MLB Ejection 229 - Phil Cuzzi (4; Alex Cintron)

HP Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron (strike one call to Jose Abreu; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Orioles-#Astros game. With none out and one on, Abreu took a first-pitch fastball from Orioles pitcher DL Hall for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the midpoint (px 0.24, pz 3.63 [sz_top 3.38 / RAD 3.50 / MOE 3.58]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 7-3. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 9-5.

This is Phil Cuzzi (10)'s 4th ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 0.60 vertical inches from being deemed a correct call.

This is the 229th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 34th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 103 Managers, 92 Players, 34 Coaches.

This is Houston's 5th ejection of 2023, 5th in the AL West (OAK 9; SEA 8; LAA, TEX 7; HOU 5).

This is Alex Cintron's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 30 (Jerry Layne; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Phil Cuzzi's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since June 10 (Phil Nevin; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Baltimore Orioles vs Houston Astros, 9/19/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 228 - Dan Iassogna (5; Ryan Noda)

HP Umpire Dan Iassogna ejected A's 1B Ryan Noda (strike two call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Padres-#Athletics game. With one out and none on, Noda took a 1-1 changeup from Padres pitcher Robert Suarez for a called second strike before grounding out on the next pitch. Replays indicate the pitch ruled strike two was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.08, pz 1.47 [sz_bot 1.66 / RAD 1.54 / MOE 1.46]), the call was correct.^ At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 5-3. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 8-3.

This is Dan Iassogna (58)'s 5th ejection of 2023.*
*This ejection occurred on Sept 15, sequentially as 227, but is reported as 228.

^This pitch was located 0.12 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 228th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 92nd player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 103 Managers, 92 Players, 33 Coaches.

This is Oakland's 9th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL West (OAK 9; SEA 8; LAA, TEX 7; HOU 4).

This is Ryan Noda's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since July 17 (Emil Jimenez; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Dan Iassogna's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st since July 6 (Brandon Hyde; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Oakland Athletics, 9/15/23 | Video as follows:

Houston's Thrown Glove and the Two-Base Award

Astros pitcher Framber Valdez struggled to field a soft ground ball by Royals batter Logan Porter and threw wildly to first base, Houston 1B Jose Abreu throwing his glove to stop the ball. Although Abreu's thrown glove struck Valdez's thrown ball, keeping it on the infield, HP Umpire Derek Thomas and 3B Umpire John Libka both saw a rules infraction and 2B Umpire James Hoye's crew met after the play to determine base awards.

Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(4) specifies base awards and indicates that each runner (including the batter-runner) may advance without liability to be put out: "(C) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately throws their glove at and touches a fair ball" or "(E) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately throws their glove at and touches a thrown ball."

The rule states that in both situations, "The ball is in play, and the award is made from the position of the runner at the time the ball was touched."

Replays indicate that as Valdez's wild throw approached the vicinity of first base, 1B Umpire Angel Hernandez was concentrating on the potential play at the base and thus wasn't looking at the infraction as it occurred (this is a proper mechanic from the first base umpire), 2B Umpire Hoye was similarly looking at second base for a potential play on R1, and thus 3B Umpire Libka and HP Umpire Thomas had the call.

Libka, however, appeared to signal "Time" while Thomas simply pointed at the thrown glove/ball contact—Thomas' mechanic is correct as the ball is in play on such a violation.

After the play, the crew determined that batter-runner Porter would be placed at second base because he had not yet reached first base at the time of the glove/ball touching while lead runner R1 Nick Loftin would receive third base...which replays indicate was incorrect, as Loftin was in contact with second base at the time of the ball touch occurred.

For what it's worth, the relevant rule for a pitched ball is OBR 5.06(b)(3), which awards runners (but not batters) one base without liability to be put out when "A fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with their cap, mask or any part of their uniform detached from its proper place on their person."

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 227 - Adam Hamari (6; Kevin Cash)

3B Umpire Adam Hamari ejected Rays manager Kevin Cash (check swing ball two call to Aaron Hicks) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Rays-#Orioles game. With two out and one on, Hicks attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 slider from Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Clint Vondrak and affirmed as no swing on appeal by 3B Umpire Hamari. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 5-4, in 11 innings.

