Arizona Fall League Welcomes NPB (Japan) Umpires

The 2018 Arizona Fall League welcomed two umpires from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), who joined the MiLB umpire roster in MLB's premiere offseason development program, producing a rare six-man crew in the AFL.

Fresh off the NPB season in Japan, umpires Chikara Tsugawa and Shinji Hashimoto flew to Arizona and have been officiating with American minor league umpires in the Fall League.

For instance, the October 30 Salt River Rafters-Mesa Solar Sox game might have sported an attendance of just 615 at Sloan Park, but its umpire manpower was playoff caliber, with HP Umpire Chikara Tsugawa, 1B Umpire Jansen Visconti, 2B Umpire Nestor Ceja, 3B Umpire Dan Merzel, LF Umpire Shinji Hashimoto, and RF Umpire Brennan Miller.

This isn't the first NPB-MLB umpire collaboration nor is it Tsugawa's first international umpiring experience, either. He officiated with Ted Barrett's crew during pool play of the 2017 World Baseball Classic tournament. Tsugawa also took part in the 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series, which featured split squads of NPB and MLB officials.
Related Post: 2018 Arizona Fall League Umpire Roster (10/1/18).
Related Post: 2017 World Baseball Classic Umpire Roster (3/6/17).
Related Post: Roster: 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series (11/11/14).

Hashimoto worked the November 2006 NPB-MLB All-Star Series at the Tokyo Dome, a partnership between the USA and Japan umpiring bodies that clearly continues into the present day.

Tsugawa and Hishimoto were crewmates during the 2018 NPB season and are now crewmates in the 2018 AFL.

UEFL Year End Award Nominations for 2018

Award Nominations: 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).

Link to Postseason Awards Ballot (also appears below).
a. Umpire of the Year (min. 1 / max. 1 umpire)
b. Promising 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 (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) [Link: 2018 MLB Ejections (UEFL Portal)]
h. Most Disappointing Season (min. 0 / max. 1 umpire)

Click here for the complete history and list of UEFL Postseason Awards recipients.

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 Sunday, November 4; Awards distribution will begin Monday, November 5. To cast your ballot, complete the following voting form.
Points scale for post season awards: a. (+5); b. (+3); c. (+2); d. (+2); e. (+1); f. (+1); g. (+1); h. (-1).
*Eligible umpires are listed on the ballot for each applicable category. For instance, only umpires on the full-time staff roster and any fill-in umpire that has worked at least 115 games over the course of the season are eligible for Awards a-c, e, f and h. You may also write in an umpire if such umpire does not appear by commenting on this post. Make sure you use the phrase "Write In" so it is counted.

Triple-A Umpires with over 115 MLB games in 2018: Lentz (149), Segal (141), Whitson (141), Blakney (126).

a. Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been the best MLB Umpire the past year, bar none. This Umpire has been more dedicated, professional, and positive than all others. This award will be given to one umpire.
b. Promising Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been dedicated, professional, and has worked hard. Perhaps a rising star, the Promising Umpire of the Year is an umpire to keep an eye on, for an expectation of great things down the line. Formerly known as Noteworthy Umpire of the Year, this award will be given to one or two umpires.
c. Honorable Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been the most honorable Umpire during the past year. Perhaps through Community Service, or through struggling with and overcoming his own difficulties, this Umpire has been the most personally admirable of all. This award may or may not be given to either one or two umpires.
d. Fill-In Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has been the best AAA Call-Up Umpire the past year, bar none. This Umpire has been the most dedicated, professional, and positive AAA/Non-MLB Full Time Umpire of all non-MLB Full Time Umpires. This award may or may not be given to a maximum of one umpire.
e. Most Improved Umpire of the Year: This Umpire has improved his overall performance from the previous season more noticeably than any other Umpire. Generally, this umpire has developed into a solid arbiter within the past year. This award may or may not be given to a maximum of one umpire.
f. Crew Chief of the Year: This Umpire has been the best MLB Umpire Crew Chief, the past year, bar none. This Umpire has led his crew(s) better than all others. This award will be given to one umpire.
g. Best Ejection of the Year: In the form of "Ejection 123: Umpire (1)," this award recognizes the best ejection(s) of the year. Nominated and selected due to form, mechanics, entertainment value, reason for ejection, or overall quality, the Best Ejection of the Year is awarded to one or two umpires for one or two specific ejections. The award may be given to one umpire for two separate ejections, in which case, he receives one point for each ejection.
h. Most Disappointing Season: This Umpire has demonstrated a regression in ability, and might have had a regrettable incident(s) occur in-season. The Most Disappointing Season award may or may not be given to a maximum of one umpire.

