Rosters - 2022 AL and NL Wild Card Series

Major League Baseball assigned 24 umpires to the 2022 American and National League Wild Card Series round of the MLB postseason featuring Guardians-Rays & Blue Jays-Mariners (AL) and Cardinals-Phillies & Mets-Padres (NL) matchups. Crew Chiefs for this round of the postseason include Ted Barrett, Jerry Meals, Jeff Nelson, and Alfonso Márquez.

Crew Chiefs are indicated in bold text and by the -cc suffix with regular season crew chiefs denoted by an asterisk (*) while those working their first postseason will be noted with a ^1st^ mark. The following listings feature Game 1 configurations such that the plate umpire from Game 1 will work right field in Game 2, and all other umpires will move clockwise (e.g., 3B becomes 2B). 

AL Wild Card (Cleveland Guardians @ Tampa Bay Rays) Umpires:

HP: Doug Eddings [Game 1 Plate]                 [3rd Wild Card, 6 DS, 1 LCS, 1 WS]

1B: Adam Hamari [Game 2 Plate]                 [3rd Wild Card, 1 DS]

2B: Quinn Wolcott [Game 3 Plate]                [3rd Wild Card, 3 DS]

3B: Ted Barrett* -cc                                     [6th Wild Card, 12 DS, 9 LCS, 5 WS]

LF: Hunter Wendelstedt                                [2nd Wild Card, 5 DS, 4 LCS, 1 WS]

RF: Chad Whitson ^1st^                               [1st Wild Card]

AL Wild Card (Toronto Blue Jays vs Seattle Mariners) Umpires:

HP: Lance Barrett [Game 1 Plate]                 [3rd Wild Card, 2 DS]

1B: Todd Tichenor [Game 2 Plate]               [3rd Wild Card, 5 DS, 2 LCS, 1 WS]

2B: Brian Knight [Game 3 Plate]                 [3rd Wild Card, 4 DS]

3B: Jerry Meals* -cc                                   [3rd Wild Card, 9 DS, 3 LCS, 2 WS]

LF: Andy Fletcher                                        [3rd Wild Card, 2 DS]

RF: Roberto Ortiz ^1st^                               [1st Wild Card]

NL Wild Card (St Louis Cardinals vs Philadelphia Phillies) Umpires:

HP: DJ Reyburn [Game 1 Plate]                 [2nd Wild Card, 3 DS]

1B: Vic Carapazza [Game 2 Plate]             [2nd Wild Card, 5 DS, 1 LCS]

2B: Mike Muchlinski [Game 3 Plate]        [2nd Wild Card, 3 DS, 1 LCS, 1 WS]

3B: Jeff Nelson* -cc                                  [6th Wild Card, 8 DS, 9 LCS, 4 WS]

LF: Laz Diaz*                                            [3rd Wild Card, 7 DS, 4 LCS, 3 WS]

RF: John Libka ^1st^                                [1st Wild Card]

NL Wild Card (New York Mets vs San Diego Padres) Umpires:

HP: Adrian Johnson [Game 1 Plate]       [2nd Wild Card, 4 DS]

1B: Chris Guccione [Game 2 Plate]       [6th Wild Card, 7 DS, 4 LCS, 2 WS]

2B: Chris Conroy [Game 3 Plate]          [3rd Wild Card, 2 DS, 2 LCS, 1 WS]

3B: Alfonso Márquez* -cc                    [3rd Wild Card, 11 DS, 5 LCS, 4 WS]

LF: Bruce Dreckman                              [1st Wild Card, 5 DS, 2 LCS]

RF: Ben May ^1st^                               [1st Wild Card]

Wild Card Series Replay Review: Dan Bellino, Rob Drake, Manny Gonzalez, Mark Wegner*.

Video as follows:

After Pandemic Halts History, Lisa Turbitt Takes WBC Field

Baseball Canada umpire Lisa Turbitt was originally slated to make history as the first woman to officiate a World Baseball Classic Qualifier game in March 2020, but before the tournament could get going, it was postponed. Two years later, Turbitt joins an international roster of officials to work the WBC qualifier round in Fall 2022.

Turbitt's history-making game occurred September 30, 2022 at Estadio Nacional Rod Carew in Panama City in front of a crowd of 466 people. Turbitt and umpires Frantisek Pribyl, Dane Poncsak, and Michael Ulloa worked a rainy game—complete with a weather delay—in which Argentina defeated Pakistan, 7-4.

The Latin America leg of the WBC qualifying round follows the European qualifier that took place at Armin-Wolf Baseball Arena in Regensburg, Germany in September, with Great Britain and Czech Republic qualifying for the 2023 WBC.

The main World Baseball Classic tournament is scheduled to begin March 11, 2023, in the United States.

Stadium Ejection - Rangers Fan Removed After Jumping Fence During Aaron Judge's 62nd HR

You asked for a fan ejection, so here it is: Global Life Field security ejected a fan for jumping over an outfield spectator wall when Aaron Judge hit HR #62 in the top of the 1st inning of the #Yankees-#Rangers game. With none out and none on, Judge hit a home run to left field, breaking Roger Maris' American League single-season HR record. Replays indicate that while the home run was in flight, a fan jumped over the spectator fence but not onto the playing field, the ejection for violation of the ballpark's "not trespassing onto the field" rule was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the fan hadn't caught the ball. The fan ultimately did not catch the ball.

Global Life Field, like many stadiums throughout the league, publish a Guest Code of Conduct as well as a Prohibited Items and Behavior list (including the catch-all "disorderly conduct" which effectively serves the same purpose as the rulebook's elastic clause or phrase "unsportsmanlike conduct"), noting that violators may be ejected without refund (and may even be subject to arrest).

Video as follows:

Replay Rules Boston's Martinez Short of 1B vs New York

You asked us to take a look at a Replay Review decision that overturned 1B Umpire Paul Clemons' safe call on a play at first base when Red Sox batter-runner JD Martinez lunged for but missed touching first base as Yankees first baseman Marwin Gonzalez stretched to receive a throw.

Although there exists an MLB Umpire Manual interpretation holding that a runner shall be declared "safe" even if they miss a base based on timing alone, the fact of the matter is that in this case, the batter-runner (by virtue of being short of first base) hadn't yet reached first base when the fielder first possessed the ball. Had batter-runner Martinez instead overstepped first base and failed to touch the backside of the base after already having reached it, then the proper call from Replay would be to declare the runner safe, unless New York were to have filed a proper appeal before manager Aaron Boone challenged the play.

From MLBUM: "If the batter-runner misses first base, or a runner misses their next base, they shall be considered as having reached the next base, as referred to in the Note to Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(3)(D) and as stated in the Approved Ruling of Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a): 'A runner who misses the first base to which they are advancing and who is called out on appeal shall be considered as having advanced one base for the purpose of this rule.'"

If the Yankees failed to appeal prior to requesting a Replay Review, it would be too late to appeal after the review's conclusion and the runner Martinez would be ruled safe if the Replay Official determined his foot missed first base, but that the runner did, indeed, reach or arrive at first base prior to the fielder possessing the baseball.

Video as follows:

Phillies Lose Out After Backswing Interference Loophole, Get it Back After Wrong Count on Batter

A loophole in baseball's backswing interference rule nearly cost the Phillies an out in Washington, until HP Umpire Marvin Hudson lost track of the count, giving pitcher Zach Elfin an extra chance to strike out Nationals batter Victor Robles as Philadelphia defeated the Nats, 5-1, on Friday.

With two out and Nationals baserunner R2 Luis Garcia on second base, batter Victor Robles swung at and missed a 2-1 cutter from Phillies pitcher Elfin for a swinging strike as catcher JT Realmuto threw to second base in an attempt to pickoff runner R2 Garcia. Realmuto's initial throw did not retire the runner, but a rundown ensued during which it appeared as if Garcia ran out of the base path to avoid fielder Alec Bohm's tag.

Behind the play, HP Umpire Hudson, however, had called "Time" due to batter Robles' bat making contact with catcher Realmuto's hip on the backswing, an instance of follow-through contact. Pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 6.03(a) Comment, Garcia was returned to second base, safely: "If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard they carry the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of them 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."

Sidebar: In NFHS/high school, follow-through interference results in an out; pro and NCAA/college do not consider this bona fide interference.

