ABL Ejections - Takahito Matsuda (Dave Nilsson, E Green)

Australian Baseball 1B Umpire Takahito Matsuda ejected Brisbane Bandits Manager Dave Nilsson and pitcher Eric Green for arguing a foul ball call (reversed fair call) by HP Umpire James Shields in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Blue Sox-Bandits game. With one out and none on, Bandits batter Mitch Nilsson hit a 2-2 fastball from Blue Sox pitcher Keiji Uezono in the air between home plate and third base. Replays indicate Blue Sox third baseman Joshua Dean attempted to catch the fly ball, but are inconclusive as to whether Dean made contact with the baseball prior to it bouncing into foul territory, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 7-7. The Bandits ultimately won the contest 8-7, in 11 innings.

This is Dave Nilsson's first ejection since December 20, 2015 (Gavin Carson; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Takahito Matsuda's first ejection since November 28, 2015 (2 x Vavra; QOC = Y [HBP/Ball]).

Wrap: Sydney Blue Sox vs. Brisbane Bandits (Australian Baseball League), 1/9/16
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ABL Ejections - Blake Halligan, Andrew Bell (2 Vavras)

Australian Baseball 3B Umpire Blake Halligan ejected Aces 1B Trey Vavra and HP Umpire Andrew Bell ejected Aces Manager Joe Vavra for arguing Bell's foul ball call (reversed HR call) in the top of the 8th inning of the Aces-Bite game. With two out and one on, Vavra hit a 3-2 fastball from Bite pitcher Nick Talbot in the air to left field and out of the playing field. Replays indicate the ball appeared to leave the field in foul territory, the call was correct. At the time of the ejections, the Bite were leading, 11-2. The Bite ultimately won the contest, 11-2.

This is Joe Vavra's first ejection since November 28, 2015 (Takahito Matsuda; QOC = Y [HBP/Ball]).
This is Blake Halligan's first ejection since December 26, 2015 (Steve Mintz; QOC = U [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Melbourne Aces vs. Adelaide Bite (Australian Baseball League), 1/8/16
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Australian Ejection - Gavin Carson (Kevin Boles)

Australian Baseball HP Umpire Gavin Carson ejected Perth Heat Manager Kevin Boles for arguing a hit by pitch call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Heat-Cavalry game. With two out and one on, Cavalry batter River Stevens took a 0-1 fastball from Heat pitcher Edgar Valle for a hit by pitch. Replays indicate the pitch did not appear to make contact with Stevens' person or uniform, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Heat were leading, 8-2. The Heat ultimately won the contest, 9-4.

This is Gavin Carson's first ejection since a bench clearing brawl on December 20, 2015 (Josh Warner [Throwing At], Dave Nilsson & David Harris [Fighting]; QOC = U).

Wrap: Perth Heat vs. Canberra Cavalry (Australian Baseball League), 1/3/16
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Australian Ejection - Trent Thomas (Trent D'Antonio)

Australian Baseball HP Umpire Trent Thomas ejected Sydney Blue Sox DH Trent D'Antonio for arguing a ball two call in the top of the 2nd inning of the Bite-Blue Sox game. With two out and one on, Bite batter Connar O'Gorman took a 1-2 breaking ball from Blue Sox pitcher Craig Anderson for a called second ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located around the lower bound in the vicinity of the inner edge of home plate, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Bite ultimately won the contest, 7-1.

This is Trent Thomas' first ejection since January 30, 2015 (Matt Kennelly; QOC = U [Strike 3 Call]).

Wrap: Adelaide Bite vs. Sydney Blue Sox (Australian Baseball League), 1/1/16
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Australian Baseball Ejection - Brett Robson (Tanner Vavra)

Australian HP Umpire Brett Robson ejected Melbourne Aces SS Tanner Vavra for arguing a strike three call in the top of the 7th inning of the Aces-Heat game. With two out and none on, Vavra took a 0-2 fastball from Aces pitcher Cameron Lamb for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located along the outer edge of home plate (pitch f/x unavailable), the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Heat were leading, 6-3. The Heat ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

This is Tanner Vavra's first ejection since November 28, 2015 (Takahito Matsuda; QOC = Y [HBP/Ball]).

Wrap: Melbourne Aces vs. Perth Heat (Australian Baseball League), 12/29/15
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Top 20 Ejections of 2015 - A UEFL Year in Review

The UEFL presents our Top 20 Ejections of 2015, a year in review. With MLB Network opting to forgo the annual MLB Network Countdown ejections special for the 2015 season, the process of selecting the top ejections of the year falls to the UEFL. Now, with assistance from voter input collected during the 2015 year-end Awards Nomination process, we present the Top 20 Ejections of 2015. We hope you had a happy Chanukah, Christmas, and New Year.

*Note: Qualities of Correctness are provided in the following format: Y=Correct, N=Incorrect, U=Irrecusable.

Umpire Ejection Fantasy League Year in Review: The UEFL's Top 20 Ejections of 2015
Note: Click each umpire's name & ejection # to be taken to the associated ejection report from the season.
20: E 142: Mike Muchlinski (1); Mariners Manager Lloyd McClendon (Check Swing [Ball]; QOC = Y).
19: E 180: David Rackley (3); Padres Interim Manager Pat Murphy (Prior Foul Ball Call; QOC = U).
18: E 135: Jeff Nelson (1). Twins Manager Paul Molitor (Check Swing [Strike Three]; QOC = Y).

17: E 046: Bob Davidson (1); Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly (Replay Review Catch Call; QOC = U).