Ballot as follows:

Twofer - Plate Umpire Ted Barrett's 18-Inning Night

Baseball is often thought of as a sport where its umpires don't have to be in peak best physical condition. From Simpsons to Seinfeld, the "fat umpire" shtick persists. And then there's Ted Barrett and his World Series crew, 18 innings spanning seven hours and 20 minutes, and umps whose very fitness contrary to the out-of-shape trope enabled these six men to get through a continuous pattern of standing, walking, jogging, running, and—oh yeah—making calls on a baseball field during the third-longest game in Major League history, and the longest postseason game of all-time.

Ted Barrett worked 18 innings behind the plate.

For home plate umpire Barrett himself, add 561 squats (without sitting) over 7:20 of game time, and on top of everything else, you have the sorest thighs in all of baseball, and a not-so-brief glimpse back at a man who used to spar with the likes of boxers George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson.

In 2017, Referee showed us that MLB has taken umpires' fitness to the next level, emphasizing several programs to keep the staff in shape and, according to MLB Umpiring Director of Medical Services Mark Letendre, change the perception surrounding the "fat and out of shape" caricature.

But especially for a plate umpire, the physical demands of 18 innings don't paint the whole picture. Barrett told the New York Times that in addition to physically having to work leg and back muscles over the course of the record-setting 440 minutes of baseball in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series, "the mental part is really tough, because you've got to concentrate. It's just complete concentration every pitch, just staying in the moment and fighting any temptation to let your mind wander."

Barrett saw 561 pitches (286 callable).

And for the Rev. Dr. officiating the ceremony known as Game 3 Friday night (you can also call him "Reverend Doctor Crew Chief"), it's a theme that he knows quite well, as his dissertation for Trinity University was entitled, "An Investigation of Faith as a Life Principle in the Lives of Major League Umpires."

Barrett explained how said faith got him through 18 innings at Dodger Stadium: "For me it’s a lot of prayer, it’s quoting verses in my head, and that just helps me stay focused, stay locked in."

Barrett's Calling for Christ ministry for professional umpires grew out of a divided channel that emanated from The Baseball Chapel in 2007, which Barrett was not in charge of. Umpires such as Josh Miller described his experience with the Chapel thusly: "From Day 1 it was uncomfortable...You have a guy coming in and preaching to you about something you don’t believe in, it throws you off mentally."

Al Clark dealt with bigotry in his journey.

Miller also said that he experienced bullying as a result of his Jewish faith. Retired AL umpire Al Clark said he experienced similar anti-Semitism—even threats that made direct reference to his religion, allegedly from Hall of Fame umpire and NL Supervisor Al Barlick—and Bruce Froemming was caught as recently as 2003 using a slur of his own.

When Barrett developed Calling for Christ to fill the void, and as he progressed in his studies into faith, Barrett made it a central point to mold the group's mission to fully embrace and welcome umpires of all walks of life and spiritualities, from atheist beliefs to religious prayer diversity and beyond. CFC grew to establish relationships with Jewish and Muslim clergy, and under Barrett's leadership is in a position to support any umpire and any faith with a key theme of inclusiveness.
Related Post: Angel Hernandez, MLB, and Discrimination (Part 2) (7/13/17).

This message of personal virtue ultimately led Barrett to become the most-decorated umpire in UEFL Postseason Awards history, having earned three Crew Chief of the Year titles (2014, 16, 17), three Honorable Umpire of the Year awards (2012, 13, 14), and one (Best) Umpire of the Year trophy (2014).

All of this—and an UMPS CARE visit to Boston Children's Hospital alongside Jeff Nelson, Jim Reynolds, and Tim Timmons on the morning of Game 2—led to a historically challenging game in Los Angeles, during which Barrett logged a 96.9% plate score, actually improving over the final nine innings of the game, and missing just nine pitches on the night...which amounts to just 1.2 per hour.