This is Adam Hamari (78)'s 6th ejection of 2023.

This is the 227th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 103rd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 103 Managers, 91 Players, 33 Coaches.

This is Tampa Bay's 6th ejection of 2023, T-3rd in the AL East (NYY 10; BOS 7; BAL, TB, TOR 6).

This is Kevin Cash's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since Sept 2 (CB Bucknor; QOC = N [Pitch Clock]).

This is Adam Hamari's 6th ejection of 2023, 1st since Aug 2 (Pedro Grifol; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles, 9/17/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 226 - Alex Tosi (2; Bryce Harper)

HP Umpire Alex Tosi ejected Phillies 1B Bryce Harper (strike two call; QOCN) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Phillies-#Cardinals game. With two out and none on, Harper took a 2-1 fastball from Cardinals pitcher Zack Thompson for a called second strike before striking out on a subsequent pitch. Replays indicate the 2-1 pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and above the midpoint (px -0.41, pz 3.45 [sz_top 3.18 / RAD 3.30 / MOE 3.38]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 4-0. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Alex Tosi (66)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 0.84 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 226th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 91st player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 102 Managers, 91 Players, 33 Coaches.

This is Philadelphia's 11th ejection of 2023, 2nd in the NL East (MIA 14; PHI 11; NYM 6; ATL, WAS 3).

This is Bryce Harper's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 23 (Mike Estabrook; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

This is Alex Tosi's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 21 (Bud Black; QOC = U [HBP]).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs St Louis Cardinals, 9/15/23 | Video as follows:

August 2023 Top 5 Calls of the Month

August 2023's Top 5 Calls of the Month highlights five MLB umpires whose efficient use of mechanics, positioning, and patience enables them to correctly officiate some difficult plays.

Top 5 Calls of the Month - August 2023

5. Ryan Wills' pulled foot out vs safe call at the home plate.

4. Chad Whitson's patient safe call on a creative slide.

3. Jeremy Riggs' dust-cloud tag play at third base.

2. Brennan Miller's three-sounder with shadows at first.

1. Tripp Gibson's foul tip vs catcher's interference call.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 225 - Jeremie Rehak (4; Chris Johnson)

HP Umpire Jeremie Rehak ejected White Sox assistant hitting coach Chris Johnson (strike one call to Andrew Benintendi; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Royals-#WhiteSox game. With two out and two on, Benintendi took a 0-0 fastball from Royals pitcher Jackson Kowar for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.54, pz 1.33 [sz_bot 1.55 / RAD 1.43 / MOE 1.35]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 6-1. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 6-2.

This is Jeremie Rehak (35)'s 4th ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 0.24 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 225th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 33rd coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 102 Managers, 90 Players, 33 Coaches.

This is Chicago's 13th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL Central (CWS 13; MIN 12; KC 7; CLE 6; DET 4).

This is Chris Johnson's 1st ejection since June 22, 2014 (Mark Carlson; QOC = Y-c [Check Swing]).

This is Jeremie Rehak's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since Aug 10 (John Schneider; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs Chicago White Sox, 9/12/23 | Video as follows:

Bassitt's Balk by Disengagement Scores Run After 3rd Step Off

Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt balked home a run after stepping off for a third time with Rangers runner Mitch Garver dancing off third base, resulting in a disengagement violation that was immediately called by the umpires. Toronto played batter Josh Smith to pull toward right field and 'shifted' third baseman Cavan Biggio toward the shortstop position, leaving third base unguarded, allowing baserunner R3 Garver to take a sizeable lead.

Pitcher Bassitt attempted to keep the baserunner at bay by disengaging from the pitcher's plate and feigning to third base (pitchers are allowed to fake to third or first, but must disengage before starting the faking motion). Bassitt did this twice toward the end of Smith's at-bat, with R3 Garver and R2 Leody Taveras (who had stolen second earlier in the AB) returning to their bases safely each time.

