Discussions: Opening Night 2014 (Dodgers vs. Padres)

Your Opening Night umpires for Dodgers-Padres: HP: Fieldin Culbreth (crew chief). 1B: Manny Gonzalez. 2B: Jim Reynolds. 3B: Sean Barber (filling in for Brian Knight). The UEFL opens the floor for Opening Night 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.

- 3/30/14, LAD@SD, NL West: HP Umpire Fieldin Culbreth: pfx (83/88 Balls + 46/55 Strikes = 129/143 = 90.2%).

Close or Notable Plays
- Cashner's throw beats AJ Ellis to third base on a bunt by Ryu in the fifth (3B Umpire Barber)
- Dodgers complete the 3-6-3 double play on backend grab by Adrian Gonzalez (1B Umpire Gonzalez)

2014 UEFL Prop Predictions: Opening Day Edition

UEFL Prop Predictions return in 2014 as Opening Night Baseball stands on deck. Prop Predictions are yet another way to earn League points during the season and are side wagers as to events that may happen at some point during 2014. For instance, a Prop Prediction that reads, "Date of: First Marlins ejection" may be answered with "April 25." If the date of the first Marlins ejection indeed occurs on April 25, the member responding with that date will win the Prop Prediction and receive a specified amount of points. Multiple winners would each receive that specified amount of points. To enter your prop predictions for 2014, consult and submit this form. Alternately, you may reply to this post if you are unable to access the form. Prop Board No. 1 must be submitted by Monday, March 31, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time.

For reference, Prop Board No. 1: 2014 Season is included below.
 1. Name of Umpire: First regular season ejection (1-5 points, sliding scale)
 2. Date of: First ejection of a non-player and non-manager (2 points)
 3. Date of: First ejection for Throwing At and/or Fighting (2 points)
 4. Date of: Umpire Jordan Baker's first ejection of 2014 (2 points)
 5. Name of Manager: First ejection of April 2014 (1-5 points, sliding scale)
 6. Team Requesting First Instant Replay Review IN APRIL (2 points)
 7. Reason for first ejection of 2014 (1-5 points, sliding scale)
 8. Date of: First Cardinals ejection (2 points)

For more information about Prop Predictions, including a sliding scale explanation, see UEFL Rule 4-6.

MLB Instant Replays S-66|67|68: Drake, Hertzog (S-1, 2|2)

Instant replay affirmed 1B Umpire Rob Drake's out call in the top of the 5th, 2B Umpire Drake's safe call in the bottom of the 7th and reversed HP Umpire Brian Hertzog's out call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Cubs-Diamondbacks game. In the 5th, two out and three on, Cubs batter Chris Coghlan hit a 3-2 slider from Diamondbacks pitcher Joe Thatcher that passed over the third base bag in fair territory and was fielded by third baseman Eric Chavez, who threw to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt as Coghlan arrived at first base. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by Cubs Manager Rick Renteria, Drake's ruling that Goldschmidt caught the ball prior to Hernandez's touch arrival was affirmed, the call was correct.* At the time of the review, the Cubs were leading, 2-0.

In the 7th, with none out and three on, Diamondbacks batter Brandon Jacobs hit a 0-1 fastball from Cubs pitcher Brian Schlitter to first baseman Chris Valaika, who threw to shortstop Javier Baez as Diamondbacks baserunner R1 Cliff Pennington arrived at second base. Upon instant replay review as the result of an inquiry by Cubs Manager Renteria and initiation by Crew Chief Ted Barrett, Drake's ruling that Baez failed to catch the ball and tag second base prior to Pennington's arrival was affirmed, the call was correct.^ At the time of the review, the contest was tied, 6-6.

Later in the 7th, with one out and three on, Diamondbacks batter Rudy Flores hit a 0-0 pitch from Cubs pitcher Schlitter to center fielder Matt Szczur, who threw home to catcher Eli Whiteside as D'Backs baserunner R2 Jacobs slid into home plate. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson, Hertzog's ruling that Whiteside tagged Jacobs prior to Jacobs touching home plate was reversed, the call was incorrect. At the time of the review, the Diamondbacks were leading, 7-6. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 9-8.

These are Rob Drake (30)'s 1st and 2nd instant replay challenges/reviews of Spring Training.
This is Brian Hertzog (-)'s 1st instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.
Rob Drake (30) is now 2/2 (100% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during Spring Training.
Brian Hertzog (-) is now 0/1 (0% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during Spring Training.
*3B Umpire Ted Barrett's call of fair ball (across base) is not reviewable pursuant to Replay guidelines.
^Pursuant to Instant Replay Review guidelines, the middle fielder's touch or tag of second base on a potential double play try or "turn" also known as the neighborhood play is not reviewable.

These are the 66th, 67th and 68th instant replay reviews of 2014 Spring Training.
Cubs Manager Rick Renteria is now 0/4 (0% Success) in Instant Replay Challenges/Inquiries this Spring.
D'Backs Manager Kirk Gibson is now 1/2 (50% Success) in Instant Replay Challenges this Spring.
Umpires are now 54/68 (79% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during 2014 MLB Spring Training.

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (Cactus League Spring Training), 3/29/14
Video: Play stands; Triple-header of Chase Field reviews kicks off with upheld groundout to third (CHC)
Video: Play stands; Fielder's choice is upheld as questions of a neighborhood play appear (CHC)
Video: Play overturned; Replay shows Jacobs eluded Eli, who attempted a bare hand tag (CHC)

MLB Instant Replay Review S-65: Toby Basner (S-3)

Instant replay reversed 1B Umpire Toby Basner's safe call in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Pirates-Phillies game. With none out and none on, Phillies batter Cesar Hernandez hit a 3-2 fastball from Pirates pitcher Ryan Beckman to shortstop Gift Ngoepe, who threw to first baseman Justin Howard as Hernandez arrived at first base. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle, Basner's ruling that Howard did not catch the ball prior to Hernandez's touch arrival was reversed, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the review, the Pirates were leading, 3-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 3-0.

This is Toby Basner (99)'s 3rd instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.
Toby Basner (99) is now 1/3 (33% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during Spring Training.
*This is the first instant replay review conducted in a Major League ballpark and communicated from Stadium headsets and hardware using twelve possible video replay angles at a variety of speeds. Communications occurred between Crew Chief Alan Porter, calling umpire Basner and MLB's Replay Operations Center at MLBAM Headquarters in New York.

This is the 65th instant replay review of 2014 Spring Training.
Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle is now 1/2 (50% Success) in Instant Replay Challenges/Inquiries this Spring.
Umpires are now 52/65 (80% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during 2014 MLB Spring Training.

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Grapefruit League Spring Training), 3/28/14
Video: Play overturned; In Major League first, an expanded replay first, a big league park play is reversed (PHI)

UEFL Draft 2014: Appeals Board Replacement Election

Due to voting irregularities, the 2014 UEFL Appeals Board election ballot has been replaced with the following form. This decision was rendered by the senior members of the 2014 UEFL Appeals Board in response to a grievance filed concerning abnormal voting activities observed.

After presenting the topic to the Board, we have determined a revote is in order. Forensic analysis of the electronic data during the previous vote suggests and confirms undue spamming or ballot box stuffing activity was involved. Joe Gravina, the primarily accused, issued the following statement:

I am writing to you to discuss the huge increase in votes that I received in the last day of the appeals board voting.

As I stated in my application, I am an avid follower of this site. I am also the Director of Training for a 100 member umpire organization in the state of Rhode Island. I use your site on a weekly (sometimes daily basis) to share out Case Plays, situation handling, and rules training information.

Because I have done this, I would say approximately 50% of my umpires now see the items on your site faster than I do and ask me questions about it before I even get a chance to look. When my name went up for the voting, it quickly spread around my organization and brought the vote total into the high 70's that were seen just prior to the last day of voting.

On the last day, one of my umpires took it upon himself to post the voting to his facebook account. This is where things got out of hand. I am very aware that this was not the purpose of the voting and that it has damaged the integrity of the vote. I am sorry that I have put you or anyone else associated with the site in a difficult position to rule on this matter. I apologize to the other applicants of the position for they way in which this played out. I know I can be of great assistance to you and the site in matters of appeals. However, if you feel it is appropriate, I will withdraw my application to the appeals board in the interest of the site's integrity.

