cora's 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since July 22 (Mark Wegner; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Alan Porter's 5th ejection of 2024, 1st since July 28 (Brandon Hyde; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Minnesota Twins vs Boston Red Sox (Game 1), 9/22/24 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 131 - Dan Merzel (3; Aaron Boone)

HP Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone (strike two call to DJ LeMahieu; QOCN) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Yankees-#Cardinals game. With two out and one on, LeMahieu took a 3-1 changeup from Cardinals pitcher Jordan Montgomery for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and above the midpoint (px -0.41, pz 3.76 [sz_top 3.37 / RAD 3.49 / MOE 3.57]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 5-1.

This is Dan Merzel (107)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 2.24 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 131st ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.
This is the 63rd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 63 Managers, 53 Players, 15 Coaches.
This is New York's 7th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL East (NYY 7; BAL, BOS 4; TB 3; TOR 2).

This is Aaron Boone's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st since May 25 (Edwin Moscoso; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Dan Merzel's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 22 (Skip Schumaker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs St Louis Cardinals, 7/2/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 025-26 - Dan Merzel (1-2; MIA x2)

HP Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Marlins CF Jazz Chisholm Jr and manager Skip Schumaker (strike two call to Garrett Cooper; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Marlins-#Guardians game. With none out and none on, Cooper took a 0-1 fastball from Guardians pitcher Zach Plesac for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.83, pz 2.05), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejections, the game was tied, 1-1. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

These are Dan Merzel (107)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 1.01 horizontal inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

^The strike zone boundary is 0.831. This pitch received a px value of 0.830.

These are the 25th and 26th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 11th player ejection of 2023.

This is the 12th manager ejection of 2023.

This is Miami's 2/3rd ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL East (MIA 3; PHI 2; ATL, NYM 1; WAS 0).

This is Jazz Chisholm's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 9 (Jeff Nelson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Skip Schumaker's 1st ejection since July 24, 2021 (Doug Eddings; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Dan Merzel's 1st ejection since August 26, 2022 (Scott Servais; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs Cleveland Guardians (Game 2), 4/22/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 144-145 - Dan Merzel (2-3; Winker, Servais)

HP Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Mariners LF Jesse Winker and manager Scott Servais (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Guardians-#Mariners game. With two out and one on (R1), Mariners batter Winker took a 2-2 curveball from Guardians pitcher James Karinchak for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and at the midpoint (px -0.36, pz 3.37 [sz_top 3.32 / RAD 3.44 / MOE 3.53]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 2-2. The Mariners ultimately won the contest, 3-2, in 11 innings.

These are Dan Merzel (107)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2022.

*This pitch was located 1.92 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 144th and 145th ejection reports of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 46th player ejection of 2022. Prior to ejection, Winker was

This is the 79th manager ejection of 2022.

This is Seattle's 9/10th ejection of 2022, 1st in the AL West (SEA 10; LAA 9; HOU 7; OAK 5; TEX 2).

This is Jesse Winker's 2nd ejection of 2022, 1st since June 26 (Adrian Johnson; QOC = U [Fighting]).

This is Scott Servais' 4th ejection of 2022, 1st since June 26 (Adrian Johnson; QOC = U [Fighting]).

This is Dan Merzel's 2/3rd ejection of 2022, 1st since May 25 (David Ross; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Wrap: Cleveland Indians vs Seattle Mariners, 8/26/22 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 048 - Dan Merzel (1; David Ross)

HP Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Cubs manager David Ross (warnings/ejection no-call for potential throwing at HBP) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Cubs-#Reds game. In the bottom of the 8th inning, with one out and one on (R1), Reds batter Joey Votto took a first-pitch fastball from Cubs pitcher Rowan Wick for a called ball, located near Votto's head. Upon walking on four pitches, Wick and Votto exchanged words. In the 9th, with one out and none on, Cubs batter Patrick Wisdom took a first-pitch fastball from Reds pitcher Hunter Strickland for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and struck Wisdom on the hand. The crew did not convene to determine intentionality and no warnings were issued, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 4-2. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Dan Merzel (107)'s 1st ejection of 2022.

Dan Merzel now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2 AAA + 0 Irrecusable Call = 2).

Crew Chief Chris Conroy now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Previous + 1 Irrecusable = 0).

This is the 48th ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 22nd manager ejection of 2022.

This is Chicago's 3rd ejection of 2022, 1st in teh NL Central (CHC 3; PIT, STL 2; CIN, MIL 0).

This is David Ross' 1st ejection since August 3, 2021 (Adam Hamari; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Dan Merzel's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds, 5/25/22 | Video as follows:

In re: Shohei Ohtani's Two Balks in Arizona

In the 5th inning of Friday's #Angels-#Diamondbacks game, 3B Umpire Dan Merzel alongside home plate umpire Greg Gibson's crew motioned to both benches that Los Angeles of Anaheim's pitcher Shohei Ohtani had committed a balk. We review this call as well as a similar balk several pitches later, relative to Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a), which governs balks.

With Eduardo Escobar batting in the bottom of the 5th and two Dbacks on base (R1, R2), Ohtani balked, with umpires ruling that a subtle flinch prior to a feign to second base constituted an illegal act. The relevant rule is OBR 6.02(a)(1), which states, "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when—The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery."

Replays indicate Ohtani moved slightly toward home plate—by perhaps a millimeter and a half—before reversing course and stepping off toward second base. This technically correct start-stop balk call set the tone for several future calls in this game.

Several pitches later, with runners at second and third, Ohtani balked an Arizona run in after he was called for violation of related balk rule OBR 6.02(a)(13): "The pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop."

Bearing in mind the idealized officiating value of consistency in play-calling, we fast forward to the top of the 10th inning of this game tied at five, in which, with Angels runner Jared Walsh at second base, umpires called Diamondbacks pitcher Ryan Buchter for a start-stop balk similar to Ohtani's OBR 6.02(a)(1) call that kicked off the festivities in Arizona's 5th inning. Walsh later scored Anaheim Los Angeles's go-ahead run on an RBI groundout, and the Angels ultimately won the contest, 6-5, in 10 innings.

Key takeaway: If it's a balk in the 5th inning, it best be a balk in the 10th inning of a tied game as well.

Video as follows:

Manny Machado Slides Into Edman - Legal Baseball Play?

When Padres baserunner Manny Machado slid into Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman in San Diego Sunday night, fans debated whether the slide was dirty...but was it legal? We visit the relevant rules to officiate this play.

Play: With none out and one on (R1) in the bottom of the 4th inning, Padres batter Jake Cronenworth hit a first-pitch slider from Cardinals pitcher Kwang-Hyun Kim on the ground to second baseman Tommy Edman, who attempted to tag Padres baserunner R1 Manny Machado, who slid into Edman, after which both players stood up with Machado returning to the Padres' dugout.

Call: 2B Umpire Dan Merzel ruled Machado out and Cronenworth remained at first base.

Rules: The first rule governing this play is Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1), "any runner is out when they run more than three feet away from their base path to avoid being tagged unless their action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball." As Machado appeared to continue along his path to second base without horizontal deviation, we can eliminate OBR 5.09(b)(1).

Next up is OBR 6.01(j), sliding to bases on double play attempts or the bona fide slide rule. For the most part, 6.01(j) is encountered at or near a base, but not always, and in general as the rule states, the runner must de deemed to initiate contact with the fielder "for the purpose of breaking up a double play."

For the purposes of this play, and the aforementioned notwithstanding, one key phrase within this rule clarifies that Machado's slide was legal: "Interference shall not be called where a runner’s contact with the fielder was caused by the fielder being positioned in (or moving into) the runner’s legal pathway to the base." Because Edman clearly is moving into Machado's legal pathway to second base, this exception to interference is applicable.

Willful and deliberate interference rule 6.01(a)(6) also has potential, but, ultimately, if the slide is already deemed legal as a result of the bona fide slide rule, the runner who effects such a legal slide should not be deemed to have willfully and deliberately interfered with a batted ball or fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play.

No Tag, But Out? Replays clearly indicate Edman never tagged Machado, so why was Machado declared out? The answer is OBR 5.09(b)(2) and abandonment ("leaves the base path, obviously abandoning their effort to touch the next base"). When Machado returned to the Padres dugout, he abandoned and was declared out by 2B Umpire Dan Merzel in accordance with 5.09(b)(2). Had Machado continued to advance to second base without being tagged, the proper call would be to rule him safe at second.

Conclusion: Clean, dirty or anything in between is not within the rulebook's purview (until it turns into intentionally pitching at the batter or something of the sort). Instead, we consider only whether the slide is rules-legal or rules-illegal, and pursuant to the professional ruleset, Machado's slide was not only legal, it was successful in avoiding the middle infielder's tag attempt and would have worked, if not for Machado's abandonment.

Video as follows:

MLB Debut of Umpire Dan Merzel

Umpire Dan Merzel made his MLB debut during Saturday's Cubs-Reds doubleheader in Cincinnati alongside chief Angel Hernandez's crew of umpires Will Little and Dan Bellino.

After graduating from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in 2010, Merzel began his Minor League career in the 2011 New York-Penn League, followed by stops in the South Atlantic, Arizona Instructional, Carolina, Eastern and International Leagues as well as the Arizona Fall League.

He officiated the 2015 XM All-Star Futures Game in Cincinnati, served as home plate umpire for the 2018 Triple-A All-Star Game in Columbus, and crew chief for the 2019 Triple-A National Championship Game.

Merzel played baseball at Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a degree from the college's engineering school.

Merzel is the 18th umpire to make his MLB debut during the 2020 regular season.
Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Junior Valentine (8/26/20).
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