Injury Scout - Jerry Layne Out on Foul Ball to Arm

Jerry Layne left Thursday's assignment at Angel Stadium of Anaheim after a fouled-off fastball struck him in the unpadded upper right arm.

In the bottom of the 1st inning of the Red Sox-Angels game, Angels batter Mike Trout fouled off a 93.4-mph 0-2 fastball from Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez into Layne's arm, resulting in his removal from the game.

1B Umpire Greg Gibson replaced Layne behind home plate, with 2B Umpire Vic Carapazza sliding over to first base and 3B Umpire Jordan Baker remaining as the second field umpire. Gibson served as acting crew chief in Layne's absence.

Relevant Injury History: In August 2017, Layne left his plate game in Houston after a foul ball injury to the lower arm/wrist area. He returned to play the next day.
Related Post: Injury Scout - Jerry Layne Hit in Wrist by Foul Ball (8/19/17).

Last Game: April 19 | Return to Play: April 24 | Time Absent: Four Days | Video as follows:

Abandonment Call in Seattle Helps M's Turn Triple Play

For all the times we have discussed Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(2) regarding abandonment, rarely does such a play occur. Thursday's game at Safeco Field turned the tide, as 1B Umpire Brian Gorman ruled Astros batter-runner Evan Gattis out after he started for the dugout, apparently unaware of how many outs there were, thus indicating by his actions that he was out.

Gorman and Tripp Gibson signal Gattis out.

The Play: With none out and two on (R1, R2), Gattis hit a check-swing ground ball to Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, who stepped on third base ahead of baserunner R2 Jose Altuve's arrival, and threw to second baseman Robinson Cano, who stepped on second base ahead of baserunner R1 Carlos Correa's arrival. Although Seattle seemed quite content with the double play, batter-runner Gattis, after touching first base, made a wide turn and began jogging toward Houston's dugout on the third-base side of the field. Seattle first baseman Daniel Vogelbach called for the ball, chased after, and tagged Gattis.

The Call: After progressing a reasonable distance toward the dugout with no indication that he intended to return to first base, 1B Umpire Gorman invoked Rule 5.09(b)(2) and declared Gattis out for abandoning his effort to run the bases; Vogelbach's tag occured after Gorman's declaration of abandonment (thus, the inning ended the moment Gorman ruled that Gattis had abandoned his effort, not when the tag was made). This would be important in determining whether a runner would have scored prior to the third out, as in a time play.

SIDEBAR: Abandonment in this situation triumphs over out-of-the-base-path rule 5.09(b)(1) because the three-foot base path rule ("He runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball") requires Gattis' actions to be an attempt to avoid being tagged. Gattis' movement stems from abandoning his effort to touch the next base, as opposed to an attempt to avoid being tagged. By the time Gattis first becomes aware of a tag attempt and begins moving to avoid being tagged, he has already been declared out for abandonment.

Gorman's out call precedes Vogelbach's tag.

OBR 5.09(b)(2): Any runner is out when: after touching first base, he leaves the base path, obviously abandoning his effort to touch the next base.

The rule's comment elucidates the principle: "Any runner after reaching first base who leaves the base path heading for his dugout or his position believing that there is no further play, may be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run the bases. Even though an out is called, the ball remains in play in regard to any other runner."

And if all that weren't enough, the Rules Committee saw fit to include a case play to illustrate the concept of abandonment: "Runner believing he is called out on a tag at first or third base starts for the dugout and progresses a reasonable distance still indicating by his actions that he is out, shall be declared out for abandoning the bases."

We have discussed the issue of a game-ending situation relative to abandonment many times over.
Related Post: Walk On - Bases Loaded HBP Abandonment Forces Extras (4/6/18).

Abandonment can occur during a home run.

KEEP IN MIND: This rule also applies to potential walk-off situations. If, during a potential game-winning home run, a baserunner cuts across the field instead of completing the base touch responsibilities (e.g., if R1 touches second, but then runs back to first to celebrate and makes no effort to run the bases), that baserunner would be out for abandonment. Unless there are two out (in which case the inning is over and no following runners may score), the batter-runner would still be permitted to score. This type of abandonment is important to know, because the timing of abandonment relative to a potential "passing a preceding runner" situation would dictate the batter-runner's ability to advance. A trailing runner, obviously, cannot be declared out for passing a preceding runner if such preceding runner has already been declared out for abandonment prior to the potential passing.
Related Post: Case Play 2016-11 - Time to Pass a Runner [Solved] (9/16/16).