The revote process is now live and will extend through Monday, March 31. All votes under this platform will be analyzed for validity and user uniqueness. Do not vote more than once; suspicious or duplicate votes or voting patterns are subject to disqualification at the Commissioner's sole discretion.
Click here to review candidate statements. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

MLB Instant Replay Review S-64: Dana DeMuth (S-2)

Instant replay affirmed 1B Umpire Dana DeMuth's out call in the top of the 7th inning of the White Sox-Cubs game. With two out and one on, White Sox batter Alexei Ramirez hit a 0-0 pitch from Cubs pitcher Brian Schlitter to third baseman Chris Valaika, who threw to first baseman Jonathan Mota as Ramirez arrived at first base. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by White Sox Manager Robin Ventura, DeMuth's ruling that Mota caught the ball and tagged first base prior to Ramirez's touch arrival was affirmed, the call was correct. At the time of the review, the Cubs were leading, 4-0. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Dana DeMuth (32)'s 2nd instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.
Dana DeMuth (32) is now 2/2 (100% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during Spring Training.

This is the 64th instant replay review of 2014 Spring Training.
White Sox Manager Robin Ventura is now 0/3 (0% Success) in Instant Replay Challenges/Inquiries this Spring.
Umpires are now 52/64 (81% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during 2014 MLB Spring Training.

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs (Cactus League Spring Training), 3/27/14
Video: Play stands; Ventura appeals to no avail as inning ends on bang-bang play at first base (CWS)

MLB Instant Replay Review S-63: Laz Diaz (S-1)

Instant replay reversed 2B Umpire Laz Diaz's out call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Braves-Tigers game. With two out and two on, Tigers batter Andrew Romine hit a 2-1 pitch from Braves pitcher Chasen Shreve to third baseman Philip Gosselin, who threw to second baseman Tyler Pastornicky as Tigers baserunner R2 Aaron Westlake arrived at second base. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus, Diaz's ruling that Pastornicky caught the ball and tagged second base prior to Westlake's touch was overturned, the call was incorrect. At the time of the review, the Tigers were leading, 9-3. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 9-3.

This is Laz Diaz (63)'s 1st instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.Training.
Laz Diaz (63) is now 0/1 (0% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during Spring Training.

This is the 63rd instant replay review of 2014 Spring Training.
Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus is now 1/3 (33% Success) in Instant Replay Challenges/Inquiries this Spring.
Umpires are now 51/63 (81% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during 2014 MLB Spring Training.

Wrap: Atlanta Braves vs. Detroit Tigers (Grapefruit League Spring Training), 3/28/14
Video: Play overturned; Gosselin draws the error as video replay reverses Diaz's initial out call (DET)

Major League Baseball Debuts Instant Replay Ops Center

With instant replay set to debut in earnest at Dodger Stadium and AT&T Park as the traditional end-of-Spring Training Californian regional skirmish series begins Thursday evening with Angels-Dodgers and Athletics-Giants, Major League Baseball unveiled its New York Replay Operations Center in New York, the touted command center for umpire review.

The Replay Operations Center or "ROC" is baseball's technology headquarters, put together by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) in their Chelsea Market building. This is the room in which umpire crews will serve as replay officials and Director of Instant Replay Justin Klemm will spend his summer.

Klemm, with Joe Torre on conference call, explained the process: Upon observing a close play, a replay umpire will begin to review multiple angles at differing speeds. If the play is challenged or a review is requested by the crew chief, Klemm hopes the replay official will already have the decision well in hand by the time the on-field umpires don their headsets.

The decision will either affirm or reverse the call on the field and is broken out into three possibilities:
Confirmed, in which the on-field ruling is ruled as correct through clear visual evidence.
Stands, in which no evidence clearly demonstrates the call was incorrect nor does it confirm the call.
Overturned, in which clear and convincing evidence indicates the call on the field was in error.

When a decision is rendered, the MLBAM technician assigned to the game will forward the video replay most decisive (e.g., that which shows the pivotal moment - safe/out, pulled foot, etc.) to the requesting stadium so that ballpark personnel can then show that specific angle on the stadium video screens. Television broadcasts will also have access to the decisive replay for the at-home audience.

Taking a page from the NHL.com's Situation Room Blog used by hockey's replay centre in Toronto, MLB also plans to post written explanations of all its instant replay decisions on MLB.com.

News: Major League Baseball unveils state-of-the-art replay center (MLB.com)

MLB Ejection S7: Jeff Gosney (S1; Bryce Harper)

1B Umpire Jeff Gosney ejected Nationals LF Bryce Harper for arguing an out call in the top of the 4th inning of the Nationals-Cardinals game. With none out and none on, Harper hit a 2-2 pitch from Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright to second baseman Mark Ellis, who threw to first baseman Matt Adams as Harper arrived at first base. Replays indicate Adams caught Ellis' throw and tagged first base prior to Harper's arrival, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 3-0. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Jeff Gosney (40)'s 1st ejection of Spring Training.
Jeff Gosney now has 0 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 0 AAA + 0 Correct Call = 0).
Crew Chief Angel Hernandez now has 0 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 Correct Call = 0).
Related Play: MLB Instant Replay Review S-50: Jeff Gosney (S-1) [3/23; Reversed out call of Harper]

This is the 7th ejection of 2014 Spring Training.
This is the 5th player ejection of 2014 Spring Training.
This is the Nationals' 1st ejection of 2014 ST, 1st in the NL East (WAS 1; ATL, MIA, NYM, PHI 0).
This is Bryce Harper's first ejection since July 13, 2013 (Hunter Wendelstedt; QOC = Correct).
This is Jeff Gosney's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Grapefruit League Spring Training), 3/26/14
Video: Harper argues after being called out at first base, resulting in his early dismissal (STL)

MLB Replay Reviews S-61|62: Barksdale, Wolcott (1|1)

Instant replay affirmed 2B Umpire Lance Barksdale's safe call and 3B Umpire Quinn Wolcott's out call in the top of the 5th inning of the Reds-White Sox game. With none out and one on, Reds batter Jason Bourgeois hit a 0-1 pitch from White Sox pitcher John Danks to shortstop Alexei Ramirez who threw to second baseman Leury Garcia, the ball falling to the ground as Reds baserunner Kristopher Negron arrived at second base. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by White Sox Manager Robin Ventura, Barksdale's ruling that Garcia did not obtain possession of the baseball was affirmed, the call was correct.* At the time of the review, the White Sox were leading, 6-2.

On the very next play, with none out and two on, Reds batter Chris Nelson hit a 2-2 pitch from White Sox pitcher Danks to center fielder Adam Eaton, who threw to third baseman Marcus Semien as baserunner R1 Bourgeois arrived at third base. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by Reds Manager Bryan Price, Wolcott's ruling that Semien tagged Bourgeois while he was off his base and prior to this arrival at third base was affirmed, the call was correct. At the time of the review, the White Sox were leading, 6-3. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 9-5.

This is Lance Barksdale (23)'s 1st instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.
This is Quinn Wolcott (81)'s 1st instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.
Lance Barksdale (23) is now 1/1 (100% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during Spring Training.
Quinn Wolcott (81) is now 1/1 (100% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during Spring Training.
*Pursuant to MLB Replay Rules, the neighborhood play (controlled fielder's tag or touch of second base on the double play attempt's turn) is not reviewable. Thus, the only element of the play reviewed was whether Garcia actually caught or otherwise possessed the baseball. Replay review determined he did not.

These are the 60th and 61st instant replay reviews of 2014 Spring Training.
White Sox Manager Robin Ventura is now 0/2 (0% Success) in Instant Replay Challenges/Inquiries this Spring.
Reds Manager Bryan Price is now 1/3 (33% Success) in Instant Replay Challenges/Reviews this Spring.
Umpires are now 51/62 (82% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during 2014 MLB Spring Training.

Wrap: Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago White Sox (Cactus League Baseball), 3/26/14
Video: Play stands; Garcia is ruled not to have caught Alexei's throw, resulting in an error (CWS)
Video: Play stands; On consecutive reviews, Sox retire Bourgeois on Nelson's RBI single (CWS)