Plate Meeting Podcast #7 - Call for Q's - Gary Darling

CloseCallSports.com announces its seventh Plate Meeting podcast episode with guest Gary Darling, a 26-year MLB umpire veteran with 3,270 regular season games, 10 Division Series, 5 LCS, and two World Series. Now's your chance to ask Gary questions about his career, including any one of his 111 ejections, UMPS CARE and charitable endeavors.

Darling began his professional umpiring career with the Northwest League in 1980, and officiated the California, Texas, and Pacific Coast Leagues before his promotion to the National League staff in 1988. He was one of the 22 umpires who lost their jobs in the 1999 mass resignation event, and was rehired to the league in 2002, alongside Bill Hohn, Bruce Dreckman, Joe West, Larry Poncino, Larry Vanover, Paul Nauert, and Sam Holbrook.

Since his return, Darling promoted to Crew Chief, officiated Division Series his first and second years back (in addition to 2005, 07, 08, 10, and 13), and worked his first World Series just a year later, in 2003 (his second World Series was in 2010).

In 2005, Umps Care was initially founded to assist retired umpires and their families in financial difficulty, but the group's mission shortly expanded and, under President Darling's leadership, UMPS CARE regularly began to run programs such as BLUE Tickets and the BLUE for Kids hospital visit event, charity golf outings, the annual online auction at MLB.com, and even an UMPS CARE Charities All-Star College Scholarship award.

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The Plate Meeting, a Left Field Umpire Podcast is CCS's official audio show where we talk umpiring with umpires, and discuss officiating related issues, including analysis or other conversation pertaining to plays, ejections, rules, and more.

To subscribe to The Plate Meeting, visit our Anchor.fm page, which offers external links to popular podcast providers, such as Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, Radio Public, and, coming soon, Google Podcasts.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter 🐦 (@UmpireEjections) and like on Facebook 👍 (/UmpireEjections).

Runner's Lane Interference - 2018 World Series Edition

A runner's lane interference no-call during Game 4 of the 2018 World Series led to a four-run Dodgers rally as HP Umpire Chad Fairchild opted against RLI when Los Angeles batter Cody Bellinger got in the way of Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez's throw to Steve Pearce, causing the ball to veer into right field. Was this the correct ruling?

An interference no-call sparked an LA rally.

Fortunately for Boston, it's all a footnote now, as the Sox capitalized late to defeat Los Angeles and take a commanding three games-to-one Series lead.

Let's rewind the tape, consider the relevant rule and interpretation, and adjudicate the play from scratch. For good measure, we'll visit the 2014 Japan Series, where a very similar runner's lane interference play sealed the Nippon League's championship round. How about that for a postseason finale?

The Play: With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 6th inning of Game 4, Dodgers batter Cody Bellinger hit a ground ball to Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce, who threw to catcher Christian Vazquez, Dodgers baserunner R3 Enrique Hernandez out at home. After tagging home plate, Vazquez's return throw to first base sailed into foul territory near right field and allowed Dodgers baserunner R2 Justin Turner to score. With two out, ensuing batter Yasiel Puig hit a three-run home run to complete LA's four-run inning.

The Call: HP Umpire Chad Fairchild ruled Hernandez out on the force play at home and no-called the potential runner's lane interference (RLI) on batter-runner Bellinger at first.

The Rule: The relevant rule is OBR 5.09(a)(11), which states:

A batter is out for interference when—In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead. [Batted ball exemption is inapplicable here]

*Important: "Fielded to" includes any ball thrown to first base, such as an F2-F3 double play try.

Rule 5.09(a)(11)'s associated comment states, "The batter-runner is permitted to exit the three-foot lane by means of a step, stride, reach or slide in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first base."

SIDEBAR (College/High School BRD): NCAA Rule 7-11-p's Approved Ruling states that, "If the batter-runner is running illegally to first base and his being outside the lane alters the throw of a fielder, hinders or alters a fielder’s opportunity to field the throw, or the batter-runner is hit by the throw that has been made in an attempt to make a play, it shall be called interference and the batter-runner is to be called out." NFHS simply puts him out for running outside the lane (8-4-1g).

Crew Chief Ted Barrett explains RLI.

Ted Talk: In 2015, Chris Welsh and Ted Barrett—possibly a pilot episode for BaseballRulesAcademy—recorded a segment about runner's lane interference. Barrett, crew chief for the 2018 World Series, explained RLI thusly: "If he's running inside [the foul] line all the way and he gets hit with a thrown ball, he's probably going to be out for interference."
Related Video: TECH TALK with Ted Barrett (FS Ohio).

Analysis: Both Wendelstedt and Evans interpretations agree with Barrett's summation, but the offending batter-runner doesn't actually have to get hit with a ball for RLI to be called. For instance, here's Wendelstedt: "A runner that is running the entire distance outside of the running lane will not be protected if he interferes with a play at first base, even if it is in his last stride or step to the base. In order to be protected, this last step must be when he first exits the running lane."

Regarding the throw, Wendelstedt writes, "The determination is not whether the throw is true, but whether it could still reasonably retire the runner."

Pearce and Bellinger tangle at first base.

Batter-Runner Not in Lane: In rewatching the video, first and foremost, we see that Bellinger runs the entire length from home plate to first base completely in fair territory and not within the runner's lane at the 45-foot mark, nor on the chalk line. Accordingly, the first criterion for RLI (BR not in the lane) is satisfied, and per the interpretation manuals, Bellinger is liable to be called for interference anywhere from the 45-foot mark until he arrives at first base, including his last stride or step (e.g., you can't exit a lane when you were never in the lane to begin with).

The Catcher's Throw: After forcing out Hernandez, F2 Vazquez throws down the line—and lane—and sets up contact between Pearce and Bellinger at first base as Pearce attempts to catch the throw while Bellinger attempts to touch first base. Because the throw arrives at the position Pearce would have tried to assume had Bellinger not interfered at about the same time that Bellinger arrived at first base, it follows that, yes, the throw could have reasonably retired the runner if not for the runner's interference with the fielder taking the throw. It would be a bang-bang play to be sure, but we're not concerned with calling anyone "safe" or "out" at this point. We're just looking for whether the throw could have reasonably retired the runner.

F3 Pearce's catch attempt is interrupted by BR.

Timing: This may mean that the umpire has to consider a fielder stretching to catch a ball in front of first base, such that RLI can actually occur in front of the bag, and before the ball physically arrives at the base itself. Just because the runner has touched first base before the ball doesn't mean he has suddenly reached a safe zone and is protected from RLI... Interference can still be called on a runner based on his actions prior to his arrival, and before the ball actually arrives at his location. Remember the golden rule...contact is not a requirement for interference or obstruction, and interference can occur prior to, or in the absence of, actual contact.

Question whether the throw was reasonable.

This came up with a 2016 play (Mike Scioscia tried protesting a game because Phil Cuzzi didn't call interference...just like Alex Cora's attempted complaint on Saturday...RLI is a judgment call, cannot be challenged for Replay Review purposes, and cannot be protested). The only difference was that batter-runner Raul Mondesi quite clearly beat the throw to such a degree that it could not have "reasonably retired the runner." Because the "reasonably retire" criterion wasn't satisfied, the play was not runner's lane interference. It's not whether the runner beats the throw to the base, but whether the runner beats the throw to the fielder, who may be attempting to stretch in front of the base, and if he is illegally interfered with, RLI should be called.
Related Post: Angels Protest Cuzzi RLI No-Call in Kansas City [Denied] (7/27/16).

Is slide INT a realistic possibility here?

TMAC'S TAKE: I have RLI, but there's more to this play than meets the eye—what are our responsibilities and in what order? This may be up for debate, but the first thing is our force play, then we are looking for potential slide interference—in a game of this magnitude we can't miss slide INT...or can we? Slide INT is reviewable and RLI is not... I can see exactly why Fairchild was in the spot he was and may have missed RLI and i don't fault him a bit. Whether or not your have RLI (and for the record I do), this is a bastard play based on everything you have to watch.

An illegal lane runner gets no leniency re: RLI.

Gil's Call: In real time, I too had RLI based strongly on the runner's failure to attempt to run in the lane for his entire trip down to first base. The WUM/Evans interpretations are explicit: there is to be no leniency for a runner who makes no attempt to comply with the RLI Rule 5.09(a)(11). The trickier part of the play comes in with whether the throw can reasonably retire the runner. In my estimation, it can. If Bellinger doesn't stop Pearce from reaching out, I think the fielder catches the ball, and I think he possibly catches it before the runner touches the base. I'm not considering "what happens if Bellinger is in the lane" because, as previously stated, there is to be no leniency extended to a violative batter-runner.

I'm rather a fan of this look from 1BL ext.

I'm also not thinking about "safe" or "out"—just "reasonable," and I think this play fits that bill. It's close enough, naturally, that, like tmac, I wouldn't fault a no-call, either, though I would still consider it a personal miss. Just a matter of judgment, which happens to be during the World Series.

Finally, I refer to the 2014 Japan Series (see below) vs Saturday's Game 4 RLI plays in regard to umpire positioning. In 2014, the NPB plate umpire is first base line extended and has a great view down the line at potential RLI. On Saturday, the MLB umpire is very shallow third base extended watching for slide interference (maybe?) before pivoting to the potential RLI. Like all line calls, I am a firm believer in getting on or approximately on the line/extended line in order to have the best chance at judging the play, whether or not you ultimately have RLI. That's what works for me, and quite obviously, I'm not in the major leagues, so your mileage may vary, but having to look for slide interference, a force play at home, and RLI really has a way of complicating matters.

Nippon Series ends on a similar RLI play.

Precedent/History: The 2014 Japan Series actually ended on a similar RLI play, with a champion crowned in the NPB as a result of a runner's lane interference call on an attempted double play with the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning. Just as Bellinger did in Game 4 of the 2018 World Series, Hanshin batter Tsuyoshi Nishioka grounded into a fielder's choice at home plate. Then, as SoftBank catcher Toru Hosokawa attempted to complete the double play by throwing to first base, Nishioka tangled with SoftBank first baseman Yuki Yoshimura, resulting in a game-ending RLI ruling as umpires deemed that Nishioka interfered with Yoshimura's attempt to field a throw that could have reasonably retired him.
Related Video: Round 5 of 2014 Japan Series Ending Between Softbank and Hanshin (10/30/14)

Miller called Contreras out for RLI at first base.

In August, Bill Miller ejected Joe Maddon for arguing a correctly officiated RLI call against Cubs batter-runner Willson Contreras, who ran inside of the foul line and out of the lane on his way to first base, interfering with Nationals first baseman Matt Adam's opportunity to field pitcher Greg Holland's throw. This was a correct call because the runner was illegal the entire time down the line.
Related Post: MLB Ejection 116 - Bill Miller (1; Joe Maddon) (8/10/18).

Segal rules RLI on Rangers BR Tocci.

In July, Chris Segal ejected Jeff Banister over a correctly officiated RLI sequence involving Rangers batter-runner Carlos Tocci, who advanced the entire distance from home to first in fair territory, such that the "exit" exemption of RLI did not apply and Tocci was called out for interfering with Tigers first baseman John Hick's ability to catch a throw that could have reasonably retired the runner, even though the ball hit him during his last stride to first base. Again, there is no leniency when a runner is 100% out of the lane.
Related Post: MLB Ejection 090 - Chris Segal (3; Jeff Banister) (7/8/18).

Nelson calls Heyward for RLI at first base.

In 2017, Jeff Nelson called Cubs batter-runner Jayson Heyward out for runner's lane interference after Heyward was hit by a throw as he touched first base, preventing Giants first baseman Brandon Belt from fielding a throw from pitcher Matt Moore. Again, the rule has nothing to do with the runner actually touching first base or not, the only consideration, provided that the runner is illegally not within the runner's lane, is whether or not the runner's actions prevented the fielder from fielding a throw that could "reasonably retire the runner."

Video as follows:

Discussion of the 2018 World Series

We begin the 2018 Dodgers-Red Sox World Series discussion with Game 1 and HP Umpire Tim Timmons.

Chief Ted Barrett's Fall Classic entire crew/roster, including home plate probables, is available at the following link.
Related: 2018 World Series Umpire Crew (10/22/18).