TELL THEM APART: Running more than three feet out of the base path to avoid a tag 5.09(b)(1) can be differentiated from abandonment 5.09(b)(2) by the runner's actions: if there is intent to avoid a tag attempt, the out is 5.09(b)(1). If the reason for the runner's movement is principally "I'm not running the bases anymore," the out is 5.09(b)(2). Keep in mind that until a runner actually passes a base to which the runner is headed, abandonment has not occurred and a trailing runner may declared be out for passing. This also applies to any batter-runner who has already touched first base (or run past first base without physically touching it sans appeal). If the BR hasn't yet touched first, he can be retired by simply stepping on the base with the ball. Unlike abandonment rule 5.09(b)(2), out-of-the-base-path rule 5.09(b)(1) does apply to a runner at all times, whether or not the runner has already touched first base.
Related Post: O's Lodge Protest Over Runners Passing Rule Application (4/7/18).

Video as follows:

Leaving Early - Ump Heads Out to Catch a Flight

Sunday's American Athletic Conference game started with three umpires and ended with two not due to injury or illness, but because an umpire had to catch a flight out of town.

Bob Emslie left a game early to catch a train.

Moments earlier, 3B Umpire Matthew Hensel had ejected Tulane Green Wave coach Travis Jewett for arguing an out call at third base, only to find himself also leaving the ballgame due to a Sunday night time crunch.

Sunday's fun actually began Saturday, when inclement weather forced host Tulane to postpone the second game of its series against Houston, opting for a doubleheader on Sunday.

Additional weather concerns prompted the delay of Game 1 Sunday morning, which pushed back the second game into a conflict with Hensel's scheduled flight out of New Orleans.

According to the American Athletic Conference, which in 2018 assigns three-person crews for league games, an umpire may leave early in order to catch a flight out of the city on the last day of a series, referred to as absenteeism. In such case, the game will finish with two umpires. An AAC spokesperson said the conference will begin assigning four-person crews in 2019.

Tulane, which generally hires four umpires for all non-conference games, reportedly offered to provide Hensel with an additional night of lodging and meal per diem, but the deal did not work out.

NCAA Rule 3-6-h states, "No umpire may be replaced in a game unless the individual becomes ill or injured" (the equivalent OBR citation is 8.02(d), but unlike NCAA Baseball, the professional book hasn't yet adapted "the individual" and still uses the gendered pronoun, "he").

There is no rules restriction in place for an umpire leaving early, and Hensel's departure is hardly the first time a delayed game has interfered with an umpire's postgame travel plans. Rather, Hensel's exit simply follows a nearly 150-year baseball history of umpires leaving games early to catch a train or plane.

This three-person crew grew to four.

For instance, the first date of an umpire change recorded in Retrosheet's database indicates that home plate umpire Mays left the August 11, 1871 matchup between Forest Cities and Kekiongas for the reason, "Catch train." Mays was replaced by Mort Dawson.

Between 1903 and 1906, four umpires left early to catch trains, including Jack Sheridan, Bob Emslie, Tim Hurst, and Billy Evans. On August 26, 1913, Tommy Connolly left the Senators-White Sox game in the 8th inning in order to catch a train east toward his next assignment at Fenway Park.

The most recent umpire to leave a game early in order to catch a train, Al Barlick, made it to the 11th inning of September 28, 1952's Braves-Dodgers game before he left for home following that final game of the season; he was replaced behind home plate by Tom Gorman.

On the other side of the equation, umpires' late arrivals have delayed the start of games—see April 10, 2013 in Washington—since 1891; the most recent umpire to enter a game after it had already started is Joe West, who joined the April 20, 2017 Tigers-Rays game in the first inning as an emergency replacement for Larry Vanover.
Related Post: Train Delay: Umpires Stuck in Traffic, Game Stalled 16 Min (4/10/13).
Related Post: Injury Scout - Larry Vanover Out, Joe West In for DET-TB (4/20/17).