16: E 168: Doug Eddings (4). Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez (Ball Two Call; QOC = Y).

15: E 021-025: Sam Holbrook (1-5); 3 Royals & 2 White Sox (Fighting [Bench-Brawl]; QOC = U).

14: E 119-120: Pat Hoberg (2-3); Cardinals C Yadier Molina & Mgr Mike Matheny (Ball; QOC = Y).

13: E 173: Paul Nauert (2); Rays 1B James Loney (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).

12: E 167: Dan Iassogna (4). Yankees Manager Joe Girardi (Strike Two & Three Calls; QOC = Y).

11: E 146-150: West/Reyburn; 3 Pirates & 2 Reds (Fighting. Throwing At. Arguing Ejection; QOC = U).

10: E 164-165: Brian Knight (1-2); A's CF Sam Fuld & Mgr Bob Melvin (Interference Call; QOC = Y).

#9: E 179: Dan Bellino (3); Phillies Bench Coach Larry Bowa (Instigating a Bench-Clearer; QOC = U).

#8: E 203: Chris Guccione (1); Rangers Manager Jeff Banister (Fair Ball Call Over 3B; QOC = Y).
#7: E 140: Jerry Meals (2); Nationals RF Bryce Harper (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).

#6: E P-1: Jeff Nelson (3); Pirates 1B Sean Rodriguez (Fighting after HBP; QOC = U).

#5: E 191: Mike Winters (5); Giants Manager Bruce Bochy (Check Swing K3 Call; QOC = Y).

#4: E 184: Brian O'Nora (1); Rays Manager Kevin Cash (Non-Replay Out Call; QOC = N).

#3: E S-2: Joe West (S1); Braves C AJ Pierzynski (Ball Three Call ["He's Done"]; QOC = U).

#2: E 055: Jim Reynolds (1); Reds Manager Bryan Price (Pre-Game Meeting; QOC = U).

#1: E 196-197: Bill Welke (3-4); Reds 1B Joey Votto & Mgr Bryan Price (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).

Total Correct: 8 / Total Incorrect: 4 / Total Irrecusable: 8 = 66.7% Accuracy (Compare to 69.2% in 2014).

Links to previous years' "Most Unforgettable Ejections" countdown: 2012 | 2013 | 2014.

Australian Ejection - Blake Halligan (Steve Mintz)

Australian HP Umpire Blake Halligan ejected Adelaide Bite Manager Steve Mintz for Unsportsmanlike-NEC in the top of the 8th inning of the Cavalry-Bite game. With one out and one on, Cavalry batter Derrick Loveless took walk from Bite pitcher Takuro Ito; Mintz was ejected for unsporting conduct during an ensuing mound visit when Halligan asked for the pitching change/substitution information, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Bite were leading, 5-4. The Cavalry ultimately won the contest, 7-5.

Wrap: Canberra Cavalry vs. Adelaide Bite (Australian Baseball League), 12/26/15
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Australian Baseball Ejections - Gavin Carson (HBP)

Australian HP Umpire Gavin Carson ejected Bandits P Josh Warner for throwing at Cavalry batter David Harris, Bandits Manager Dave Nilsson and Cavalry LF Harris for fighting, and 3B Umpire Greg Kent ejected Bandits CF Andrew Campbell for Unsportsmanlike-NEC in the bottom of the 1st inning of the Bandits-Cavalry Game. With none out and none on, Cavalry batter Harris took a first-pitch fastball from Bandits pitcher Josh Warner for a hit-by-pitch, resulting in a bench-clearing incident. Replays indicate the pitch was located up and inside, striking Harris on the back of the helmet as Harris then attempted to charge the mound as Warner gestured as if to provoke a fight, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejections, the game was tied, 0-0. The Cavalry ultimately won the contest, 5-0.

Wrap: Brisbane Bandits vs. Canberra Cavalry (Australian Baseball League), 12/20/15
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Venezuelan Ejections - Livensparger's Bench Clearer

A pickoff attempt incited a bench clearing brawl and 7 ejections in Venezuelan League action Saturday night as HP Umpire Shane Livensparger ejected Navigantes del Magellan's pitcher Bruce Rondon, catcher Jesus Sucre, substitute pitcher Jean Machi, and Bravos de Margarita 1B Jose Osuna, DH Eliezer Alonzo, and P Luis Ramirez in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Navigantes-Bravos game. 1B Umpire Robert Moreno additionally ejected Bravos Manager Henry Blanco. With none out and none on, Bravos batter Osuna was hit by a pitch from Rondon. During the ensuing at-bat, Rondon attempted to pick off baserunner R1 Osuna, resulting in an incitement and eventual bench clearing incident during which seven people were ejected. At the time of the ejections, the game was tied, 4-4. The Bravos ultimately won the contest, 6-5.

Wrap: Navegantes del Magallanes vs. Bravos de Margarita (Venezuelan League), 12/12/15
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Australian Baseball Ejection - Stewart Howe

Australian Baseball League HP Umpire Stewart Howe ejected Adelaide Bite 3B Marc Wik for arguing a strike three call in the top of the 5th inning of the Bite-Aces game. With one out and none on, Bite batter Wik took a 1-2 fastball from Aces pitcher Yasuo Sano for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located near the inner edge of home plate and belt-high, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 1-1. The Aces ultimately won the contest, 7-1.

Wrap: Adelaide Bite vs. Melbourne Aces (Australian Baseball League), 12/12/15
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