MLB Ejection 066: Andy Fletcher (3; Terry Francona)

HP Umpire Andy Fletcher ejected Indians Manager Terry Francona for arguing a strike three call in the top of the 8th inning of the Indians-Tigers game. With two out and none on, Indians batter Michael Brantley took a

Francona and Fletcher feud in the 8th.

1-2 slider from Tigers pitcher Phil Coke for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located midpoint-high and over the outer half of home plate (pz 3.227; sz_top 3.430), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Tigers were leading, 6-4. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Andy Fletcher (49)'s third ejection of 2013.
Andy Fletcher now has 12 points in the UEFL (8 + 4 Y = 12).
Crew Chief Joe West now has 3 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).

This is the 66th ejection of 2013.

This is the 32nd Manager ejection of 2013.
This is the Indians' 5th ejection of 2013, 1st in the AL Central (CLE 5; KC 2; CWS, DET, MIN 1).
This is Terry Francona's 2nd ejection of 2013, first since June 2 (Bill Welke; QOC = N).
This is Andy Fletcher's first ejection since June 4 (Mike Carp; QOC = Y).

Wrap: Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers, 6/8/13
Video: After inning's end, Swisher and Fletcher jaw, interrupted by Francona, who takes the toss (CLE)

MiLB Ejection of the Week: Adam Hamari (2, 3, 4, 5)

MiLB Intent HBP: HP Umpire Adam Hamari ejected PawSox P Allen Webster & M Gary DiSarcina for throwing at Knights batter Steve Tolleson, 1B Drew Sutton for arguing the Webster ejection (Unsportsmanlike-NEC) in the top of the 4th inning and Pitching Coach Rich Saveur for arguing a non-ejection for throwing at

DiSarcina contests the pitch was not intentional.

(Unsportsmanlike-NEC) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Knights-Red Sox game. After a lead-off home run in the top of the 2nd inning, Webster hit Knights batter Josh Phegley with a pitch, followed two batters later with a Seth Loman hit by pitch, resulting in warnings. In the 4th, with none out and one on as a result of a Loman single, Webster hit Steve Tolleson with a pitch, resulting in Webster and Manager DiSarcina's ejections and first baseman Drew Sutton's ejection for throwing his glove in reaction to the ejection call. In the 9th, with one out and none on, Knights pitcher Daniel Moskos walked Red Sox batter Brock Holt during an at bat that featured an inside ball; Saveur was ejected arguing Hamari's ejection no-call. At the time of the Bailey/DiSarcina/Sutton ejections, the Knights were leading, 5-2. At the time of the Saveur ejection, the Knight led, 10-3. The Knights ultimately won the contest, 10-5.

These are Adam Hamari's second, third, fourth and fifth ejections of the 2013 Triple-A IL season.
Credit as always due to Russ for spotting our AAA umpire ejection activity.

These are DiSarcina and Webster's second ejections as a duo for throwing at after warning in the past month:
PU Jeff Gosney ejected DiSarcina & Webster for the same reason (throwing at after warn) on May 24.
DiSarcina & P Pedro Beato were ejected for the same reason (throwing at) on May 21.

Wrap: Charlotte Knights vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (MiLB AAA International League), 6/6/13
Video: Webster's HBP of Tolleson, ruled intentional, results in his & DiSarcina's ejections after warnings

The Retouch Rule 7.08(d): A Game of Acting and Knowing

When the umpires suffered a week of bad press earlier this season, Vin Scully provided a much-needed reprieve, so we thought we'd see what Scully had to offer tonight after some hotly contested ejections by Clint Fagan, Dan Iassogna and the controversial gum-throwing Jordan Baker. Fortunately, Vinny didn't disappoint.

Scully—the man that UEFL'ers in 2011 voted baseball's best broadcaster—paired up with the ever-affable CB Bucknor and colleague Rick Monday to educate fans about the finer points of the "retouch rule."

Rule 2.00 specifies a retouch is the "act of a runner in returning to a base as legally required."
Rule 7.02, which establishes that a runner shall run the bases in order, also orders runners to retouch all bases in reverse order if forced to return to a base.
Finally, Rule 7.08(d) requires a runner to "retouch his base after a fair or foul ball is legally caught before he, or his base, is tagged by a fielder." If he fails to do so, the defensive team may appeal for an out.

Bucknor praised after call at 2nd.

With none out and one on in the top of the 8th inning of the Braves-Dodgers game, Braves batter Andrelton Simmons hit a fly ball to Dodgers center fielder Andre Ethier as baserunner R1 Jordan Schafer ran with the pitch before returning to first base. Unfortunately for Schafer, the adept CB Bucknor and Dodgers second baseman Skip Schumaker saw a violation of Rules 2.00 RETOUCH, 7.02 and 7.08(d) and, after appeal, Schafer was called out to complete the double play.

Replays indicate Schafer slid headfirst into second base, rounded and took two steps beyond second base towards third and then, realizing Ethier was about to catch the baseball, retreated to first base without first retouching second base, the out call on appeal was correct.

And so was Scully, who said:

Let's take a look and see. There's Schafer going into second, the Dodgers trying to double team him... Oh, he rounded second, you see that? He went in and actually took two steps beyond second base and then didn't touch second base going back to first, so that was a great call by the umpires, indeed.

Unfortunately, the video ends before Scully's recap of the play following the mid-inning commercial break:

Schafer lost where the ball was and forgot to retouch second on his way back to first... He said "I touched the bag," but he only touched it once; he should have touched it twice. Heads up play by Punto, Schumaker and the Dodgers. Plus, a very, very good call by CB Bucknor, the umpire at second base. They always get boo'd at, but boy that was a great call by the umpire to spot it. 

Meanwhile, Braves broadcaster Chip Caray had a different take: "They're going to say he didn't retag. They're going to call Schafer out for not retagging, you see he touched it, he slid and stood back up and stepped right back on the bag and came back to first. Now Dale Scott saying, 'you overslid and didn't retouch. You have to retouch the bag.'"

After viewing the tape, Caray admitted there was no retouch, crediting Punto-Schumaker with a "great play."

Dodgers radio analyst Rick Monday spotted it immediately: "The Dodgers need to make the appeal to second base, he went past the bag and didn't retouch it on the way back—he's out!"

In closing, Monday said what we all are constantly thinking: "I'm still amazed at how many players play this game and do not know the rules—and I'm talking about basic rules... Both Schumaker and Punto should get an award for supporting cast...I'm sorry, this is the major leagues—that's basic. I'm amazed. Again, Schafer did not know where the ball was. Once he got up, he turned and looked at his third base coach but took a step toward third base—well, that's in the interpretation, an 'advance,' but even if you overslide the bag, you have to come back and hit it on the way back." Added Charlie Steiner, "you have to retouch."

Video: Schafer fails to retouch 2nd while running in reverse order, LA appeals and CB bangs the out (LAD)
[Context: On Monday, the Dodgers middle infield deked Padres R1 Chris Denorfia on a fly ball to deep right field in the 9th, allowing RF Yasiel Puig to complete a game-ending double play, as called by HP Umpire Mark Wegner after making sure U2 Tim Timmons was not also making a call]

Injury: John Hirschbeck Struck in Wrist, Leaves for X-Rays

Plate umpire John Hirschbeck left the Marlins-Phillies game due to injury after being struck in the right wrist by a direct shot from Marlins pitcher AJ Ramos. With none out and none on in the bottom of the 7th inning,

Hirschbeck hit square in the wrist, leaves game.

Phillies batter Freddy Galvis attempted to check his swing on a 1-0 fastball, which zipped past Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo and struck Hirschbeck flush in the wrist. After being attended to by the Phillies training staff, Hirschbeck was forced to leave the game as 2B Umpire Jim Reynolds retreated to the umpires' dressing room to suit up and take over behind the plate.

Word on Hirschbeck's condition or x-ray results following the injury were not immediately available.

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 6/5/13
Video: Hirschbeck hit by pitch, leaves game (http://wapc.mlb.com/play/content_id=27761029)

Fake-to-Third: Reds Take Lead on First Regular Season Balk

The fake-to-third balk has finally happened in an MLB game at a high-stakes time. In a textbook situation for the move—one out, runners on first and third base—Rockies pitcher Edgmer Escalona stepped towards third

C Torrealba questions not the ump, but his pitcher

base and feigned a throw before wheeling to check the runner back to first, a move than in 2012 would have drawn no attention.

Instead, while broadcaster Thom Brenneman knowingly said, "you're not allowed to do that anymore," home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom uttered "that's a balk!" and calmly pointed to the infraction, signaling baserunner R3 Xavier Paul in to score. Even Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba gestured and yelled toward his pitcher, appearing quite cognizant of the new rule. Back on TV, Reds color commentator Chris Welsh provided his analysis of the play, saying what we were all thinking:

Well, it took longer into the season than I thought to finally see somebody who forgot that they changed the rule, no one told Edgmer Escalona. Up until this year, this move was permitted, it was not a balk. You fake to third, throw to first or not throw to first, but they took that rule off the books.

In Jan., fake-to-3rd was outlawed in part to speed up games (Popular Fake to 3rd Pickoff Move now Illegal).

Though the Escalona balk gave the Reds a 4-3 lead, the Colorado Rockies ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

Video: Escalona balks in violation of the newly revised OBR Rule 8.05(b) [it is a balk when—] (CIN)

MLB Ejection 065: Tim Timmons (4; Bud Black)

1B Umpire Tim Timmons ejected Padres Manager Bud Black for arguing an out call in the top of the 8th inning of the Padres-Dodgers game. With one out and one on, Padres batter Chris Denorfia hit a 1-0 cutter

Timmons and Black share a difference of opinion.

from Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen on the ground to shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who threw to second baseman Mark Ellis to retire baserunner R1 Alexi Amarista at second base and onto first baseman Adrian Gonzalez as Denorfia arrived at first base. Replays indicate Gonzalez fielded the throw after to Denorfia's right foot first contacted the base, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 9-7. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 9-7.

This is Tim Timmons (95)'s fourth ejection of 2013.
Tim Timmons now has 4 points in the UEFL (6 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = 4).
Crew Chief Mike Winters now has 4 points in the Crew Division (4 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 4).

This is the 65th ejection of 2013.
This is the 31st Manager ejection of 2013.
This the Padres' 2nd ejection of 2013, T-3rd in the NL West (LAD 5; ARI 4; SD, SF 2; COL 0).
This is Bud Black's first ejection since July 5, 2012 (Brian Knight; QOC = N).
This is Tim Timmons' first ejection since April 26 (Sanchez/Hurdle/Craig; QOC = U).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6/4/13
Video: Black argues the back-end of a double play to end the 8th and is ejected in the process (SD)

MLB Ejection 064: Jordan Baker (1; Alan Trammell)

3B Umpire Jordan Baker ejected Arizona Diamondbacks Bench Coach Alan Trammell for arguing a safe call (Unsportsmanlike-NEC; repeat visit) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Diamondbacks-Cardinals game.

Baker and a cameo by Angel's snapback cap.

With two out and one on, Cardinals batter Yadier Molina took a 3-0 fastball from D-Backs pitcher Tyler Skaggs as Cardinals baserunner R2 Carlos Beltran attempted to steal third base as Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero attempted to throw him out. Replays indicate D-Backs third baseman Martin Prado caught the ball and appeared to tag Beltran's right foot with his glove prior to Beltran arriving at third; because Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson argued the call at the time of the event, Trammell's ejection during a pitching change falls under the classification of USC-NEC - no exemption applies, the call was irrecusable.* At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 6-5. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 7-6.

This is Jordan Baker (71)'s second ejection of 2013.
Jordan Baker now has 6 points in the UEFL (3 + 3 AAA + 0 Irrecusable Call = 6).
Crew Chief Dana DeMuth now has 1 point in the Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Irrecusable Call = 1).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-5-b specifies irrecusability for teams engaging in two+ visits concerning the same play.

This is the 64th ejection of 2013.
This the Diamondbacks' 4th ejection of 2013, 2nd in the NL West (LAD 5; ARI 4; SF 2; SD 1; COL 0).
This is Alan Trammell's first ejection since September 20, 2005 (Lance Barksdale; QOC = U).
This is Jordan Baker's first ejection since April 9 (Carlos Carrasco; QOC = U).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6/5/13
Video: Baker ejects Trammell for arguing a safe call at third base that preceded a Cardinals run (ARI)

MLB Ejection 063: Andy Fletcher (2; Mike Carp)

HP Umpire Andy Fletcher ejected Red Sox 1B Mike Carp for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Rangers-Red Sox game. With none out and one on, Carp took a 1-2

Strike three to Carp results in ejection.

changeup from Rangers pitcher David Murphy for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located midpoint high and over the outer half of home plate (sz_top 3.430 pz 3.497; 0.067 / MoE 0.083), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 17-5. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 17-5.

This is Andy Fletcher (49)'s 2nd ejection of 2013.
Andy Fletcher now has 8 points in the UEFL (4 + 2 MLB + 2 Y = 8).
Crew Chief Joe West now has 2 points in the Crew Division (1+1=2).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-2 (Miller Rule) and the physics of a breaking ball falling from the front of home plate specify this was a correct call.
Drjjulius wins UEFL Prop Bet 2013-08, Date of first Red Sox ejection (response: June 1, 3 days).

This is the 63rd ejection of 2013.
This is the 29th player ejection of 2013. Prior to his ejection, Carp was 3-4 in the contest.
This the Red Sox's 1st ejection of 2013, T-3rd in the AL East (TOR 5; TB 4; BAL, BOS, NYY 1).
This is Mike Carp's first career ejection.
This is Andy Fletcher's first ejection since April 13 (Bob Melvin; QOC = Y).

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs. Boston Red Sox, 6/4/13
Video: After being called out on strikes in a Sox blowout, Carp is tossed out of the ballgame (BOS)

MLB Ejection 062: Tony Randazzo (1; Mike Aviles)

HP Umpire Tony Randazzo ejected Indians shortstop Mike Aviles arguing a called foul ball after his at-bat following the top of the 9th inning of the Indians-Yankees game. With two out and none on, Aviles hit a

Aviles complains post-game and is dismissed.

1-1 cutter from Yankees closer Mariano Rivera to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki for the final out of the ballgame. Randazzo previously ruled Aviles fouled off the 0-0 pitch on a check swing; because this ejection occurred after the at-bat to end the game, pursuant to UEFL Rule 6-5-c, the call was irrecusable.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees had won the contest, 4-3.

This is Tony Randazzo (11)'s 1st ejection of 2013.
Tony Randazzo now has 2 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable Call = 2).
Crew Chief Brian Gorman now has 2 points in the Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Irrecusable Call = 2).
*UEFL Rule 6-5-c: "Quality of Correctness only applies to the call made directly prior to ejection, or, if balls/called strikes during a single at-bat, any pitch called during that at bat, provided that the call was against the ejected person (or his team) and this call realistically resulted in a different outcome of the at-bat."

This is the 62nd ejection of 2013.
This is the 28th player ejection of 2013. Prior to his ejection, Aviles was 1-4 in the contest.
This the Indians' 4th ejection of 2013, 1st in the AL Central (CLE 4; KC 2; CWS, DET, MIN 1).
This is Mike Aviles' first ejection since May 17, 2012 (Dan Bellino; QOC = Y).
This is Tony Randazzo's first ejection since September 4, 2012 (Joe Girardi; QOC = Y).

Wrap: Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees, 6/4/13
Video: Aviles and Manager Terry Francona argue the foul ball call to start the at-bat (CLE)
Video: Aviles has parting shot for Randazzo while exiting the field and is punished with ejection (NYY)

MLB Ejection 061: Dale Scott (1; Mark Parent)

HP Umpire Dale Scott ejected White Sox Bench Coach Mark Parent for arguing a strike two in the top of the 7th inning of the White Sox-Mariners game. With one out and one on, White Sox batter Jeff Keppinger took a fastball from Mariners pitcher Yoervis Medina for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located at the hollow of the knee and over the outer half of home plate (sz_bot 1.5, pz 1.575), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Mariners led, 4-1. The Mariners ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

Parent objects over Mgr Robin Ventura

This is Dale Scott (5)'s 1st ejection of 2013.
Dale Scott now has 4 points in the UEFL (0 + 2 MLB + 2 Y = 4).
Crew Chief Dale Scott now has 3 points in the Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).

This is the 61st ejection of 2013.
This the White Sox's 1st ejection of 2013, T-3rd in the AL Central (CLE 3; KC 2; CWS, DET, MIN 1).
This is Mark Parent's first ejection since September 8, 2012 (Mark Carlson; QOC = N).
This is Dale Scott's first ejection since July 14, 2012 (Terry Collins; QOC = Y).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners, 6/3/13 [Video N/A]