Traffic around Dodger Stadium.

A late arrival and delayed start time perhaps contributed to Hunter Wendelstedt's 2011 ejection of Rockies Manager Jim Tracy for arguing a balk call at Dodger Stadium. Wendelstedt's crew, including chief Jerry Layne, Bob Davidson, and Brian Knight, had gotten stuck in notoriously gridlocked Friday night Los Angeles freeway traffic.

According to a Dodgers spokesperson, "they were delayed by a fatal accident on the freeway that didn’t involve the umpires."
Related Post: Ejections: Hunter Wendelstedt (7) (8/26/11)

MLB Ejection 022 - Vic Carapazza (1; Albert Pujols)

HP Umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Angels DH Albert Pujols (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the Red Sox-Angels game. With two out and one on (R1), Pujols took a 1-2 fastball from Red Sox pitcher David Price for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -.628, pz 2.435) and that all pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 9-1. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 10-1.

This is Vic Carapazza (19)'s first ejection of 2018.
Vic Carapazza now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (-2 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 2).
Crew Chief Jerry Layne now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
*The pitch was located 3.432 horizontal inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 22nd ejection of the 2018 MLB regular season.
This is the 14th player ejection of 2018. Prior to ejection, Pujols was 1-3 (SO) in the contest.
This is Anaheim's 1st ejection of 2018, T-1st in the AL West (HOU, LAA 1; OAK, SEA, TEX 0).
This is Albert Pujols' first ejection since August 8, 2017 (Ramon De Jesus; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is Vic Carapazza's first ejection since Sept 13, 2017 (Robinson Cano; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4/17/18 | Video as follows:

Special Event Roster - 2018 Puerto Rico Umpires

MLB appointed the following umpires to officiate the 2018 Puerto Rico series between Cleveland and Minnesota at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan.

Umpire Roberto Ortiz is a PR native.

Game 1 Assignments
HP: Cory Blaser.
1B: Eric Cooper.
2B: Gary Cederstrom -cc.
3B: Roberto Ortiz.

Ortiz, who made his big league debut in 2016, is originally from Puerto Rico and is the second Puerto Rican to officiate Major League Baseball games, the first being former MiLB call-up Delfin Colón. Ortiz, who is on the 2018 Pacific Coast League roster, was born in Caguas, which is less than a 30-minute drive from the ballpark and makes history as the only PR native to officiate a regular season MLB game in Puerto Rico.
Related Post: Major League Debut of Umpire Roberto Ortiz (40) (5/14/16).

MLB has previously assigned foreign-born umpires to significant games featuring their lands of origin. For instance, Canadian umpire Stu Scheurwater recently officiated the Blue Jays' preseason exhibition games at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, while Angel Hernandez and Laz Diaz—both of whom have Cuban heritage (Hernandez was born in Havana and Diaz's parents emigrated to the United States from Cuba)—officiated MLB's Cuba exhibition series in 2016.
Related Post: MLB in Cuba Roster Features US Umps Diaz, Hernandez (3/22/16).

Major League Debut of Umpire Jansen Visconti (52)

Umpire Jansen Visconti makes his MLB debut during Tuesday's Royals-Blue Jays doubleheader in Toronto, joining Jerry Meals' crew as the first base umpire alongside HP Umpire Ed Hickox, 2B Umpire Ron Kulpa, and 3B Umpire Gabe Morales for Game 1, and as the third base umpire for Game 2.

Umpire Jansen Visconti.

Visconti is on the International League roster for the 2018 season, which is his fourth season in Triple-A. Upon graduation from the Wendelstedt School for Umpires, Visconti officiated in the Gulf Coast (2010), New York-Penn ('10), Florida Instructional ('10), South Atlantic ('11), Carolina ('12), Arizona Instructional ('12-'13), and Eastern ('13-'14) leagues. He officiated the 2017 Arizona Fall League and 2017 AFL Rising Stars Game, in addition to officiating the 2017 IL postseason. Visconti also served as 1B Umpire during the 2014 MiLB All-Star Futures Game at Target Field.
Related Post: 2017 AFL Roster (10/5/17).