Home plate umpire performance is listed following the completion of each contest according to UEFL-f/x, which accounts for UEFL Rules 6-2-b-a (horizontal bound, "Kulpa Rule") and 6-2-b-b (vertical strike zone, "Miller Rule"). Callable pitches (which excludes all swinging strikes, fair and foul balls, HBPs, and pitchouts) are organized by type: "ball" or "called strike." These two figures are added together upon which a final plate performance score is achieved. For more information on UEFL-f/x and why we don't use misleading pitch plots/graphics in our analysis ("pfx" link included for illustrative purposes only), visit the following link.
Related Post: UEFL f/x vs K-Zone and the Player-Umpire Disconnect (How #s work) (10/4/18).

- 10/23 LAD@BOS Gm 1: Tim Timmons: pfx. 107/110 Balls + 56/58 Strikes = 163/168 = 97.0%. +1 LA.
- 10/24 LAD@BOS Gm 2: Kerwin Danley: pfx. 77/78 Balls + 43/45 Strikes = 120/123 = 97.6%. +3 LA.

- 10/26 BOS@LAD Gm 3: Ted Barrett: pfx. 201/202 Balls + 76/84 Strikes = 277/286 = 96.9%. +7 LA.
- 10/27 BOS@LAD Gm 4: Chad Fairchild: pfx. 109/112 Balls + 58/60 Strikes = 167/172 = 97.1%. +1 LA.
- 10/28 BOS@LAD Gm 5: Jeff Nelson: pfx. 76/76 Balls + 40/42 Strikes = 116/118 = 98.3%. +2 BOS.
Series Complete (WS BOS Over LAD 4-1): 843/867 = 97.2%. Net Skew +10 LA.

Note: The highest plate score during the 2017 World Series was Dan Iassogna's 95.5% (WS Gm 6).
The highest plate score during the 2017 Postseason was Chad Fairchild's 97.4% (ALCS Gm 1).
The highest plate score during the 2018 Postseason, thus far, was Joe West's 99.4% (ALCS Gm 3).
The highest postseason plate score ever recorded was Joe West's 99.4% (2018 ALCS Gm 3).

Live Blog: Join the CCS Crew LIVE for World Series discussion and analysis (requires Java):

World Series Forfeit? Unable to Field Nine Players

With Dodgers and Red Sox managers running out of bench players and substitutes during Friday/Saturday's World Series Game 3 in Los Angeles, we ask what would happen if a team ran out of players and someone got hurt? Answer: Forfeit (umpire declaration). Longest postseason game in MLB history or not, professional baseball requires nine position players during every game with penalty of forfeit for any team that attempts to play shorthanded.

Really—a forfeit on baseball's biggest stage?

It certainly hasn't happened before during the World Series, but Official Baseball Rule 7.03(b) states that at the Major League level, a team forfeits when it cannot or will not field nine players on defense:

A game shall be forfeited to the opposing team when a team is unable or refuses to place nine players on the field.

And don't even think about trying to bring someone back into the game after they were already replaced: "A player once removed from a game shall not re-enter that game. If a player who has been substituted for attempts to reenter, or re-enters, the game in any capacity, the umpire-in-chief shall direct the player’s manager to remove such player from the game immediately" (OBR 5.10(d)).

And 5.10(d) Comment: "If, in an umpire’s judgment, the player re-entered the game knowing that he had been removed, the umpire may eject the manager."

Weaver and Springstead have a conversation.

History: The last major league forfeit of this variety occurred on September 15, 1977, when Orioles Manager Earl Weaver refused to place his team on the field after umpire Marty Springstead, alongside Larry Barnett, Jim Evans, and Vic Voltaggio, rejected Weaver's request to remove a bullpen tarp. Though Weaver claimed player safety as motivation, the American League recorded the game as a forfeit in favor of Toronto (the Blue Jays were leading, 4-0 at the time).

Meanwhile, the last minor league forfeit under 7.03(b) (formerly 4.15(c)) took place in August 2014, when umpires Andy Stukel and Jordan Johnson ruled a forfeit in the Pioneer League when the Ogden Raptors refused to take the field following a rain delay, arguing that the field was unplayable. That protest wound up overturned after the Pioneer League affirmed Ogden's protest and ordered the game replayed from the seventh inning interruption.
Related Post: MiLB Rookie Ball Forfeit Overturned on Upheld Protest (8/27/14).

One of the first forfeits of this variety occurred on August 31, 1872. According to retrosheet, Brooklyn refused to continue playing after disagreeing with umpire Tom Pratt's call. Philadelphia's Athletics thus won the contest.

Meanwhile, Boston's forfeit win over Cleveland on August 1, 1883 establishes that players not on the roster at the time of first pitch shall not be permitted to enter the game. Cleveland had attempted to replace injured pitcher Hugh Daily with Will Sawyer; Boston cried foul because Sawyer wasn't present at the start of the game, resulting in a forfeit.

Torre would come up with a solution.

That said, MLB brass—Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre, Commissioner Rob Manfred, and the like—does have some flexibility within the rules. For instance, OBR does not explicitly state how many players may be named to the roster. Though we know "25-man roster" as standard baseball vernacular, could MLB corporate tweak this element of the "not an official rule" provision? Recall, of course, pursuant to the 1883 precedent, that the player must be present at the start of the game, barring a rules change.

After all, Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig did infamously declare a tie in the 11th inning of the 2002 All-Star Game after both teams ran out of available pitchers. That led to the whole "This time it counts" home-field advantage for the World Series campaign, and so forth, but most importantly...Selig's action took place during an All-Star Game that, at the time, didn't count for all that much.

We're talking about the World Series here.

Pursuant to MLB Umpire Manual procedure, a forfeit requires Crew Chief consent and the Crew Chief shall give ample warning to both sides (and to the crowd via the public address system, in the event of fans throwing debris, for instance) before declaring a forfeit; after the game, said Crew Chief contacts the MLB office to advise them of the forfeit.

SIDEBAR: Bob Davidson described a forfeit he had at Dodger Stadium in his Plate Meeting Podcast interview (Episode 1) when the Dodgers forfeited to the Cardinals in August 1995 on baseball giveaway night (fans threw balls on the field when things didn't go LA's way late in the game), and his late night conversation with NL President Leonard Coleman to advise him of the forfeited game.
Related Post: Plate Meeting Podcast Episode 1 - Bob Davidson (7/17/18).

Bob Davidson had a forfeit in LA in 1995.

For 2018 World Series Game 3, Crew Chief and HP Umpire Ted Barrett—who presided over 561 total pitches, 286 of which were callable—would surely consult with a supervisor or someone higher up the food chain, even if it meant waiting for Manfred and Torre to make it down to the field, or to get someone up in New York via Replay Review...this is MLB's ultimate jewel event, after all.

SIDEBAR: Stats count in a forfeit as long as the game has progressed enough innings to be a regulation game. With this potential forfeit situation occurring in extras, those states would count. If the team credited with the win was leading at the time of the forfeit, the pitchers would be credited with a win or loss as usual. If the team credited with the win was losing at the time of the forfeit, there would be no winning or losing pitchers. Forfeits receive an official score of 9-0 victories in favor of the benefiting team.

In sum, although Rule 7.03(b) is pretty clear about forfeiting a game when a team is unable to place nine players on the field, the collective MLB brain trust would have little trouble working out a creative solution to prevent this ultimate travesty from marring a World Series—or at least present an intercedent measure to soften the blow. Either that or a rules change for the offseason. One thing is for certain though, a decision this significant, at this monumental stage, would surely be out of the umpires' hands.

World Series Crew Embarks on Boston UMPS Care Visit

In the midst of a 2018 World Series assignment, Crew Chief Ted Barrett, and umpires Jeff Nelson, Jim Reynolds, and Tim Timmons made an UMPS CARE Charities BLUE for Kids visit to Boston Children's Hospital, joining Red Sox legends and MLB personnel on the charity outing just hours before Boston's 4-2 victory during Game 2.

World Series umpires visited Boston Children's.

While MLB donated video game-adorned Play Spaces, UMPS Care Charities stuck to its bread and butter, handing out 100 Build-A-Bear stuffed animal kits to critically-ill children on the heels of 1500 bears already distributed during UMPS CARE's 14 scheduled hospital visits during the 2018 regular season.

Barrett also let us in on a secret: "For most of us, this is our favorite event...we get more out of it I think than the kids do because we just have a blast with them... As umpires, usually, we're not bringing positive reactions, so it's great to get some smiles from people."

UMPS CARE (umpscare.com) recruits the home team's mascot whenever possible to help with the festivities, and Red Sox character Wally the Green Monster was on hand to help out, perhaps an apropos name on a day we remember the late, great Wally Bell, who once said of hospital visits, "To see the kids smile is the greatest thing in the world."
Related Post: Five Years Later - Remembering Wally Bell (10/25/18).

Video as follows:

Five Years Later - Remembering Wally Bell

Five years ago, on October 14, 2013, we lost Wally Bell, who had just umpired that postseason's NLDS. The 21-year MLB umpire, who died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 48, was remembered by Joe West, President of the World Umpires Association: "Wally was a great umpire, a great partner and a great friend. The umpiring community is deeply saddened by this tragic loss. He will be sorely missed by many."

Similar sentiments were shared throughout baseball, from then-Commissioner Bud Selig to Joe Torre and beyond.

Here at CCS, we noted a few more stories and reactions to Wally's passing during the postseason; there were moments of silence held at Dodger Stadium with Gerry Davis' NLCS crew; at Comerica Park, Joe West's ALCS umpires stood behind home plate in a "missing man" formation, in honor of Bell.
Related Post: MLB Umpire Wally Bell Dead at 48 (10/14/13).

This week, Foley's NY published a remembrance, writing, in part, "Wally was a MLB umpire who was quite a character and larger than life...I miss Wally and I would give anything to have him tell me the same stories over and over again." Visit Foley's for more.

We also visit ABC Action News for a segment remembering Bell in the following video section when Wally said, "To see the kids smile is the greatest thing in the world."

Video as follows:

2018 World Series Umpire Crew and Roster

MLB's 2018 World Series umpire roster features Ted Barrett as crew chief for the Dodgers-Red Sox fall classic along with six additional umpires selected from the AL and NL Division Series crews this postseason.

The Replay Official for the LCS and World Series serves in MLBAM's New York-based Replay Operations Center for Games One and Two of the series, before joining the on-field crew for Games Three through Seven. The home plate umpire for Game One of the series correspondingly serves as the Replay Official for Games Three through Seven.

The 2018 Fall Classic umpiring crew is comprised of umpires from the 2018 AL and NL Division Series. The following configuration refers to positions as assigned for Game 1 of the World Series and indicates prior assignments for the 2018 Division Series. Three of the seven World Series umpires came from ALDS-A (CLE@HOU), two were from NLDS-B (COL@MIL), while one umpire came from each of the remaining two Division Series.

2018 World Series Umpires (Los Angeles Dodgers @ Boston Red Sox)
HP: Tim Timmons '1st WS' (from ALDS-A [CLE@HOU]) [Game 1 Plate]
1B: Kerwin Danley (from NLDS-B [COL@MIL]) [Game 2 Plate]
2B: Ted Barrett* (from NLDS-B [COL@MIL]) [Game 3 Plate]
3B: Chad Fairchild '1st WS' (from ALDS-A [CLE@HOU]) [Game 4 Plate]
LF: Jeff Nelson* (from ALDS-A [CLE@HOU]) [Game 5 Plate]
RF: Jim Reynolds (from NLDS-A [ATL@LAD]) [Game 6 Plate]
Replay: Fieldin Culbreth* (from ALDS-B [NYY@BOS]) [Game 7 Plate]

Replay Assistant, World Series: Chris Conroy (from AL Division Series A [CLE@HOU])

Bold text denotes World Series Crew Chief, * denotes regular season Crew Chief, ^1st^ denotes first postseason assignment; `1st WS` denotes first World Series assignment. Per UEFL Rule 4-3-c, all umpires selected to appear in the World Series shall receive four bonus points for this appearance; crew chiefs shall receive one additional bonus point for this role (five points total). Officials assigned to replay review (without an on-field role) only do not receive points for this role.

This is the first Fall Classic for Timmons and Fairchild.  It's the second appearance for Reynolds and Danley.  It's the third time around for Culbreth.  Barrett and Nelson are here for the fourth time.  This marks the second time Reynolds, Nelson and Barrett worked together on the grandest stage. The trio officiated the 2014 World Series.