Ejections 045, 046: Paul Emmel (1, 2)

1B Umpire Paul Emmel ejected Tigers First Base Coach Tom Brookens and Tigers Manager Jim Leyland for arguing a balk no call the top of the 5th inning of the Tigers-Indians game. With none out and one on, Tigers batter Andy Dirks hit a 1-0 changeup from Indians pitcher Justin Masterson for a pop out to Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis. Replays indicate on the 1-0 pitch to Dirks, Masterson failed to come to a complete stop from the set position prior to delivering the pitch to home plate, as required by OBR Rule 8.01(b); the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejections, the Indians led, 2-1. The Indians ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

These are Paul Emmel (50)'s first and second ejections of 2012.

Paul Emmel now has -4 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call] = -4).

Crew Chief Gary Darling now has 7 points in the UEFL's Crew division (7 Previous + 2*[0 Incorrect Call] = 7).
*After review, Quality of Correctness has been affirmed by the UEFL Appeals Board, 6-0.

UEFL Standings Update

These are the 45th and 46th ejections of 2012.

This is the 26th Manager ejection of 2012.

This is Tom Brooken's first ejection of 2012.

This is Jim Leyland's second ejection of 2012.

These are Detroit's third and fourth ejections of 2012 (second and third of the series).

This is Paul Emmel's first ejection since July 2, 2011.

Wrap: Tigers at Indians 5/24/12

Video: Brookens, Leyland ejected by Paul Emmel for arguing a balk no call

Ejection 044: Jerry Meals (1)

HP Umpire Jerry Meals ejected Tigers Batting Coach Lloyd McClendon for arguing a ball call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Tigers-Indians game. With two out and none on, Indians batter Jose Lopez took a 0-2 fastball for from Tigers pitcher Doug Fister for a called first ball. In the top of the seventh inning, Tigers batter Miguel Cabrera had taken a 3-0 sinker from Indians pitcher Joe Smith for a called first strike; McClendon believed both pitches were in the same location. Replays indicate the pitch to Lopez was located thigh high and off the outer edge of home plate (px value of 1.293), the call was correct. Though replays indicate the pitch to Cabrera was located thigh high and outside (px value of 0.967), this previous call is not reviewable per UEFL Rule 6-5-c. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 2-2. The Indians ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Jerry Meals (41)'s first ejection of 2012.

Jerry Meals now has 4 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).

Crew Chief Gary Darling now has 7 points in the UEFL's Crew division (6 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 7).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 44th ejection of 2012.

This is Detroit's second ejection of 2012.

This is Jerry Meals' first ejection since July 26, 2011.

Wrap: Tigers at Indians 5/23/12

Video: McClendon heaved by Meals arguing a ball call, questioning strike zone consistency (UEFL Embed)

Umpire Odds & Ends: Injuries, When an Ump Goes Down

Injuries: When an Umpire Goes Down: Injuries are an unfortunate reality of the sporting world. In baseball, players routinely hurt themselves overextending, diving, falling, sliding, running, pitching, getting hit by pitches, throws, fair and foul balls, bats and even colliding with teammates, opponents, walls or umpires.

Brian O'Nora Bleeds from a Broken Bat Injury / Photo: AP

Yet on Tuesday, it was 1B Umpire Andy Fletcher who was hit by a foul ball, to the tune of necessitating medical treatment and evaluation very shortly after the unwanted contact. Coincidentally, Fletcher was hit by a foul off the bat of Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie, two games off of Lawrie's own suspension for hitting umpire Bill Miller with a spiked helmet during an argument over a called third strike.

Most umpire injuries are structurally benign—the umpire may be hurt, but like the true athlete (s)he is, the umpire stays in the game, as in the case of CB Bucknor's collarbone shot in Detroit last Friday. Bucknor had been injured and forced to leave a game early on May 1, when he exited a Pirates-Cardinals contest with an undisclosed injury.

In 2011, a slew of umpire injuries necessitated the hiring of several AAA fill-in umpires in early July: Mark Wegner injured his calf in May 2011 (replaced by Mike Muchlinski), Jim Joyce suffered a season-ending knee injury (replaced by John Tumpane), Hunter Wendelstedt suffered a head injury after he was hit in the mask by a foul bunt, Paul Schrieber missed several months with an undisclosed injury (replaced by Angel Campos [hit in collarbone by pitch in 2010]), Lance Barksdale missed over a month with an undisclosed injury (replaced by Alan Porter), as did Paul Nauert (Vic Carapazza) and Tim Tschida missed nearly half the season due to injury (Mike Estabrook) as did John Hirschbeck—unfortunately, when Hirschbeck returned, he received a rude welcome in the form of a foul ball strike to the groin. These were in addition to Todd Tichenor serving as a fill-in for Bill Hohn, on the Disabled List. Perhaps no umpiring injury was as severe, however, as Kerwin Danley taking a 96 mph fastball from Brad Penny to the jaw, losing conciousness and being taken off the field by ambulance.

Case Plays: Confusion After Carom Kicked Catch

This Case Play has been completed. Congratulations to UEFL League Members BT_Blue, cyclone14, hitit2me, kickersrule, majessa, MSN_UMP, nwsquid, RadioPearl, RichMSN, SJR, Three-Ballin', tt49, TXWrangler, Turducken, & youthministeradam and fans BigMarc, Jason, MaestroBen, Nate, omgahokie & SJR for correctly answering the posted scenario. The correct response is:

B1 is out at the instant he passes R1 (7.08[h]), removing for the force out at second base on R1 at the instant B1 is declared out (Rule 2.00 [Force Play]). Therefore, R1 remains safe at first base and play continues with two out, R1 and B2 at the plate. This is not a double play.

Points Distribution
+1: BT_Blue, cyclone14, hitit2me, kickersrule, majessa, MSN_UMP, nwsquid, RadioPearl, RichMSN, Three-Ballin', tt49, TXWrangler, Turducken, youthministeradam

Thank you for participating in this Case Play and stay tuned for further Case Plays. The original Case Play post has been reproduced below.

Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan, Mike Smith Receive Game Misconducts Following Loss to LA Kings

The post-game ejection. Very rarely does one ever experience such an event in baseball, basketball or even football—in those three sports, officiating mechanics often instruct referees and umpires to leave the confines of the playing area upon the final out, whistle or horn. Avoiding confrontation is the name of the game—if a player argues, officials are to disengage and walk away.

Mike Smith & Shane Doan - Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

However, not every sport provides its officials with such luxuries. For as long as the professional sport has had on-ice officials, hockey has mandated its officials stay on the ice slightly longer than referees stay on a court or umpires on a field.

No, unlike their MLB and NBA brethren, NHL officials are implored by Rule 31.10 to "remain on the ice at the conclusion of each period until all players have proceeded to their dressing rooms. This means NHL referees and linesmen must observe the post-game handshake line during which they continue to hold jurisdiction over all on-ice, team, player and coach related matters.

This rules oddity gave rise to the most unusual of ejections Tuesday night—the post-game variety. After an uncalled knee of a hit—ruled controversial and egregious by Phoenix and clean by Los Angeles—by Kings captain Dustin Brown on Phoenix's Michal Rozsival in overtime of the deciding Game 5, Coyotes players grew furious at officials, continuing to protest the no-call even after Los Angeles' Dustin Penner scored the game winner at 17:42 of the period.

As the Kings celebrated a return to the Stanley Cup Finals, Coyotes captain Shane Doan and goalie Mike Smith confronted the officials, who had remained on-ice as specified by Rule 31.10. As Doan and Smith continued to berate and challenge referees Brad Watson and Kevin Pollock, they were assessed game misconduct penalties under the purview of Rule 39.5(ii), which specifically addresses unsportsmanlike conduct—obscene, profane or abusive language or gesture[s] directed at any on or off-ice official or [the use of] the name of any official coupled with any vociferous remarks—that occurs after the expiration of the game.

For the Coyotes and their stars Doan and Smith, it was truly a wait until the final possible moment of their 2012 post-season before drawing those final ejections and for referees Watson and Pollock, it was a rare series of post-game ejections necessitated by two rules unique to hockey.

Flagrant 2: Haslem, Pittman on Hook for Suspensions?

Does the NBA have a flagrant foul problem? Violent hits from Miami and Indiana might indicate so.

Before the following video analysis and review of each potentially flagrant foul that occurred in Tuesday's Heat-Pacers contest, it might be useful to consult the NBA Rules Book, which defines a flagrant foul as, "A flagrant foul is unnecessary and/or excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent whether the ball is dead or alive" (Rule 4-III-f).

Rule 12-B-IV specifically differentiates the Flagrant One vs. Flagrant Two foul:
Flagrant One: If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul—penalty (1) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.
Flagrant Two: If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary and excessive, a flagrant foul—penalty (2) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.

Furthermore, basketball officials are trained to look for three phases to determine if unnecessary and/or excessive contact shall be deemed flagrant.
1) The Wind-Up: Did the player prepare for unnecessary and/or excess contact by winding up before delivering the blow? This element premeditation is absolutely vital, especially in calling a Flagrant Two foul.
2) The Delivery: Described as "an appropriate level of impact" by NBA Executive Stu Jackson, the delivery phase is the contact itself. On its own merits and without criteria one or three, was the contact unnecessary and/or excessive?
3) The Follow Through: Perhaps the most difficult component to adjudicate, the final phase, the follow through, is crucial in determining flagrant foul status. To this end, officials must call the entire play and that includes officiating past the whistle. Many a fight has started due to a referee turning his or her back from a flagrant or even legal—yet hard— foul.

Now that we know what we're looking for, it is time to evaluate three tough fouls: One by Tyler Hansbrough against Dwayne Wade, the second by Udonis Haslem against Hansbrough and a third by Dexter Pittman against Lance Stephenson. For each play, a video link has been included.

Ejection 043: Tim Tschida (1)

1B Umpire Tim Tschida ejected Astros third baseman Chris Johnson for arguing an out call in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Cubs-Astros game. With two out none out, Johnson hit a 1-2 fastball from Cubs pitcher Travis Wood to shortstop Starlin Castro, who threw to first baseman Jeff Baker as Johnson arrived at first base. Replays indicate Baker caught the throw before Johnson's foot made contact with first base, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 1-1. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

This is Tim Tschida (4)'s first ejection of 2012.

Tim Tschida now has 4 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).

Crew Chief Tim Tschida now has 1 point in the UEFL's Crew division (0 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 1).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 43rd ejection of 2012.

This is the 16th player ejection of 2012.

This is Chris Johnson's first ejection of 2012.
This is Tim Tschida's first ejection since June 16, 2011.

Prior to his ejection, Chris Johnson was 0-2 in the contest.

Wrap: Cubs at Astros 5/22/12

Video: Johnson ejected after a diving stop by Starlin Castro and strong throw; ruled out by a half-step

Ejection 042: Gary Cederstrom (1)

HP Umpire Gary Cederstrom ejected Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz for arguing a ball call in the top of the 3rd inning of the Nationals-Phillies game. With none on and two out, Nationals batter Danny Espinosa took a 0-1 fastball from Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay for a ball. Replays indicate the pitch was thigh high, but off the inside corner of the plate (px value of 0.883), the call was correct.^* At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 4-1. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Gary Cederstrom (38)'s first ejection of 2012.
Gary Cederstrom now has 4 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Crew Chief Gary Cederstrom now has 1 point in the UEFL's Crew division (0 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 1).
^This pitch has a px value of 0.883, which is in the borderline range, therefore the call is correct. This ejection is not eligible for a ball/strikes exemption. (Pitch #1 to the previous batter, Ian Desmond, had a px value of 0.959, which is in the ball range.)
*After review, the Original Ruling has been affirmed by the UEFL Appeals Board in a 6-0 decision.

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 42nd ejection of 2012.
This is the 15th player ejection of 2012.
This is Cris Ruiz's first ejection of 2012.
This is Gary Cederstrom's first ejection since September 28th, 2010.
This is the Philadelphia Phillies 3rd ejection of 2012, and first player ejection.

Wrap: Nationals at Phillies 5/22/12
Video: Ruiz is ejected after turning around and arguing balls and strikes

NFL Approves Mandatory Thigh and Knee Pads for 2013

The National Football League (NFL) has approved mandatory thigh and knee pads for the 2013 season, much to the chagrin of the players' union.

Competition Committee Chairman & Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay explained the League's decision to reinstitute mandatory pads after previously removing the provision from the NFL's Rules Book: "Some of us felt we were remiss that we took it out of the rule book—high school and college makes it mandatory—and in our mind that is how it should be and will be in 2013."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell supported the Competition Comittee's decision: "We have raised the issue of mandatory pads for at least three years now. I believe the technology has improved, the pads are far better than a decade ago, they allow better performance and are more protective. Every other level of football uses the pads."

According to Playing Rule Proposal No. 8A, players not wearing the mandatory thigh and knee pads will be sent off the field by an official if not detected during the pre-game uniform inspection: "It's the same as if he ran on without a helmet," said McKay. "It is a safety rule ... That is really the extent of what we did today.  We didn’t vote on anything else."

Ejection 041: Hunter Wendelstedt (1)

HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tim Dillard for throwing at Twins second basemen Jamey Carroll in the top of the 9th inning of the Twins-Brewers game. With none out and none on, Twins batter Jamey Carroll took a 1-0 sinker for a ball. Replays indicate the pitch was thrown behind Carroll's back, the call is irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 16-2. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 16-4.

This is Hunter Wendelstedt (21)'s first ejection of 2012.
Hunter Wendelstedt now has 2 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable Call = 2).*
Crew Chief Jerry Layne now has 3 points in the UEFL's Crew division (2 Previous + 1 Irrecusable = 3).
*This call is irrecusable under UEFL Rule 6-2-b(5)

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 41st ejection of 2012.
This is the 14th player ejection of 2012.
This is Tim Dillard's first ejection of 2012.
This is the first ejection for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012.
Prior to his ejection, Dillard's line was 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER.

Wrap: Twins at Brewers 5/20/12
Video: Hunter tosses Dillard for throwing at Carroll