Visconti received the sleeve number assignment of 52 during Spring Training 2018, the second umpire to receive a sleeve number during the preseason. #52 was last worn by current MLB umpire Bill Welke, who switched to brother Tim Welke's #3 upon Tim's retirement in 2016.
Related Post: MLB Assigns New Fill-Ins Rehak, Visconti Sleeve Numbers (3/22/18).

Visconti makes his MLB debut at the age of 30. He resides in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and is the second rookie fill-in umpire to make his debut during the 2018 regular season (Jeremie Rehak, 4/9/18).
Related Post: Major League Debut of Umpire Jeremie Rehak (35) (4/9/18).

Visconti's most recent MiLB game was Friday, April 13's IL matchup between Indianapolis and Buffalo, after which a northeastern storm caused the postponement of the remainder of the series.

Replay Rewind - Arizona's Lost HR & CIN's Bunt for Two

Welcome to Replay Rewind, a look back at some notable video reviews in baseball. In this inaugural edition, Arizona loses a home run due to a base-running blunder and Cincinnati earns a two-base bunt.

Marrero briefly runs past the entirety of Avila.

R-111 (Passing Runners; Overturned): Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, Diamondbacks batter Deven Marrero blasted Dodgers starter Rich Hill's 75th pitch of the ballgame over the left-center field wall for a three-run home run, scoring runners from first and second base. With baserunner R1 Alex Avila retreating toward first base for a potential tag-up play with one out as batter-runner Marrero rounded the bag, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts elected to challenge the umpires' ruling that Marrero did not pass Avila.

Replay HQ cited the accompanying image, captured from the center field camera, as its Definitive Angle in opting to overturn the umpires' ruling that the BR Marrero did not pass R1 Avila. Thus, Marrero was declared out and his run nullified, for a two-RBI single. No matter, Arizona still won the game in blowout fashion.

Gibson sees the ball, but not the baserunners.

What's odd about this play is Arizona broadcaster Steve Berthiume's observation that 2B Umpire Brian Gorman (and not the first base umpire) signaled the BR/R1 interaction as legal, that 1B Umpire Tripp Gibson appeared to be the only umpire to significantly move during this play (3B Umpire Dan Iassogna appeared to have never left the infield dirt), and that no umpire saw the interaction around first base (replays indicate Gibson, for instance, was looking in the opposite direction as Marrero rounded first base).

In the end, R-111 reads "Passing, 73 Gibson, R-QOCN."

See the following Case Play for more about the rule regarding a trailing runner passing a predecessor.
Related Post: Case Play 2016-11 - Time to Pass a Runner [Solved] (9/16/16).

A poor throw leads to a boundary replay.

R-127 (In Play/Out of Play; Overturned): Sunday in Cincinnati, Reds batter Tucker Barnhart bunted to Cardinals third baseman Greg Garcia, who threw to first baseman Jose Martinez as Barnhart arrived at first base. Garcia's throw was into the batter-runner, bounced off Barnhart, and caromed toward the end of the first-base dugout. Replays indicate BR Barnhart prematurely exited the 45-foot runner's lane, and was on the grass when he was struck by the throw, appearing to block first baseman Martinez from his attempted catch; however, HP Umpire Alan Porter declined to rule interference because Garcia's throw was of poor quality. As the Wendelstedt manual would put it, Garcia's throw could not reasonably retire Barnhart, and for that reason, runner's lane interference was not called.

With RLI out of the picture, offensive manager Bryan Price challenged HP Umpire Porter's ruling that the ball was in play. This is a difficult get for the plate umpire if for no other reason than Porter was on the foul line ruling on Barnart's legality at the time of the potential stadium boundary issue. The Replay Official thus overturned Porter based on the finding that the ball hit an object inside the camera well before bounding back onto the playing field; RLI, obviously, is not reviewable.

Mike Scioscia tried protesting a game based on an RLI no-call in 2016; naturally, MLB denied it.
Related Post: Angels Protest Cuzzi RLI No-Call in Kansas City [Denied] (7/27/16).

See the following analyses regarding batter-runner positioning and potential RLI interference.
Related Post: Running Lane Interference and Advancing to 1st Base (9/6/15).
Related Post: Runner's Lane Interference Plagues Chicago's Heyward (5/24/17).

Videos as follows:

MLB Ejection 021 - Hunter Wendelstedt (5; C Counsell)

HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Brewers Manager Craig Counsell (strike three call; QOCN) in the top of the 5th inning of the Brewers-Mets game. With one out and one on (R2), Brewers batter Jett Bandy took a 3-2 sinker from Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard for a called third strike, the only called strike of the at bat. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.077, pz 1.460 [sz_bot 1.627 / MOE 1.544], the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Mets were leading, 1-0. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Hunter Wendelstedt (42 [21])'s fifth ejection of 2018.
Hunter Wendelstedt now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (9 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 7).
Crew Chief Larry Vanover now has 8 points in Crew Division (8 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 8).
*The 3-2 pitch was located 1.008 vertical inches from being deemed a correct call.

This is the 21st ejection of the 2018 MLB regular season.
This is the seventh Manager ejection of 2018.
This is Milwaukee's 2nd ejection of 2018, 1st in the NL Central (MIL 2; CHC, CIN, PIT, STL 0).
This is Craig Counsell's first ejection since July 18, 2017 (Mike Muchlinski; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Hunter Wendelstedt's 5th ejection of 2018, 1st since April 11 (Tommy Kahnle; QOC = U [Fighting]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets, 4/15/18 | Video as follows:

The Tarp Lodge - A Ball Still Moving Cannot Be Stuck

A Boston blooper turned into a Baltimore blunder Friday at Fenway Park when Orioles batter Adam Jones' pop-fly in shallow right field fell onto the field's tarp, setting up a challenge to determine whether the ball was stuck, lodged, or free, as Red Sox RF Mookie Betts threw out a jogging Jones, who had eased up, assuming the ball was out of play.

Replay Review: O's Manager Buck Showalter challenged 1B Umpire Stu Scheurwater's ruling that the baseball was live and in play along the right field wall.

Analysis: When Jones' batted ball bounced from fair territory to the LL Bean tarp along the right field fence-line, many of those on the playing field—including Jones—likely lost sight of the ball as it dropped behind the apex of the tarp. Official Baseball Rule 5.05(a)(7) states that the batter becomes a runner when, among others:

Any fair ball which, either before or after touching the ground, passes through or under a fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through any opening in the fence or scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery, or vines on the fence, or which sticks in a fence or scoreboard, in which case the batter and the runners shall be entitled to two bases.

Rule 5.06(b)(4)(F) is the equivalent for runners ("...Two bases, if a fair ball bounces or is deflected into the stands outside the first or third base foul lines; or if it goes through or under a field fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery or vines on the fence; or if it sticks in such fence, scoreboard, shrubbery or vines").

Is this ball stuck behind the tarp?

When it comes to tarps, the Universal Ground Rules simply states, "A catch may be made on the field tarp." Fortunately the MLB Umpire Manual helps further establish that Rule 5.06(b)(4)(F) applies to tarps: "A ball that goes behind a field tarp or wall padding without leaving the playing field should also be considered to be lodged and the same two base award applies. The determination of whether a ball is lodged is subject to Replay Review."

We usually see this with batted balls that roll to the outfield wall, when the question becomes whether or not the ball has become stuck in the small space formed by warning track, base of the wall, and bottom of the wall's padding, which generally protrudes several inches onto the playing field. Colloquially, as long as the ball indeed sticks underneath the padding, it is considered out of play. If the ball remains in motion or appears loose, it is considered in play simply because the ball has not yet proven itself to be "stuck" or otherwise out of play. For instance, a ball that rolls underneath wall padding, only to carom back onto the naked warning track is in play.
Related Post: Cause You're Stuck in the Wall - Batted Ball Out of Play (9/20/16).

Cederstrom & Scheurwater await a decision.

Back to Fenway, the potential lodge location is created by the curved tarp and vertical padded wall: as long as the ball is moving and accessible to the fielder, it is live and in play; when it comes to rest, it may be deemed "stuck" and out of play.

Here is some support from MLBUM, regarding its interpretation of batted balls that land on top of outfield walls—not directly applicable, but the interp gives an idea of how motion influences a ball's status: "A fair fly ball striking the top of the outfield wall and remaining on the top of the wall shall be deemed a ground-rule double...A fair fly ball that strikes the top of the outfield wall and is picked up by a spectator while still in motion shall be ruled a home run. A fair fly ball that lands on top of the outfield wall and is picked up by a spectator after coming to a stop shall be deemed a ground-rule double."
Related Post: Replay Review, Ground Rules, and Levi's Landing (9/1/17).

Hidden from view, this ball is not dead yet.

Conclusion: As long as the ball is still in motion and accessible to a fielder, it is alive and in play, if for no other reason than it is not yet dead; once the ball stops moving, it is subject to remedial action, such as Rule 5.06(b)(4)(F), and a two-base award from time-of-pitch would be appropriate.

As umpire Mike DiMuro once said, "Ultimately, the proper ruling must be made by the base umpire who is responsible for the flight of the ball – and it is only possible to do so by running out to the fence to visually discern and confirm that the ball is indeed lodged or stuck. If the fielder dislodges the ball by grabbing it and removing it, then it can no longer be considered lodged or stuck."

Because of Betts' speed in retrieving the baseball, however, it is difficult even with instant replay to determine whether the ball came to rest—whether it was truly stuck behind the tarp. The Replay Official, faced with this inconclusive evidence, ruled that the call should stand: Jones is credited with a single and Betts with a 9-6 putout.

That said, if Betts' arrival to the ball is a split second later, perhaps the evidence would then be clear and convincing that the ball, indeed, was "stuck." | Video as follows:

Back to Work - Dale Scott to Throw First Pitch at LGBT Night

Out of retirement: Former MLB umpire Dale Scott will be back on the field this June at Dodger Stadium to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Los Angeles' LGBT Night. Here's hoping the team selects a retired big league pitcher as honorary home plate umpire for Scott's pitch, which kicks off LA's June 8 game against the Atlanta Braves.

Scott retired following the 2017 season, capping off an esteemed 32-year career in the American and Major Leagues, which featured 3,897 regular season games, 90 ejections, three All-Star appearances, and 22 postseason series assignments, including the 1998, 2001, and 2004 World Series. His career came to a premature end following a concussion sustained in Toronto in April 2017, his fourth game-ending head injury since 2012, and seventh overall exit during that span.
Related Post: Dale Scott Retires in Wake of Concussion in Toronto (12/12/17).

Scott was a crew chief for 16 MLB seasons.

Scott, who served as the first active publicly gay umpire in Major League Baseball, was named UEFL Honorable Umpire of the Year in 2015, following his marriage to longtime partner Michael Rausch and feature article in SB*Nation's Outsports, whose motto is, "Courage is Contagious." Scott had first sent a photograph of himself & Michael to Referee Magazine to run alongside an article covering MLB's 2014 Opening Series in Australia, for which Scott served as one of four MLB umpire representatives, working as a crew chief during the Diamondbacks-Team Australia exhibition game and backup to Tim Welke during the two Dodgers-D'Backs games to kick off the 2014 regular season.
Related Post: Dale Scott Comes Out as Gay After Feature Article (12/2/14).
Related Post: 2015 Honorable Umpires - John Hirschbeck & Dale Scott (11/8/15).

Former umpire Dave Pallone had previously alleged, in his book Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball, that baseball unceremoniously forced him out of the sport following a 1988 New York Post story that outed the former NL umpire after 10 years and 1361 games in the big leagues. Pallone now serves as a motivational speaker concerning matters of diversity and empowerment, and is a member of The National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

Scott—who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame and whose own story was separated from Pallone's by decades—praised baseball for its support in the modern era.

In a bit of trivia, Scott's June journey to the mound this June corresponds to where crew mate Jim Joyce called balls and strikes from when then-plate umpire Scott departed the March 5, 2015 Cubs-Giants Spring Training game due to a hand injury.
Related Post: Dale Scott Exits with Injury, Joyce Umps Behind Mound (3/5/15).

LGBT Night at Dodger Stadium is in its sixth year, and offers a special event ticket package for fans.