Because the catcher's initial throw did not retire the runner, pursuant to modern interpretation, "Time" is called and play halted; professional baseball does not allow a delayed dead ball situation here to extend past the "initial throw."

With Washington given a second chance, Robles took Elfin's subsequent 2-2 pitch for a called ball, and the next pitch after that for another called ball—but no one on the field seemed to notice that four balls had been thrown to Robles. As such, the count became 3-2 instead of an at-bat-ending 4-2, and with that extra pitch, Elfin struck out Robles...for a cumulative 4-3 count.

Ball/Strike count as well as number of outs and similar scorekeeping variables are reviewable via Crew Chief Review, but with uniformed personnel apparently unaware of the incorrect count, play continued with the improper count becoming the official count, allowing the strikeout to stand.

Video as follows:

Teachable - A Base Touch Rotation with John Tumpane

For this Teachable, we watch an umpiring rotation during Tigers batter Riley Greene's triple as Detroit hosted Minnesota. After 2B Umpire Marvin Hudson goes out on a fly ball to the gap, 3B Umpire John Tumpane runs to fill in the vacated second base position, watching for batter-runner Greene's touch of second base.

Behind the play, HP Umpire Ryan Blakney has also rotated up the foul line to prepare for a play into third base and 1B Umpire Charlie Ramos is prepared to rotate to home plate if need be.

With no runners, the 2B Umpire is obliged to go out on any ball the umpire senses may become a "trouble" ball—which is those that may be subject to interference, catch/no catch issues, or stadium boundary questions such as a ball getting stuck in a wall or bounding out of play.

Sidebar: The following Mets-Marlins play from September 11, 2022 is an example of what might transpire if a 2B Umpire opts not to pursue a ball into the outfield that does indeed become a trouble ball, creating an umpiring coverage vacuum in the outfield that ultimately sees the home plate umpire make a lodged ball call.

Related Post: Angel Hernandez's Stuck Ball Ruling in Mets-Marlins (9/11/22).

Thus, it is important that all umpires on the field be prepared to rotate to new positions for new responsibilities as play develops, as Hudson's crew does in Detroit—Tumpane becoming the umpire in the middle as the Twins unsuccessfully appealed a missed base, ruled safe by Tumpane, and upheld via Replay Review.

Video as follows:

Jean Segura Thrown Out After Mistakenly Thinking Ball 3 Was Ball 4 - Reviewing The Umpire's Official Count

Phillies baserunner Jean Segura was thrown out between first and second base in Chicago after mistakenly thinking a 3-0 pitch had been called ball four when, in fact, it was a 2-0 pitch for ball three. HP Umpire Ted Barrett's and the Wrigley Field scoreboard's displayed counts conflicted and when an umpire's count conflicts with a broadcast or scoreboard, the umpire's version of events usually wins.

In baseball, stadium scoreboards are generally operated by the home team's entertainment or production department, as the modern Daktronics All Sport consoles (controllers) usually integrate with the overall show control system used to manage the video and LED boards around the facility.

And as fate would have it, this team-employed scoreboard operator rarely sits or communicates whatsoever with the actual MLB-trained stats stringer/datacaster, or the official scorer, who usually sits in the press box detached from the entertainment control room.

This approach differs from leagues such as the NHL, which employ off-ice officials to operate or sit with the scoreboard operator and are representatives (and paid by) the league itself, as opposed to the local team.

Nonetheless, the mistaken count—a ball was improperly added to begin Nick Maton's at-bat despite Cubs pitcher Javier Assad not throwing a single pitch (there was a pickoff attempt though)—made its way to both the scoreboard and Cubs television scorebug, but curiously not to the Phillies broadcast graphics (which presumably was independently controlled by a visiting TV operator)...although Philadelphia's broadcaster did refer to the scoreboard and give the incorrect count with such frequency that the independent away TV operator succumbed and incorrectly added a ball to the count, thus making it seem to most viewers that Maton had walked when in fact the count had simply reached 3-1.

With both broadcasts and the in-stadium scoreboard incorrectly adding a ball to the count, Segura was easily retired, with Barrett and 1B Umpire Charlie Ramos cognizant of the correct count.

