MLB Ejections 79-81 - Dan Bellino (6-8; CWS x3)

HP Umpire Dan Bellino ejected White Sox pitcher Jimmy Cordero (throwing at Cubs batter Willson Contreras), manager Rick Renteria and pitching coach Don Cooper (ejection/warnings Unsportsmanlike-NEC) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Cubs-#WhiteSox game. With one out and none on, Contreras took two 98-mph sinkers from Cordero, the second for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate both pitches were located inside and high, with the HBP striking Contreras in the upper back several innings following a home run during which Contreras flipped his bat high in the air, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejections, the Cubs were leading, 7-0. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 10-0.

These are Dan Bellino (2)'s sixth, seventh, and eighth ejections of 2020.

Dan Bellino now has 19 points in the UEFL Standings (13 Prev + 3*[2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable Call] = 19).

Crew Chief Angel Hernandez now has 21 points in Crew Division (18 Prev + 3*[QOCU] = 21).

These are the 79th, 80th, and 81st ejection reports of the 2020 MLB regular season.

This is the 36th player ejection of 2020. Prior to ejection, Cordero's line was 0.1 IP, HBP.

This is the 35th Manager ejection of 2020.

This is Chicago-AL's 4-6th ejection of 2020, 1st in the AL Central (CWS 6; MIN 4; DET 2; KC 1; CLE 0).

This is Jimmy Cordero's first career MLB ejection.

This is Don Cooper's 1st ejection since July 27, 2018 (Fieldin Culbreth; QOC = N [Check Swing]).

This is Rick Renteria's 3rd ejection of 2020, 1st since Sept 22 (Angel Hernandez; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

This is Dan Bellino's 6/7/8th ejection of 2020, 1st since Sept 21 (Rick Renteria; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox, 9/25/20 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 78 - John Tumpane (2; Aaron Boone)

HP Umpire John Tumpane ejected Yankees Manager Aaron Boone (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 1st inning of the #Marlins-#Yankees game. With one out and none on, Yankees batter Aaron Judge took a 3-2 slider from Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.37, pz 1.38 [sz_bot 1.86 / RAD 1.74 / MOE 1.65]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Marlins were leading, 3-0. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 4-3, in 10 innings.

This is John Tumpane (74)'s second ejection of 2020.
John Tumpane now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 0).
Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has -2 points in Crew Division (-2 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = -2).

This pitch was located 3.24 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 78th ejection report of the 2020 MLB regular season.

This is the 34th Manager ejection of 2020.

This is New York's 5th ejection of 2020, 1st in the AL East (NYY 5; TOR 4; BAL, TB 2; BOS 0).

This is Aaron Boone's 2nd ejection of 2020, 1st since Aug 8 (Vic Carapazza; QOC = U [Warnings]).

This is John Tumpane's 2nd ejection of 2020, 1st since Sept 1 (Derek Shelton; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs. New York Yankees, 9/25/20 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 77 - Jim Reynolds (1; Matt Kemp)

HP Umpire Jim Reynolds ejected Rockies DH Matt Kemp (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Rockies-#Diamondbacks game. With two out and none on, Kemp took a 2-2 fastball from Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.75, pz 2.21), the call was correct.*^ At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 3-0. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 4-0.


This is Jim Reynolds (77)'s first ejection of 2020.
Jim Reynolds now has 9 points in the UEFL Standings (5 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 9).
Crew Chief Jim Reynolds now has 11 points in Crew Division (10 Previous + 1 QOCY = 11).

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

*This pitch was located 1.97 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

^See UEFL Rule 6-5-c-5 regarding "realistically resulted in a different outcome" pitch counts.

This is the 77th ejection report of the 2020 MLB regular season.

This is the 35th player ejection of 2020. Prior to ejection, Kemp was 0-1 (SO) in the contest.

This is Colorado's 2nd ejection of 2020, T-3rd in the NL West (LAD 4; ARI 3; COL, SD 2; SF 1).

This is Matt Kemp's 2nd ejection of 2020, 1st since Sept 4 (Gabe Morales; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Jim Reynolds' 1st ejection since June 17, 2018 (Jason Vargas; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 9/25/20 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 76 - Nick Mahrley (2; Chris Woodward)

HP Umpire Nick Mahrley ejected Rangers Manager Chris Woodward (strike one call; QOCN) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Rangers-#Diamondbacks game. With none out and none on, Rangers leadoff batter Isiah Kiner-Falefa took a first-pitch fastball from Diamondbacks pitcher Yoan Lopez for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the midpoint (px -0.06, pz 3.72 [sz_top 3.35 / RAD 3.47 / MOE / 3.56]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 7-3. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 7-3. 

This is Nick Mahrley (48)'s second ejection of 2020.
Nick Mahrley now has 3 points in the UEFL Standings (5 Prev + 2 AAA - 4 Incorrect Call = 3).
Crew Chief Jim Reynolds now has 10 points in Crew Division (10 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 10).

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

This is the 76th ejection report of the 2020 MLB regular season.

This is the 33rd Manager ejection of 2020.

This is Texas' 2nd ejection of 2020, T-3rd in the AL West (LAA 5; OAK 3; HOU, TEX 2; SEA 1).

This is Chris Woodward's 1st ejection since Sept 12, 2019 (Mike Muchlinski; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Nick Mahrley's 2nd ejection of 2020, 1st since Aug 9 (Dusty Baker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 9/23/20 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 75 - Bill Miller (1; Brian Butterfield)

2B Umpire Bill Miller ejected Angels 3B Coach Brian Butterfield (reversed Replay Review no-catch call/runner placement; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Angels-#Padres game. With two out and two on (R1, R3), Angels batter David Fletcher hit a line drive to left fielder Tommy Pham, ruled a catch by1B Umpire Doug Eddings. Upon Replay Review as the result of a Manager's Challenge by Angels Manager Joe Maddon, Eddings' ruling was overturned to a drop and runners placed with R3 Taylor Ward scoring and R1 Anthony Bemboom placed at third base. Play was reviewed and adjudicated by the UEFL Appeals Board (6-0), the call was correct.^ At the time of the ejection, the Angels were leading, 5-2. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 5-2. 

This is Bill Miller (26)'s first ejection of 2020.
Bill Miller now has 6 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 6).
Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).

^Regarding runner placement, Rule 8.02(c) states, "If the umpires consult after a play and change a call that had been made, then they have the authority to take all steps that they may deem necessary, in their discretion, to eliminate the results and consequences of the earlier call that they are reversing, including placing runners where they think those runners would have been after the play, had the ultimate call been made as the initial call."

This is the 75th ejection report of the 2020 MLB regular season.

This is LA-Anaheim's 5th ejection of 2020, 1st in the AL West (LAA 5; OAK 3; HOU 2; SEA, TEX 1).

This is Brian Butterfield's 1st ejection since April 21, 2017 (Alan Porter; QOC = Y-c [Replay Review]).

This is Bill Miller's 1st ejection since September 6, 2019 (Charlie Montoyo; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Angels vs. San Diego Padres, 9/23/20 | Video as follows:

MLB Announces Atlantic League as First Partner

Major League Baseball has found its first Partner: The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The new designation means that ALPB and MLB will meet and coordinate regularly regarding marketing, promotional opportunities, and, yes, experimental rules changes.

MLB's press release states that, "During the 2019 season, MLB and ALPB partnered to successfully test the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), which used radar tracking technology to assist home plate umpires in calling balls and strikes."

Given our documentation concerning ABS' performance in the 2019 Atlantic League, however, Webster might want to rewrite the dictionary's definition of the word "success" to better accommodate what actually happened in the 2019 ALPB and Arizona Fall League.

Related Post: Computer Strike Call Prompts Navas' AFL Ejection (10/16/19).

Related Post: ABS Playoff Highlights - Delayed Calls & System Errors (10/1/19).

Related Post: Atlantic League ABS Robo-Ump Ejection Encore (9/28/19).

Related Post: Arizona Fall Testing Automated Ball/Strike System (9/27/19).

Related Post: Bemused Batter Buzzes ABS Online (7/30/19).

Related Post: ALPB's Strike Zone Change & 1st ABS Call (7/26/19).

Related Post: ALPB - Inconsistent TrackMan Use Riles Coaches (7/22/19).

Related Post: ALPB TrackMan Follies - A Neck-High Strike (7/15/19).

Related Post: History - Baseball's First Ejection Due to TrackMan (7/12/19).

Related Post: Reviewing Atlantic League's Automated Strike Zone (7/11/19).

Looks like Joe Torre left his Park Avenue office just in time. | Video as follows:

Related Post: Torre Doesn't Want Robot Umpires in MLB (7/26/19).

Kruk Hawks Joe as Crew Calls Backswing Interference

When HP Umpire Vic Carapazza and Crew Chief Joe West enforced the proper penalty for backswing interference (Rule 6.03(a)(3) Comment) during Tuesday's Phillies-Nationals game, Philadelphia broadcaster John Kruk expressed frustration, disgust, and, most notably, a thorough lack of understanding or regard for the Official Baseball Rules.

The following sequence describes what happens when the momentum of a batter's backswing (OBR/NCAA) or follow-through (NFHS) carries the bat behind his back and inadvertently makes contact with the catcher behind him as the catcher attempts to make a play.

Note: In high school (NFHS), backswing denotes pre-pitch bat movement (e.g., when the batter is first getting set in the box) whereas follow-through denotes post-pitch movement.

The Play: With one out and one on (R2), Phillies batter Alec Bohm swung at and missed hitting a 2-0 fastball from Nationals pitcher Daniel Hudson as Phillies baserunner R2 Roman Quinn attempted to steal third base. After receiving the pitch, Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki attempted to throw Quinn out at third base, with Quinn sliding into the base ahead of third baseman Brock Holt's tag, eliciting a safe call by 3B Umpire David Arrieta.

