ABS Stops Calling Strikes, Manager Ejected in 20-4 Romp

HP Umpire Takahito Matsuda ejected Charlotte Knights manager Justin Jirschele in the 9th inning of a 20-4 blowout game designed as a full Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) affair, meaning that computers rather than the umpire called all balls and strikes for the game...except that in the 9th, ABS seemed to stop calling strikes and Gwinnett tacked on four more runs thanks to six walks (there was also a hit-by-pitch).

Indeed, even the Gameday computer readout seemed to be missing a few pitches during multiple at-bats in the 9th inning as catcher-turned-position player pitching Xavier Fernández threw 33 pitches (just five of them strikes) as the three-plus hour game slowly trudged to a lopsided conclusion.

The final score was Gwinnett Stripers 20, Charlotte Knights 4.

Video as follows:

Challenge Checkup - Umpire Matsuda 6-for-6 w Ejections

We check in on the Triple-A ball/strike challenge system as the Red Wings and Bisons used all six of their combined challenges on HP Umpire Taka Matsuda's ball/strike calls in Buffalo, leading to a later ejection of Rochester pitcher Tyler Danish for arguing balls and strikes when his team was out of challenges. The challenge process takes about 15-20 seconds and, here, upheld all six of Matsuda's calls.

HP Umpire Matsuda also ejected Rochester's manager Matthew LeCroy for arguing a check swing call by 3B Umpire Andrew Koerkel, positioned inside at C in a crew of three.

Video as follows:

MiLB Ejection - Taka Matsuda (Pat Kelly & A Broken Belt)

For HP Umpire Taka Matsuda, Friday's Triple-A matchup between Indianapolis and Louisville featured a most bizarre ejection as Bats manager Pat Kelly was ejected while yelling at the umpire as he attempted to fix a broken belt by replacing it with that of Crew Chief Alex MacKay.

Kelly's 6th inning ejection followed the prior ejection of Bats shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez, after Kelly had already returned to the dugout having argued Rodriguez's ejection, and occurred after Matsuda's belt broke while the umpire reached down to clean home plate.

As crewmates MacKay and Dave Martinez assisted in replacing the faulty belt—a requirement to hold the plate umpire's ball bags—Kelly shouted from the dugout and was ejected as Matsuda adjusted his new belt, the skipper quickly turning his ire to MacKay and Martinez before leaving the field.

Video as follows:

MiLB Umpires Promoted to Triple-A for 2020

Hoping to become MLB's first-ever umpire from Japan, Takahito Matsuda is one of 10 Minor League umpires promoted from Double-A to Triple-A ahead of baseball's 2020 season.

Promotion to Triple-A's Pacific Coast and International Leagues is a required step on the road to the show and provides umpires with the opportunity to earn career-enhancing assignments such as the Arizona Fall League and MLB Spring Training, with an eventual goal of joining the major league regular season call-up/fill-in roster.

As reported this month by our friends at Ump-Attire.com, the following 2019 Double-A umpires were promoted to Triple-A for the 2020 season. This roster update accounts for the vacancies created by MLB promotions and possible resignations or releases at the Triple-A level, which will have a cascading effect on all levels of Minor League Baseball.

2020 Triple-A Rookie Umpire List (2019 league in parentheses):
>> Matt Bates (Southern League)
>> Cody Clark (Southern League) [UEFL History]
>> Chris Marco (Eastern League)
>> Takahito 'Taka' Matsuda (Eastern League) [UEFL History]
>> Jacob Metz (Eastern League)
>> Tyler Olsen (Texas League)
>> Justin Robinson (Justin Robinson)
>> Ben Sonntag (Southern League)
>> Derek Thomas (Eastern League)
>> Brian Walsh (Texas League)

Rare History - Plate Umpire's Back-to-Back No-Hitters

One of umpiring's rarest feats passed by without much fanfare this season as an umpire worked no-hitters in consecutive plate jobs. Takahito "Taka" Matsuda of MiLB Double-A's Eastern League accomplished the rare feat on April 25 and 29, 2019, when he called two no-hitters that happened to fall across back-to-back assignments as a home plate umpire, thanks in part to inclement weather in New York.

The fun for Matsuda began in Binghamton as Taka called the Portland Seadogs' 2-0 victory and combined no-hitter over the host Rumble Ponies on Thursday, April 25, with crewmates Derek Thomas and Mike Raines in the field.

Stormy weather postponed Sunday's scheduled game between Portland and Binghamton, which pushed Matsuda's next plate assignment back a day to Monday, April 29th in Altoona, where Erie Seawolves pitcher Casey Mize spun nine innings of no-hit ball to defeat the host Curve 1-0, and cap off the rarest of rare umpiring feats.

To illustrate how rare the back-to-back umpiring no-hitter is, we looked at the Retrosheet.org record books for Major League Baseball, where such records are kept.

Bill Dinneen umpired from 1909 to 1937.

Many umpires have called two no-hitters in a season, but you'd have to go back nearly a century, to 1923, in order to find the last no-hitters on back-to-back plate assignments in the major leagues. American League Umpire Bill Dinneen called the September 4 New York (AL) no-no over Philadelphia from behind home plate and returned three days later to preside as umpire-in-chief over Boston's no-hitter over Philadelphia (poor Philly) on September 7. Dinneen, tangentially, is also the only person in AL, NL, or MLB history to have both pitched and officiated a no-hitter (he threw a no-hitter as a pitcher for the Boston Americans on September 27, 1905 and called six no-hitters as an umpire).

Before that, it was Dick Nallin benefiting from a two-person umpire crew to call the St. Louis Browns' no-hitters on May 5 and 6, 1917, both against the Chicago White Sox; the clubs played a doubleheader on May 6, which afforded Nallin the pleasure of working the plate on consecutive days, such that Nallin holds the distinction of being the only major league umpire to have called two no-hitters from behind the plate on back-to-back calendar days.

You'd have to fast forward to April 30 and May 1, 1969 to find a crew that had back-to-back no-hitters on consecutive days again, as Cincinnati no-hit Houston on April 30th (Crew Chief Frank Secory as plate umpire), while Houston returned the favor and no-hit Cincinnati on May 1 (David "Satch" Davidson as plate umpire). Paul Pryor and Tony Venzon were the other two umpires on that crew.

Punishment Announced for ABL Dust-Up, Umpire Fined

The Australian Baseball League announced a series of fines for misconduct during February's ABL Championship Series between the Canberra Cavalry and Brisbane Bandits, disciplining two Brisbane coaches, umpire Takahito Matsuda, and both teams collectively.

In the 6th inning of the decisive game, benches cleared twice after a hit batsman and caught stealing play, respectively, drawing two ejections, including that of Brisbane first base coach Adrian Lamb for fighting; replays indicate Lamb pushed an opposing player at the start of the second bench-clearing incident.
Related Post: ABL Ejections - Takahito Matsuda & Bench Clearing (2/14/18).

According to the Disciplinary Review Panel's findings, Lamb and Matsuda each made unreasonable or unnecessary contact with a player/person (first offense), for which each was fined $150 AUS (approximately 117 US dollars). If Lamb and Matsuda plead guilty to the findings, the penalty will be reduced to $100 AUS ($78 US).

Brisbane Manager David Nilsson received a $100 AUS ($78 US) fine for throwing equipment (first offense), which may be reduced to $50 AUS ($39 US) upon an early guilty plea, while both teams were collectively fined $1,350 AUS ($1,052 US) because 27 players and coaches left their positions to partake in an on-field confrontation (27 x $50). No individual player received a financial penalty.

Matsuda's $100 early guilty plea fine exceeds the ABL umpire's game fee, according to a league source. The $150 "full" penalty amount constitutes 200% of the ABL's standard per-game officiating rate.

According to ABL disciplinary procedure, all parties have the option of contesting the panel's decision with the ABL Tribunal, whose decision may be appealed for a fee of $500 ($250 of which is non-refundable). If the appeal is successful, $250 is returned, but if it fails, the defeated party forfeits the entire $500.

ABL Ejections - Takahito Matsuda & Bench Clearing

Sunday's decisive Australian Baseball League Championship Series Game 3 featured a bench-clearing incident and two ejections by 2B Umpire Takahito Matsuda en route to a Brisbane Bandits 4-2 victory and ABL win over the Canberra Cavalry.

First, the bench clearer. With two out and none on in the bottom of the 6th inning, Bandits batter Andrew Campbell took a 2-2 fastball from Cavalry pitcher Frank Gailey inside for a hit by pitch, resulting in a bench clearing incident. Replays indicate the pitch hit Campbell in the upper back, the call was irrecusable, resulting in warnings from HP Umpire Mal Mackay and an extended conversation with both managers; relief pitcher Steven Kent replaced Gailey following the at-bat. At the time of the incident, the Bandits were leading, 4-0.

One pitch later, 2B Umpire Matsuda ejected Bandits 1B Coach Adrian Lamb for fighting during a second bench-clearing event that started after Bandits baserunner Campbell was caught stealing at second base, and Manager Dave Nilsson for arguing the incident. The Bandits ultimately won the contest, and the Championship Series, 4-2.
Related Historical Ejection: ABL Ejections - Takahito Matsuda (Dave Nilsson, E Green) (1/9/16).

After the game the League issued a statement concerning the incidents:

The Australian Baseball League will continue to follow the established disciplinary protocols and procedures in reviewing all reported incidents from Game 3.

This review will include the behaviour of players, coaches and officials during the game.

Any official finding will be published in line with the ABL regular reporting processes.

Matsuda is a Minor League Umpire and spent the 2017 season on the Double-A Eastern League staff.

Wrap: Canberra Cavalry vs Brisbane Bandits (ABL Championship), 2/11/18 | Video as follows:

ABL All-Star Game Umpires - Taka Leads Off

MiLB and veteran ABL umpire Takahito Matsuda served as All-Star Game crew chief in the Australian Baseball League's Summer (our Winter) Classic on Thursday, where he was joined by fellow ABL umpires Stewart Howe at first base, David Milton at second base, and Greg Howard at third base for the sixth annual World vs Team Australia All-Star Game at Melbourne Ballpark.

Streamed live on YouTube and simulcast on MLB Network, this season it was Team Australia that prevailed against a World All-Star Cast as the home team walked off for the second year in a row, drawing its historical record to 4-2 over the World.

Due to ABL's unique configuration as an international offseason league in partnership with Major League Baseball, the ABL All-Star Game features a World vs Australians matchup without regard to team affiliation (for instance, Aces pitcher Jeremy Guthrie played for the World squad while teammate Allan de San Miguel fielded the catcher's position for Team Australia).

The 2016 ABL All-Star Game is available on demand from ABL.TV on YouTube.

Non-Video ABL Ejections; Clark Ejected Twice

Melbourne's 11-inning victory in Game 1 of the Aces-Bite doubleheader wasn't televised, but featured two ejections, including one we would have especially liked to see. Adelaide also logged one ejection two games later, which we would really liked to have seen, in which Rangers prospect LeDarious Clark allegedly charged an opposing ABL player after Clark's time at bat.

Click here for the ABL homepage.

In the top of the 2nd inning, with one out and two on (R2, R3), Aces batter Josh Davies hit a ground ball toward shortstop Bite Josh Altmann, who was hindered in his ability to field the batted ball due to interference by Aces baserunner R2 Mike Walker. As the penalty for this brand of interference is a dead ball out, B1 Davies' award of first base due to the fielder's choice out, and the return of runner R3 Allan de San Miguel to third base, Aces Assistant Coach Damian Shanahan was ejected by Field Umpire Blake Halligan for arguing the interference call. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, with one out and none on, Bite batter LeDarious Clark was ejected by HP Umpire Ian Reval for arguing a strike two call: Clark drew a line in the dirt following the call. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 2-2. The Bite ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

During Adelaide's subsequent game against Canberra, Clark was ejected once again, this time by 1B Umpire Takahito Matsuda in the middle of the 6th inning after flying out to Cavalry first baseman Boss Moanaroa. According to the Cavalry, Clark was ejected for "charging down" Moanaroa as he attempted to field the pop fly. At the time of the ejection, the Cavalry were leading, 5-4. The Cavalry ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

The 2016/17 ABLTV schedule features one televised/streamed game per time slot, meaning that some ejections, such as those above, may not be available via video.

Wrap: Melbourne Aces vs. Adelaide Bite (Australian Baseball League), 11/26/16
Wrap: Adelaide Bite vs. Canberra Cavalry (Australian Baseball League), 12/2/16

ABL Ejections - Takahito Matsuda (Dave Nilsson, E Green)

Australian Baseball 1B Umpire Takahito Matsuda ejected Brisbane Bandits Manager Dave Nilsson and pitcher Eric Green for arguing a foul ball call (reversed fair call) by HP Umpire James Shields in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Blue Sox-Bandits game. With one out and none on, Bandits batter Mitch Nilsson hit a 2-2 fastball from Blue Sox pitcher Keiji Uezono in the air between home plate and third base. Replays indicate Blue Sox third baseman Joshua Dean attempted to catch the fly ball, but are inconclusive as to whether Dean made contact with the baseball prior to it bouncing into foul territory, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 7-7. The Bandits ultimately won the contest 8-7, in 11 innings.

This is Dave Nilsson's first ejection since December 20, 2015 (Gavin Carson; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Takahito Matsuda's first ejection since November 28, 2015 (2 x Vavra; QOC = Y [HBP/Ball]).

Wrap: Sydney Blue Sox vs. Brisbane Bandits (Australian Baseball League), 1/9/16
[Video posted below, via 'read more']