When in doubt, refer to the on-field umpire, who carries a ball/strike/out indicator for just such a purpose.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 175-6 - Alan Porter (4-5; Rojas, Lovullo)

HP Umpire Alan Porter ejected Diamondbacks 3B Josh Rojas and manager Torey Lovullo (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Dbacks-#Astros game. With two out and none on, Rojas took a 2-2 fastball from Astros pitcher Justin Verlander 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 0.64, pz 1.81 [sz_bot 1.71 / RAD 1.59]) 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 Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 5-2, in 10 innings.

These are Alan Porter (64)'s 4th and 5th ejections of 2022.

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

This pitch was located 3.29 horizontal and 2.68 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 175th and 176th ejection reports of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 60th player ejection of 2022. Prior to ejection, Rojas was 0-3 (3 SO) in the contest.

This is the 94th manager ejection of 2022.

This is Arizona's 8/9th ejection of 2022, 1st in the NL West (ARI 9; SD 6; SF 5; COL 3; LAD 1).

This Josh Rojas' first career MLB ejection.

This is Torey Lovullo's 5th ejection of 2022, 1st since Sept 10 (H Wendelstedt; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Alan Porter's 4/5th ejection of 2022, 1st since Aug 16 (Myles Straw; QOC = Y [Foul/Strike]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Houston Astros, 9/28/22 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 173-74 - Ryan Blakney (2-3; Mattingly, Bleier)

HP Umpire Ryan Blakney ejected Marlins manager Don Mattingly and pitcher Richard Bleier (three no-stop balk calls by 1B Umpire John Tumpane; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Marlins-#Mets game. With two out and none on, Mets batter Jeff McNeil hit a 0-2 slider from Marlins relief pitcher Bleier on the ground for a single to become the first baserunner during Bleier's appearance. With two out and one on (R1), 1B Umpire Tumpane called Mets pitcher Bleier for three balks during Pete Alonso's at-bat, the penalty for which advanced the runner McNeil to second, third, and home bases respectively. Replays indicate Bleier failed to come to a stop while delivering from Set Position with runner McNeil on base, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejections, the Marlins were leading, 6-4. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

These are Ryan Blakney (36)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2022.

*Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(13) states, "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."

These are the 173rd and 174th ejection reports of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 93rd manager ejection of 2022.

This is the 59th player ejection of 2022. Prior to ejection, Bleier's line was 1.0 IP, H, 3 Balks, ER.

This is Miami's 10/11th ejection of 2022, 1st in the NL East (MIA 11; WAS 4; PHI 3; ATL, NYM 2).

This is Don Mattingly's 3rd ejection of 2022, 1st since July 9 (Mark Ripperger; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Richard Bleier's 1st ejection since July 20, 2021 (Cory Blaser; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

This is Ryan Blakney's 2/3rd ejection of 2022, 1st since Aug 31 (Brandon Crawford; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs New York Mets, 9/27/22 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 172 - Brennan Miller (1; Miguel Cairo)

3B Umpire Brennan Miller ejected White Sox interim manager Miguel Cairo (ball one call by HP Umpire Jansen Visconti/check swing; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Twins game. With none out and one on, Twins batter Matt Wallner attempted to check his swing on a 0-0 cutter from White Sox pitcher Lance Lynn, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Jansen Visconti and affirmed as no swing on appeal by 3B Umpire Miller. Cairo was ejected during a mound visit/pitching change two pitches later, following a Wallner home run. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the midpoint (px -0.56, pz 3.57 [sz_top 3.68 / RAD 3.80 / MOE 3.72]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Twins were leading, 4-0. The Twins ultimately won the contest, 4-0.

This is Brennan Miller (55)'s 1st ejection of 2022.

*This pitch was located 1.80 vertical inches from being ruled correct.

^Because pitch/location called a ball is QOCN, the check swing ball call is immaterial.

This is the 172nd ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 92nd manager ejection of 2022.

This is Chicago's 7th ejection of 2022, 1st in the AL Central (CWS 7; CLE 5; DET, KC, MIN 4).

This is Miguel Cairo's 3rd ejection of 2022, 1st since Sept 2 (Ron Kulpa; QOC = U [Warnings/Fight]).

This is Brennan Miller's 1st ejection since April 29, 2021 (Mike Schildt; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins, 9/27/22 | Video as follows: