Rule 6.05(m): Intentional Interference or Crashing the Pivot

Rule 6.05(m) governs the case of runner's intentional interference in an attempt to break up a double play, stating the batter is out when, "a preceding runner shall, in the umpire’s judgment, intentionally interfere with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play."

Rule 6.05(m) Comment reads, "The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously this is an umpire’s judgment play."

Note that Rule 7.08(a)(1)—a runner is out when "he runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged"—is a rule change for the 2012 season. Prior to 2012, the bold text read the baseline.

MLB has made the distinction of a runner's personal base path as a direct line between a runner and base established at the time of tag, as opposed to the standard baseline, which is a simple line between bases. This has allowed Rule 7.08(a)(1) to be considered on its own merits and umpires no longer must autonomously decide upon the difference between the two terms. Accordingly, baseline as used in Rule 6.05(m) Comment is not subject to the three-foot provision of Rule 7.08(a)(1).

Case Study: Consider Game 2 of the NLCS between the Cardinals and Giants. (Video: Crash play at 2B)

With two on and one out in the top of the first inning, B1 Allen Craig hit a slow ground ball to shortstop, F6 Brandon Crawford throwing to F4 Marco Scutaro for the force out. As F4 Scutaro attempted to convert the force at second into a double play at first, R1 Matt Holliday barreled into F4 Scutaro, forcing U2 Greg Gibson to consider whether Holliday's act constituted intentional interference by which his action was obviously deliberate, unwarranted and unsportsmanlike. Note that unsportsmanlike and unwarranted are but two criteria of the intentional interference rule.

As for the third, one argument concerning Holliday's foot slipping in advance of second base is plausible and accordingly, it is plausible that Holliday's actions were not deliberate; therefore, one of the criteria employed to judge intentional interference was not satisfied and U2 Gibson was correct to withhold the 6.05(m) call.

As in any rule that requires an umpire's judgment of a player's intent, the official must err on the side of considering the runner's actions unintentional unless overwhelming evidence suggests otherwise. Furthermore, Rule 6.05(m) requires this evidence be of an "obvious" nature.

For an instance of Rule 6.05(m) enforcement, consult this play in which R1 clearly—and obviously—interferes with F6's attempt to complete a play. After umpire consultation, U2 Iassogna correctly invoked Rule 6.05(m).

Post-Season Ejection 01: Jeff Nelson (6)

2B Umpire Jeff Nelson ejected Yankees Manager Joe Girardi for arguing a safe call (Unsportsmanlike-NEC) in the top of the 8th inning of the Tigers-Yankees game. With two out and one on, Tigers batter Austin Jackson hit a 1-1 sinker from Yankees pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to right field, outfielder Nick Swisher throwing to second baseman Robinson Cano in an attempt to retire Tigers R1 Omar Infante after he rounded second base. Replays indicate Cano's tag preceded Infante's return touch of second base, the call was incorrect; however, because Girardi was ejected during a pitching change following an ensuing RBI single by Avisail Garcia, Quality of Correctness is irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Tigers were leading, 2-0. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 3-0.

This is Jeff Nelson (45)'s sixth ejection of 2012.
Jeff Nelson now has 7 points in the UEFL (4 Previous + 3 MLB Post-Season* + 0 Irrecusable* = 7).
Crew Chief Jeff Kellogg now has 9 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (8 Previous + 1 Irrecusable* = 9).
*Umpires receive 3 postseason base points pursuant to UEFL Rule 4-3-a. See 6-2-b-5 for irrecusibility.
Nelson said the following quote postgame: "The hand did not get in before the tag ... The call was incorrect."

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 179th ejection of 2012 and 1st ejection of the 2012 Postseason.
This is the 82nd Manager ejection and Joe Girardi's 5th ejection of 2012.
This is the Yankees' 6th ejection of 2012, T-3rd in the AL East (BOS 13; TB 7; NYY, TOR 6; BAL 4).
This is Joe Girardi's first ejection since September (Tony Randazzo; QOC = Correct).
This is Jeff Nelson's first ejection since October 2 (Freddie Freeman; QOC = Incorrect).

Wrap: Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees, ALCS Game 2, 10/14/12
Video: Omar Infante ruled safe at second base attempting to return after rounding on single to RF Swisher
Video: Nelson ejects Girardi during Boone Logan/Joba Chamberlain pitching change
Video: MLB Exec VP of Baseball Operations Joe Torre fields reporters' questions post-game
Video: Girardi pleads with professional baseball to expand instant replay beyond home runs

Polls: 2012 World Series Umpire Speculation & Wish List

With just the World Series umpire crew yet to be announced, the UEFL opens the floor for the annual World Series umpire speculation & poll: From the Eligible List, choose your World Series Umpires (Select 6).

Note that the Eligible List includes only the 19 umpires eligible for practical World Series consideration. These umpires have (1) worked the 2012 Division Series and (2) worked a previous League Championship Series, though not a 2012 LCS.

Eligible umpires who worked the 2012 All-Star Game include: Davis (HP), Jim Joyce (1B) and Tony Randazzo (3B). In 2011, All-Star Game plate umpire Dale Scott worked the Division, but not World Series, while 1B Umpire Jerry Layne served as World Series crew chief. In 2010, ASG UIC Mike Reilly did not work the World Series, although 1B Umpire Mike Winters did. In 2009, ASG plate Dana DeMuth did work the Series, as did ASG 1B Brian Gorman. Davis, whose hadn't worked ASG since 2002, served as 2009 WS crew chief.

Spoiler/UEFL Newsbreak below:
*Today's UEFL unconfirmed story (10/13): Gerry Davis has been selected as World Series Crew Chief*
*Confirmed (10/18): Dan Iassogna and Brian O'Nora will umpire their first World Series this year*

In the below poll, -cc indicates a potential World Series crew chief while an asterisk (*) indicates the umpire has not yet worked a World Series prior to 2012 and would accordingly be a Series rookie. The 2011 World Series featured two WS rookies (Greg Gibson, Ron Kulpa) as did 2010 (Sam Holbrook, Bill Miller), though the 2009 crew all had previous World Series experience, breaking MLB's trend of incorporating first-timers (2007 & 2008 had three rookies each while 2004, '05 and '06 featured two newcomers).

Following the 2009 season, major league owners ratified a new CBA with the World Umpires Association that would allow for umpire eligibility to work two, but not three, consecutive World Series. Since 2009, no umpire has worked two conescutive World Series, though Alfonso Marquez, who worked both the 2011 World Series and 2012 Division Series, accordingly remains eligible for 2012 World Series consideration.

Roster: 2012 League Championship Series (LCS) Umpires

MLB has released the following 2012 ALCS and NLCS Umpire assignments, 3rd round of the 2012 Playoffs.*

Crew A (MLB ALCS/DET@NYY)
HP: Jeff Kellogg -cc (10 pts)
1B: Rob Drake (0 pts)
2B: Sam Holbrook (18 pts)
3B: Jeff Nelson (4 pts)
LF: Gary Cederstrom (8 pts)
RF: Mike Winters (2 pts)

Crew B (MLB NLCS/STL@SF)
HP: Gary Darling -cc (24 pts)
1B: Chris Guccione (4 pts)
2B: Bill Miller (4 pts)
3B: Greg Gibson (10 pts)
LF: Ted Barrett (4 pts)
RF: Jerry Layne (10 pts)

-cc denotes Crew Chief. Per UEFL Rule 4-3-c, all umpires assigned to appear in the American or National League Championship Series shall receive three bonus points for this appearance; crew chiefs shall receive one additional bonus point for this role (four points total).

*The rotation listed above is the umpiring alignment for Game 1 of the Series. Assignments are rotated in the following manner: RF Umpire, LF Umpire, 3B Umpire, 2B Umpire, 1B Umpire, HP Umpire.

Discussions: 2012 AL & NL Division Series

As the ALDS and NLDS get underway, we again open the umpire forum to discussion. Notes include home plate umpire performance according to pitch f/x and UEFL Rules 6-2-b-a (horizontal bound, "Kulpa Rule") and 6-2-b-b (vertical strike zone, "Miller Rule"). Plays include significant plays, if such plays occur. All ALDS and NLDS games have concluded, with results below.

Cuzzi & Posey, CIN@SF, Gm 1

- Final, OAK@DET, Gm 1: HP Umpire Jim Reynolds: pfx (89/90 Balls, 39/54 Strikes = 128/144 = <90.0%)
- Final, CIN@SF, Gm 1: HP Umpire Phil Cuzzi: pfx (102/107 Balls, 38/44 Strikes = 140/151 = 92.7%)

- Final, OAK@DET, Gm 2: HP Umpire Mark Wegner: pfx (100/107 Balls, 45/50 Strikes = 145/157 = 92.4%)
- Final, WSH@STL, Gm 1: HP Umpire Paul Emmel: pfx (110/119 Balls, 39/51 Strikes = 149/170 = <90.0%)
- Final, NYY@BAL, Gm 1: HP Umpire Tony Randazzo: pfx (109/110 Balls, 55/62 Strikes = 164/172 = 95.3%)
- Final, CIN@SF, Gm 2: HP Umpire Brian O'Nora: pfx (102/103 Balls, 50/55 Strikes = 152/158 = 96.2%)

- Final, WSH@STL, Gm 2: HP Umpire Marvin Hudson: pfx (119/132 Balls, 35/45 Strikes = 154/177 = <90.0%)
- Final, NYY@BAL, Gm 2: HP Umpire Angel Hernandez: pfx (84/87 Balls, 45/48 Strikes = 129/135 = 95.6%)

- F/10, SF@CIN, Gm 3: HP Umpire Gerry Davis: pfx (100/104 B, 37/43 S = 137/147 = 93.2% [90.5% Raw])
- Final, DET@OAK, Gm 3: HP Umpire Dana DeMuth: pfx (89/92 Balls, 38/41 Strikes = 127/133 = 95.5%)

- Final, STL@WSH, Gm 3: HP Umpire Joe West: pfx (105/113 Balls, 47/53 Strikes = 152/166 = 91.6%)
- Final, SF@CIN, Gm 4: HP Umpire Dan Iassogna: pfx (110/115 Balls, 47/55 Strikes = 157/170 = 92.4%)
- F/12, BAL@NYY, Gm 3: HP Umpire Brian Gorman: pfx (89/94 Balls, 45/52 Strikes = 134/146 = 91.8%)
- Final, DET@OAK, Gm 4: HP Umpire Eric Cooper: pfx (86/90 B, 40/43 S = 126/133 = 94.7% [91.1% Raw])

- Final, SF@CIN, Gm 5: HP Umpire Tom Hallion: pfx (99/104 Balls, 44/55 Strikes = 143/159 = <90.0%)
- Final, STL@WSH, Gm 4: HP Umpire Jim Joyce: pfx (92/98 Balls, 33/49 Strikes = 125/147 = <90.0%)
- F/13, BAL@NYY, Gm 4: HP Umpire Fieldin Culbreth: pfx (124/127 Balls, 50/56 Strikes = 174/183 = 95.1%)
- Final, DET@OAK, Gm 5: HP Umpire Wally Bell: pfx (80/82 Balls, 35/47 Strikes = 115/129 = <90.0%)

- Final, BAL@NYY, Gm 5: HP Umpire Mike Everitt: pfx (87/88 Balls, 40/48 Strikes = 127/136 = 93.4%)
- Final, STL@WSH, Gm 5: HP Umpire Alfonso Marquez: pfx (137/141 Balls, 43/52 Strikes = 180/193 = 93.3%)

Notes
SF@CIN Gm 3 (Gerry Davis) was associated with a pitch f/x calibration error of ~.17 feet.
DET@OAK Gm 4 (Eric Cooper) was associated with a pitch f/x calibration error of ~.25 feet.

Plays
CIN@SF, Gm 1: Phillips eludes Scutaro's tag at second base as Davis makes excellent safe call
WSH@STL, Gm 2: Descalso/Jay combine for a time play, Jay out at second after run scores (2B: Jim Joyce)
NYY@BAL, Gm 2: Ichiro evades tag on play at plate to score Yankee run (HP Umpire: Angel Hernandez)
SF@CIN, Gm 3: Espinosa out on sacrifice bunt on close play at first base (1B Umpire: Jim Joyce)
BAL@NYY, Gm 3: McClouth caught stealing second as Jeter keeps tag on (2B Umpire: Mike Everitt)
STL@WSH, Gm 4: Espinosa pulled off base too early, disallows neighborhood play (2B Umpire: Hickox)

Umpires Uphold Foul Ball Call After Instant Replay Review

Does this ball hit the pole? You decide

When Orioles batter Nate McLouth's RF drive was ruled foul by umpire Fieldin Culbreth and upheld after instant replay review, the event marked the first usage of instant replay in postseason play since October 1, 2011, when a ball hit by the Yankees' Robinson Cano, initially ruled live, in play and a double, was upheld during that season's Tigers-Yanks ALDS, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

When instant replay was implemented on August 28, 2008, MLB instructed its umpires to employ "clear and convincing evidence" as the standard in determining that a call was incorrect and should be reversed. A lack of evidence should result in the upholding of the call on the field.

Accordingly, after the BAL@NYY umpires invoked instant replay to rule on McLouth's drive off of Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, the final determination to uphold Culbreth's call was made by crew chief and left field umpire Brian Gorman, based on his judgment that "clear and convincing" evidence did not exist to suggest Culbreth's call had been made erroneously.

The question remains: fair or foul? Consult the poll located on the right sidebar to cast your vote. One UEFL'er has already stated:

I think the one angle that makes it appear that it nicked the pole was an optical illusion. They have shown another angle where you can see daylight the whole way past the pole.

Fieldin Culbreth, meanwhile issued this statement: "I saw it go to the right of the pole," Culbreth said. "There is netting there and it didn't touch the netting. It did not change direction [indicating it grazed the pole]."

Instant replay has now been used five times in playoff baseball, resulting in two reversals (10/31/09, World Series, NYY@PHI, Alex Rodriguez hit reversed to a home run; 10/19/10, ALCS, TEX@NYY, Lance Berkman home run reversed to a foul ball) and three upheld calls (10/10/10, NLDS, PHI@CIN, Chasey Utley HR; 10/1/11, Cano; 10/12/12, McLouth).

Wrap: Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees, American League Division Series (Game 5), 10/12/12
Video: McLouth's fly ball to deep right field and into the Stadium's second deck (live broadcast footage)
Video: Frame-by-frame replay of the angle referred to above (magnified)

Yankee Stadium Boundary Catch Part II: Hernandez Hustle

Umpire Angel Hernandez became a "referee in football getting in the scrum" Wednesday night when, in the top of the 11th inning of Game 3 of the Orioles-Yankees ALDS, New York right fielder Nick Swisher attempted to catch a foul fly ball off the bat of Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy.

As Swisher fell into the right field seating area, RF Umpire Hernandez rushed over and leaned into the seating bowl before correctly signaling "no catch," confident that Swisher had not caught the foul pop-up as TBS broadcaster Ernie Johnson quipped, "It wouldn't be the first time this year" that an umpire would have been deked into incorrectly calling a batter out on a boundary catch (had Hernandez made an out call).

Video: Hernandez leans into the stands to rule; in June, DiMuro reacts differently to a similar play (UEFL)

On June 26 of the 2012 season, 3B Umpire Mike DiMuro ejected Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan (Ejection 078: Mike DiMuro (2)) after DiMuro ruled Hannahan out on a boundary catch in left field involving Yankees left fielder Dewayne Wise, who was ruled to have caught a foul fly ball that replays indicate ended up in the hands of a fan several seats away from where DiMuro was still processing the play.

At the time, DiMuro said, "Now that I see the tape, it's obvious that the ball fell out of his glove. In hindsight, I should have asked [Wise] to show me the ball since he fell into the stands and out of my line of vision."

To his credit, Hernandez' hustle and patience indicates that MLB has learned from the DiMuro/Wise incident.

Berating Officials: The Grand New American Pastime?

The media has decided to scapegoat MLB umpire Jim Joyce once again after he made an incorrect call during Game 3 of the NLDS between the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals, gladly pointing out that Joyce was also involved in the Armando Galarraga imperfect game in 2010.

In an opposite the editorial entitled "Sensationally Sleazy Stories," I discussed the sports media's fascination with criticism of officials and why the likes of ESPN, Yahoo! and other entertainment outlets are so quick to jump the gun and pull the "blown call" trigger.

"[Umpires] are expected to be perfect the day [they] start, and then improve." - Fmr NL Supervisor Ed Vargo

Succinctly, multiple field experts have long established that scapegoating—or passing the buck and blaming others—is a psychological defense mechanism meant to shield oneself from acknowledgement of an unacceptable truth.

Additionally, society as a whole simply likes watching people—especially "perfect" ones—fail.

And if the media can paint a picture of impartial arbiters being anything less than perfect, it's a huge way to attract fans outraged that a call didn't go their way. The first sentence of the AP release today was indeed, "It's another umpiring call that went the St. Louis Cardinals [sic] way this postseason."

Implying an officiating-related conspiracy while completely disregarding the facts is nothing new in sports.

Closer inspection of ESPN's 2010 study which concluded that umpires miss 20-percent of non-balls/strikes close calls demonstrates that, according to ESPN's data, umpires miss one call for every 220 chances, corresponding to a non-balls/strikes accuracy of 99.55 percent.

Yet the ESPN study spotlighted the 20-percent statistic, failing to so much as mention the 99+ percent figure that verifies the significant accuracy with which umpires operate.

Nonetheless, sensationalist sleaze is only effective when it becomes an unmitigated hit job with blatantly obvious agendas—choirs like to be preached to and the ratings, readership and page views they produce are evidence of sensationalism's success.

As for Joyce, he did miss a call at 1st base during Gm 3... but he also got 4 subsequent bangers 100% right. By the way, the Cardinals won Game 3 of the NLDS by the slimmest of margins—8-0.

Rumor Mill Madden: Three Umpires "Quietly Let Go by MLB"

Rumor Mill Madden: Three umpires "quietly let go" by MLB, chief to be brought back at MiLB level.

Writers sometimes find creative ways to twist words to suit a motif. Read on for an umpiring-related example:

In a scathing critique of MLB officiating and an attempt to compare umpires to NFL replacement officials, New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden wrote the following curious statement:

This summer, three of the consistently lowest rated umpires were quietly let go by MLB, not for their performance but for off-the-field personal issues. Another crew chief, I’m told, was allowed to go home after being involved in numerous blown calls and complaining that he just couldn’t take the pressure — but will reportedly be brought back next year to go through the minors as an evaluator!

Given the overall tone of Madden's potshot piece, could Madden have some untoward knowledge regarding MLB Umpiring and an alleged restructuring of the staff—or is Madden twisting words and circumstances—for instance, Hunter Wendelstedt's extended absence in the wake of his father, Harry's passing following Hunter's 2011 head injury, Bruce Dreckman's extended absence due to a neck injury or even John Hirschbeck's recovery from cancer—to suit an underlying agenda?

Or could "quietly let go by MLB" really refer to an extended leave of absence that was approved? It has been reported that some umpires, such as Ed Rapuano, have suffered extended, chronic injuries that might suggest a journey into retirement, though at the time of this publication, nothing has been officially confirmed.

MLB Umpires who have not had a plate job since the beginning of September include:
Mike DiMuro (last plate: 8/12, NYY@TOR; high-profile missed call, Ejection 078: Mike DiMuro (2))
Ed Rapuno (Crew Chief; last plate: 5/30, PHI@NYM; officially out since 6/1 due to injury)
Brian Runge (last plate: 8/30, CHI@BAL; vacation?)
Tim Tschida (Crew Chief; last plate: 8/25, SD@AZ; vacation?)
Hunter Wendelstedt (last plate: 6/8, TOR@ATL; rumored/unconfirmed injury [broken ankle])

Dreckman and Hirschbeck have been sidelined the entire 2012 season due to injury/illness.

News: Hey MLB, learn from the NFL's referee debacle before baseball loses its integrity (NYDN)

Football (NFL) Ejection: Jeff Triplette

NFL Referee Jeff Triplette ejected Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith for making contact with an official in the second quarter of the Titans-Vikings game. On third down & 19-to-go with 11:31 remaining in the second quarter, Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's pass was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield. After the play, an altercation occurred between Smith and Titans wide receiver Nate Washington. As back judge Steve Freeman attempted to separate the players, replays indicate Smith committed a disqualifying foul ("He threw the official," CBS). At the time of the ejection, the Vikings were leading, 7-0.

Wrap: Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings, 10/7/12
Video: Smith is ejected after making excessive contact with an official
Related Video: MIN interception of Hasselbeck pass precedes on-field altecation, Smith's ejection