When Garver strayed far down the foul line, Bassitt not only disengaged the rubber, but ran toward third base in an unsuccessful attempt to tag Garver. With Bassitt's attempt having failed, HP Umpire John Tumpane and 3B Umpire Mike Muchlinski simultaneously called "Time" and signaled Bassitt for a disengagement violation (third step-off), awarding the runners an extra base as a result.

Pitchers are allowed a maximum of two free disengagements per plate appearance. The "free disengagements remaining" counter resets back to two if any runner advances during the at-bat (e.g., due to a stolen base, error, balk, etc.) and a pitcher is allowed a third disengagement without penalty only if that third disengagement results in the retirement of a runner. If the runner is safe on the third disengagement, however, it is a balk and the runner(s) advance a base.

Video as follows:

Ball Boy Interference & Non-Bona Fide Slide Violation

Umpires awarded Dodgers runner Mookie Betts home after a ball boy interfered with a fair ball in Miami while Replay Review called a bona fide slide rule violation on Reds runner Christian Encarnacion-Strand in Cincinnati in this edition of Ask CCS.

Ball Attendant Interference

With baserunner Mookie Betts on first base, Dodgers batter Freddie Freeman hit a line drive down the right field line in Miami, ruled a fair ball by 1B Umpire John Libka. But before Mookie could round third base, the Marlins ball boy in right field fielded the fair ground ball and threw it into the stands, resulting in a dead ball pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 6.01(d), entitled "Unintentional Interference."

OBR 6.01(d) states that if a non-uniformed person authorized to be on the playing field (e.g., ball attendant, security guard, etc.) intentionally interferes with a live ball ("intentional" meaning the action was voluntary, not that the intent was to commit interference per se), "the ball shall be dead at the moment of the interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in their opinion will nullify the act of interference."

After consultation with 1B Umpire Libka, 2B Umpire DJ Reyburn, and perhaps most importantly (for the angle), 3B Umpire Angel Hernandez, HP Umpire and Crew Chief James Hoye placed Betts at home, ruling that had interference not occurred, Betts would have scored.

Bona Fide Slide Rule Violation Leads to 9th Inning Double Play

In Cincinnati, Reds batter Tyler Stephenson hit a ground ball to Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn in the bottom of the 9th inning, with Winn throwing to second baseman Tommy Edman as Reds baserunner R1 Christian Encarnacion-Strand slid into second base. Edman's throw to first base came after Stephenson arrived, but St Louis challenged the play, alleging that the runner's slide into second was violative.

The four criteria of OBR 6.01(j) pertaining to bona fide slides on force plays are that

1) the runner begins their slide before reaching the base;

2) is able and attempts to reach the base with their hand or foot;

3) is able and attempts to remain on the base after completion of the slide;

4) slides within reach of the base without changing their pathway to contact a fielder.

Upon review, the Replay Official ruled that R1 failed to satisfy criterion three of the bona fide slide rule, in that the runner failed to remain on the base after completion of the slide. Accordingly, replay overturned 2B Umpire Mark Carlson's no violation call and imposed the illegal slide penalty, which in this case is a double play with batter-runner Stephenson declared out at first in addition to Encarnacion-Strand's force out at second.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 224 - Bill Miller (5; Brian Snitker)

1B Umpire Bill Miller ejected Braves manager Brian Snitker (ejection/throwing at no-call) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Pirates-#Braves game. With two out and two on, Braves batter Austin Riley took a 0-1 fastball from Pirates pitcher Johan Oviedo for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and hit Riley on the upper arm, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

This is Bill Miller (26)'s 5th ejection of 2023.

This is the 224th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 102nd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 102 Managers, 90 Players, 32 Coaches.

This is Atlanta's 3rd ejection of 2023, T-4th in the NL East (MIA 14; PHI 9; NYM 6; ATL, WAS 3).

This is Brian Snitker's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 14 (Manny Gonzalez; QOC = Y [Replay]).

This is Bill Miller's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st since August 9 (Skip Schumaker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves, 9/9/23 | Video as follows: