AFL Instant Replay Update: Video Reverses Call In Game 2

Instant replay reversed the first safe/out call in professional baseball history during the first inning of Wednesday's Rafters-Scorpions game as baserunner Ryan Brett was awarded second after a stolen base attempt, Brett initially ruled out by 2B Umpire Pat Hoberg. Dan Bellino and Mike Winters served as MLB Replay Umpires for Game 2.

Barber checks with the booth in the 1st.

In total, managers Mike Shildt (Salt River) and Russ Morman (Scottsdale) took a more liberal approach with instant replay on Day 2 of the unlimited challenge AFL experiment, challenging a total of seven plays, three of which were reversed upon video review.

The reversed calls included the aforementioned stolen base attempt (out-to-safe) and another top of the first inning call, a James Ramsey groundout which was initially scored a base hit (safe-to-out). The Ramsey decision effectively ended the frame and negated a Salt River Rafters run, which had scored on the bang-bang play at first base.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, baserunner Kyle Kubitza was doubled off at second base after batter Alen Hanson flew out to center field, replay ruling that Kubitza missed retagging third base on his return to second (safe-to-out). Replays indicate that as 3B Umpire Tripp Gibson ran into left field to call the fly out, 1B Umpire Jeff Gosney and U2 Hoberg converged at second base while HP Umpire Sean Barber remained at home plate, leaving the touch at third fairly uncovered.

The game also saw a rare "double challenge" on Kubitza's triple, as Kubitza's touch of second base and the tag attempt third base were both called into question (both portions of the play were confirmed: Kubitza was found to have touched second, via appeal and replay review, and was safely under the tag at third, via replay review).

After the inning's end, MLB Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Joe Torre clarified that managers are required to state which part of the play they would like to challenge and that appeals would be unaffected by the reviews process. Though only one aspect of the play would be challenged at once, two parts of the same play were challenged (and affirmed).

Video: Brett tries to steal second, resulting in an out call which was overturned to "safe" after replay
Video: Ramsey loses RBI single after instant replay overturns safe call at first base
Video: Kubitza called safe at third, and then at second upon appeal; two challenges used to affirm the calls
Video: Burns initially ruled safe at first on infield error; call upheld upon consultation of instant replay
Video: Diving catch in center leads to double play after Kubitza misses third on his way back to second
Video: Replay upholds Jarrett Parker's groundout in the bottom of the sixth inning
Video: MLB EVP Joe Torre discusses implementing instant replay, stating "it's not that easy"

2013 UEFL Awards: Most Improved Umpire: CB Bucknor

2013 UEFL Awards: Most Improved Umpire of the Year: CB Bucknor (54)
Voting Results (min. 10%): Bucknor (15%), Bob Davidson (14%), Brian Knight (10%).

CB Bucknor is the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League's 2013 most improved umpire of the year. In his 15th Major League Baseball umpiring season, Bucknor finished 2013 with four ejections; Bucknor ejected two times in 2012. For CB, the road to a strong season started early in Cincinnati when he employed proper mechanics and patience to properly rule Angels runner Albert Pujols at home plate. Bucknor also had the first ejection of 2013: Irrecusable Ejection 001 for a repeat visit argument (4/6). After his Ejection 035 (5/19), UEFL'ers commented on CB's trend of consistent and calm patience in seeing the play and executing the ejection, BT_Blue stating, "CB Bucknor... cool as the other side of the pillow!" In June, Hall of Fame Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully praised Bucknor after a tough appeal call at second base, noting: "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 [a failure to retouch second base]." For his efforts, Bucknor was awarded the 2013 American League Division Series, his first playoff assignment since 2009.

CB Bucknor now has 15 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (14 Previous + 1 Award = 15).
The next postseason award, Fill-In of the Year, will be released tomorrow.

AFL Instant Replay Update: Umpires Perfect in Game 1

AFL instant replay was used to confirm umpire calls four times during Tuesday's testing debut, including three safe/out calls at first base and one trap in shallow left field. Presiding over the system on the field was veteran minor league umpire and AAA call-up Hal "Tripp" Gibson of the Pacific Coast League, who served as home plate umpire and communicated with MLB umpires supervised by Ed Montague and located off the field.

Gibson dons the headset for a review.

Managers of both Arizona Fall League clubs involved in Tuesday's contest were encouraged to invoke instant replay challenges in an effort to facilitate the technology's testing phase.

Replay #1: Out (Upheld) / With none out and none on in the top of the 2nd inning of the Solar Sox-Rafters game, Angels prospect CJ Cron hit a ground ball to Cardinals minor leaguer Jacob Wilson, who threw to first base as Cron arrived. Initially ruled an out by 1B Umpire Sean Barber and challenged by Solar Sox manager Bill Richardson, the call was upheld after instant replay review, relayed via headset to Gibson. QOC = Correct / Video: Out call stands after first expanded replay review

Replay #2: Out (Upheld) / With none out and none on in the top of the 4th inning, Tyler Collins ran past first base as pitcher Sam Gaviglio attempted to field a throw while tagging the bag with his foot. Initially ruled an out by U1 Barber, the call was upheld. QOC = Correct / Video: Out call upheld as Gaviglio able to find first with foot

Replay #3: Safe [Trap] (Upheld) / With none on and none out in the top of the 5th inning, Matt Skole's leadoff single to left fielder Tim Wheeler, initially ruled a trap (no catch) by 3B Umpire Pat Hoberg was upheld upon instant replay review. QOC = Correct / Video: No catch call stands after first non-bases replay review

Replay #4: Out (Upheld) / With one out and one on in the bottom of the 8th inning, Gaurneau hit a ground ball to third, arriving at first base as Cron picked the throw out of the dirt. Initially ruled an out by U1 Barber, the call was upheld. QOC = Correct / Video: Final review of the game upholds out at first

Final tally, expanded instant replay Game 1: 4 Challenged Plays / 4 Upheld Calls = 100% Upheld Rate.

2013 UEFL Awards: Worst Umpire of Year: Marty Foster

The Umpire Ejection Fantasy League announces its postseason awards schedule, beginning with the Worst Umpire of the Year, below, and continuing with Most Improved Umpire, Fill-In, Crew Chief, Honorable, Noteworthy, Ejection(s) of the Year and concluding with Umpire of the Year. 168 total ballots were cast during this year's nominations process, representing a 93% increase over 2012's nomination process (87).

Pursuant to UEFL Rule 4-4, the postseason Awards distribution now begins with Worst Umpire of the Year.

2013 UEFL Awards: Worst Umpire of the Year: Marty Foster (60) [2012 Winner: Marty Foster]
Voting Results (min. 10%): Foster (20%), Angel Hernandez (13%), CB Bucknor (11%), Bill Welke (10%).

Marty Foster is the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League's 2013 Worst Umpire of the Year. In his 15th Major League Baseball umpiring season, Foster finished 2013 with five ejections, matching five other umpires in that category; Foster ejected five times in 2012 and six times in 2011. UEFL'ers described Foster as "consistently awful" and "an embarrassment to professional baseball" after Ejection 041 (May 25); it should be noted that renowned White Sox homer broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson made similar statements of Umpire Joe West, stating, "he's becoming a joke to the umpiring profession...he needs a rest" (May 26, 2010). After Foster's 041 (May 25), one UEFL'er similarly stated, "he needs a break." In response to Foster's Ejections 028 and 029 (May 7), Roy bluntly quipped, "Foster....Australian for beer, American for poor umpire." Foster began the season on a difficult note, ending the April 8 Rays-Rangers game with a called third strike located 5.5 inches off the outside corner. After Ejections 045 and 046 (May 26), both detractors and supports of Foster stipulated, "Marty has had a ROUGH year."

Marty Foster now has 1 point in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (4 Previous + -3 Award = 1).
The next postseason award, Most Improved Umpire of the Year, will be released later today.

MLB Tests Expanded Instant Replay at Arizona Fall League

MLB will conduct expanded instant replay testing at the Arizona Fall League during five games to be televised on MLB Network, starting Tuesday November 5. According to the terms of the test, plays during these games may be challenged pursuant to a modified version of MLB's 2014 plan: unlike the MLB plan, which includes a total of three challenges per game, per team, broken out into one for innings 1-6 and two for innings 7 and later, AFL managers will have an unlimited number of challenges at their disposal and MLB will encourage them to use the appeal system in order to provide MLB with a glimpse at the procedure.

When the AFL plays these games, plays other balls and strikes will be eligible for challenge and instant replay review; the challenges will not be decided in MLB headquarters in New York and relayed to the crew chief, as in the proposed MLB deal. Instead, challenges will be relayed to replay officials in-house, who will decide the calls at the Stadium. Statistics indicate of challenged calls, approximately one in five (20%) will be overturned, give or take several percentage points. For this reason, four of the five televised games next week will be played at the same facility.

Successful challenges do not count against the challenge limit, but unsuccessful challenges will result in the loss of one challenge. Furthermore, reviewable plays may not be argued while ineligible plays (pitches) may still be argued (albeit, by rule, such argument is an automatic ejection...). Because the AFL stadiums do not possess the grandfathered instant replay technology used by MLB stadiums for home run boundary calls, HRs will fall under the purview of eligible challenge plays.

MLB umpiring officials and select umpires themselves will be in attendance to observe the system at work.

Umpires assigned to the 2013 Arizona Fall League include (listed in alphabetical order):
Sean Barber, Seth Buckminster*, Jon Byrne, Tripp Gibson*, Jeff Gosney, Pat Hoberg, AJ Johnson, Gabe Morales, Jeff Morrow, Marcus Pattillo, Stu Scheurwater, Tom Woodring.
*Indicates 2013 MLB call-up umpire.

In a related story, umpires assigned to the 2013 Arizona Fall League All-Star Game (Fall Stars) include HP Umpire Sean Barber, 1B Umpire Tripp Gibson, 2B Umpire Pat Hoberg & 3B Umpire Tom Woodring.

Tune into MLB Network for the following games next week to see the real-world testing at work:
TUE 11/5, 6pm Pacific Time: Mesa Solar Sox vs. Salt River Rafters (Talking Stick);
WED 11/6, 6pm Pacific Time: Salt River Rafters vs. Scottsdale Scorpions (Scottsdale);
THU 11/7, 6pm Pacific Time: Scottsdale Scorpions vs. Salt River Rafters (Talking Stick);
FRI 11/8, 6pm Pacific Time: Glendale Desert Dogs vs. Salt River Rafters (Talking Stick);
SAT 11/9, 5pm Pacific Time: Peoria Javelinas vs. Salt River Rafters (Talking Stick).

News: Instant replays testing to be conducted at Arizona Fall League (MLB Press Release)

UEFL Year End Award Nominations: 2013 Season

Award Nominations: As the 2013 season draws to a close, the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League prepares to distribute its Postseason Awards to eligible umpires* who, during the past season, have demonstrated significant performances to fit the terms of one of these awards (UEFL Rule 4-4).

a. Umpire of the Year (min. 1 / max. 1 umpire)
b. Noteworthy Umpire of the Year (min. 1 / max. 2 umpires)
c. Honorable Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 2 umpires)
d. Fill-In Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1 umpire)
e. Most Improved Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1 umpire)
f. Crew Chief of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1 umpire)
g. Best Ejection of the Year (min. 0 / max. 2 ejections)
h. Worst Umpire of the Year (min. 0 / max. 1 umpire)

Please take your time in consideration of an umpire for as many or as few awards as you prefer; Ballots will be accepted until 11:59 PM PT on Tuesday, November 5; Awards distribution will begin Wednesday, November 6. To cast your ballot, click the below link ("Read more »") to view the entire post.

Forum: 2013 MLB World Series

As the 2013 World Series gets 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. For future games, notes include home plate umpire probables. Call +/- also included/highlighted.

- 10/23, STL@BOS 1, HP Umpire John Hirschbeck: pfx (91/96 Balls, 48/56 Strikes = 139/152 = 91.4%) +1 STL.
- 10/24, STL@BOS 2, HP Umpire Mark Wegner: pfx (112/113 Balls, 45/50 Strikes = 157/163 = 96.3%) +0 NU.

- 10/26, BOS@STL 3, HP Umpire Dana DeMuth: pfx (110/114 Balls, 44/56 Strikes = 154/170 = 90.6%) +2 STL.
- 10/27, BOS@STL 4, HP Umpire Paul Emmel: pfx (111/113 Balls, 46/58 Strikes = 157/171 = 91.8%) +0 NU.
- 10/28, BOS@STL 5, HP Umpire Bill Miller: pfx (74/74 Balls, 35/44 Strikes = 109/118 = 92.4%) +0 NU.

- 10/30, STL@BOS 6, HP Umpire Jim Joyce: pfx (99/101 Balls, 45/52 Strikes = 144/153 = 94.1%) +2 BOS.
Series Complete: World Series Red Sox defeat Cardinals (4-2), net advantage St. Louis, +1 pitch (lost series)

Plays

- STL@BOS, WS 1: 2B Umpire Dana DeMuth overturns his erroneous out call; JH: "Our job is to get it right"
- STL@BOS, WS 1: 3B Umpire Paul Emmel rules Robinson safe at third after fielding error in left
- STL@BOS, WS 1: 1B Umpire Mark Wegner rules Freese safe on attempted assist by RF Victorino
- STL@BOS, WS 2: 1B Umpire Dana DeMuth calls Descalso out at first on an off-balance throw by Drew
- BOS@STL, WS 3: 3B Umpire Jim Joyce calls obstruction, DeMuth awards Craig the walk-off score
- BOS@STL, WS 4: 1B Umpire Bill Miller rings up Kolton Wong on Uehara pick off to seal Game 4
- BOS@STL, WS 5: 1B Umpire Jim Joyce rules Kozma out at first as David Ortiz fields Lester's throw
- BOS@STL, WS 5: HP Umpire Bill Miller bangs out Ross on lunging tag by Yadier Molina
- STL@BOS, WS 6: 1B Umpire John Hirschbeck calls Pedroia safe on Michael Wacha's pickoff attempt
- STL@BOS, WS 6: HP Umpire Jim Joyce calls Gomes safe on Victorino's bases clearing double

Reviewing Jim Joyce's Game-Ending Obstruction Call

3B Umpire Jim Joyce ruled obstruction on Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks as Cardinals baserunner Allen Craig stumbled home, thus cementing one of the wildest finishes in World Series officiating history. This is the first World Series in history to end on an obstruction or interference error.

Joyce identifies, signals obstruction at third base.

With one out and two on in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Red Sox-Cardinals game, tied 4-4, Cardinals batter Jon Jay hit a 0-1 splitter from Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara on the ground to second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who threw home to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to retire Cardinals baserunner R3 Yadier Molina, running on contact. After the put out of Molina, Saltalamacchia threw towards third base in an attempt to retire R2 Craig, the ball sailing into left field as Middlebrooks dove towards the throw in vain and Craig slid headfirst into third.

Replays indicate that as the ball rolled into left field, Craig stood and attempted to run home, appearing to trip over Middlebrooks, who lay on the ground in fair territory near third base. Craig proceeded home as left fielder Daniel Nava fielded the errant throw and fired to catcher Saltalamacchia, who tagged Craig prior to his attempted touch of home plate.

Ruled obstruction by Joyce and mirrored by HP Umpire Dana DeMuth, the rule book confirms the game-ending call was correct.

Relevant to this play is Rule 2.00 (Obstruction), which states:

"Obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner."

Rule 2.00 (Obstruction) Comment further specifies, in part: "After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the 'act of fielding' the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delay the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner."

Pursuant to the terms of Rule 2.00 (Obstruction), and as referenced by Rule 7.06(b) [obstruction if no play is being made on the obstructed runner], the umpires properly identified the obstruction as it occurred and allowed play to continue until no further action was possible, at which point, DeMuth imposed his penalty to nullify the act of obstruction, awarding R2 Craig home plate.

Video: After Craig trips over Middlebrooks, Joyce calls obstruction while DeMuth gives Craig the plate

Roster: 2013 World Series Umpires

MLB has announced umpires for the World Series, the final round of the 2013 postseason.

World Series (WS Game One Alignment Below)
HP: John Hirschbeck -cc (12 Previous + 3 World Series + 1 Crew Chief Assignment Bonus = 16).
1B: Mark Wegner (6 Previous + 3 World Series = 9).*
2B: Dana DeMuth (8 Previous + 3 World Series = 11).
3B: Paul Emmel (3 Previous + 3 World Series = 6).*
LF: Bill Miller (6 Previous + 3 World Series = 9).
RF: Jim Joyce (0 Previous + 3 World Series = 3).

UEFL Honorary World Series Assignment: Wally Bell (7 Previous + 3 World Series = 10).
(Honorary WS Assignment approved by UEFL Appeals Board, 7-0).

-cc denotes Crew Chief, * denotes first WS assignment, ^ denotes first 2013 Postseason assignment. Per UEFL Rule 4-3-c, all umpires selected to appear in the World Series shall receive three bonus points for this appearance, four if the umpire has not appeared during an earlier postseason game (e.g., Wild Card or Division Series). The crew chief shall receive one additional bonus point for this role (four points total).

Getting an Edge: Breaking down the unbiased LCS numbers

Amid accusations of umpire bias during the League Championship Series, both National and American, the discerning fan turned to objective analysis: If the Cardinals truly were gifted umpire calls over the Dodgers, the numbers would show it, the same principle conceivably holding true for the Red Sox and Tigers.

For better or worse, the numbers show that the Cardinals experienced a net advantage of +20 pitches during the 2013 NLCS vs. Los Angeles; the Red Sox +12 during their ALCS vs. Detroit.

In the grand scheme of this type of analysis, league average theoretically and logically should be a net neutral (plus zero) result, that's what average is all about—yet St. Louis, for instance, came away with 20 calls that a simply complex piece of technology says should have gone the Dodgers' way based on the rules book definition of the strike zone. For the purpose of this discussion, we concentrate on the NLCS, ultimately concluding that bias did not factor into the series, despite St. Louis' clear pitch calling advantage.