Crew Conference: Immediately thereafter, Suzuki and Nats Manager Dave Martinez appealed to HP Umpire Vic Carapazza about potential backswing contact as replays indicate that Bohm's bat appeared to make contact with Suzuki's leg during Suzuki's throw to third base. After crew consultation with Carapazza, Arrieta, and 2B Umpire Junior Valentine, Crew Chief Joe West signaled for Quinn to return to second base and explained his ruling to Phillies skipper Joe Girardi, thus enforcing the penalty for backswing interference, as in Official Baseball Rule 6.03(a)(3) Comment:

If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play.

Accordingly, West's crew made the correct call—dead ball strike, return the runner to the base initially occupied at the time of the pitch—but that didn't stop Kruk from expressing a Hawk Harrelson-esque exasperation...just as color analyst FP Santangelo on the Nats broadcast properly cited the rule.

Related Post: Follow-Through (Backswing) Contact or Batter Interference? (10/13/17).

Related Post: Case Play 2016-9 - A Backswing on Strike 3 [Solved] (8/26/16).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 73-74 - Angel Hernandez (2-3; CWS x2)

HP Umpire Angel Hernandez ejected White Sox SS Tim Anderson and Manager Rick Renteria (check swing strike three call) in the top of the 10th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Indians game. With none out and one on (R2 [runner placed on second base to begin the extra inning]), White Sox batter Luis Robert attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 cutter from Indians pitcher Phil Maton, ruled a swinging strike by HP Umpire Hernandez. Play was reviewed and adjudicated by the UEFL Appeals Board (8-0), the call was correct. At the time of the ejections, the game was tied, 1-1. The Indians ultimately won the contest, 5-3, in 10 innings.

These are Angel Hernandez (5)'s second and third ejections of 2020.
Angel Hernandez now has 16 points in the UEFL Standings (8 Prev + 2*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 16).
Crew Chief Angel Hernandez now has 18 points in Crew Division (16 Previous + 2*[1 QOCY] = 18).

These are the 73rd and 74th ejection reports of the 2020 MLB regular season.

This is the 34th player ejection of 2020. Prior to ejection, Anderson was 1-4 (SO) in the contest.

This is the 32nd Manager ejection of 2020.

This is Chicago's 2/3rd ejection of 2020, 2nd in the AL Central (MIN 4; CWS 3; DET 2; KC 1; CLE 0).

This is Tim Anderson's 1st ejection since April 17, 2019 (Joe West; QOC = U [Fighting]).

This is Rick Renteria's 2nd ejection of 2020, 1st since Sept 21 (Dan Bellino; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Angel Hernandez's 2/3rd ejection of 2020, 1st since Aug 5 (Phil Nevin; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians, 9/22/20 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 72 - Manny Gonzalez (1; Mike Matheny)

HP Umpire Manny Gonzalez ejected Royals Manager Mike Matheny (balls/strikes; QOCY) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Cardinals-#Royals game. With none out and none on, Cardinals leadoff batter Dylan Carlson took a 0-2 slider from Royals pitcher Brady Singer for a called first ball before hitting a triple down the right field line. Replays indicate all callable pitches during the fractional inning prior to Matheny's mound-visit/pitching change ejection were properly officiated, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 3-0. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 5-0.

This is Manny Gonzalez (79)'s first ejection of 2020.
Manny Gonzalez now has 3 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 3).
Crew Chief Ron Kulpa now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 4).

This is the 72nd ejection report of the 2020 MLB regular season.

This is the 31st Manager ejection of 2020.

This is Kansas City's 1st ejection of 2020, T-3rd in the AL Central (MIN 4; DET 2; CWS, KC 1; CLE 0).

This is Mike Matheny's 1st ejection since Aug 16, 2017 (Chris Segal; QOC = U [Time Call]).

This is Manny Gonzalez's 1st ejection since Sept 19, 2019 (Mike Montgomery; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: St Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals, 9/22/20 | Video as follows:

Injury - Fairchild's Exit Sees Debut of Five-Person Crew

When HP Umpire Chad Fairchild suffered a game-ending injury and left Monday's Yankees-Blue Jays game, MLB debuted its post-season push regular season five-person crew, adding call-up Ryan Additon to the field as Crew Chief Paul Nauert assumed plate duties.

In the top of the 2nd inning of the Yankees-Jays game, Yankees batter Aaron Hicks fouled a 93.9-mph 0-1 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Matt Shoemaker directly into the crown portion of Fairchild's traditional-style facemask.

Fairchild remained in the contest through the half-inning's completion, at which time he was replaced behind by the plate by 2B Umpire Nauert as 1B Umpire Carlos Torres and 3B Umpire Jansen Visconti remained at their assignments. Additon, serving as a standby official—a fairly new concept for Major League Baseball—took over Nauert's spot at second base, preserving the four-person crew.

Relevant Injury History: Injury Scout - Fairchild Hurt in Miami (8/14/19).

Fairchild Sits Out Thurs After Foul to Face on Wed (6/19/15).

Last Game: Sept 21 | Return to Play: Sept 27 | Time Absent: 6 Days | Video as follows: