MLB Ejection 182 - Nic Lentz (3; Lewis Brinson)

HP Umpire Nic Lentz ejected Marlins CF Lewis Brinson (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Marlins-#Nationals game. With two out and none on, Brinson took a 3-2 curveball from Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and at the midpoint (px -0.58, pz 3.67 [sz_top 3.60 / RAD 3.72]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 6-0. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 7-0.

This is Nic Lentz (59)'s third ejection of 2019.
Nic Lentz now has 10 points in the UEFL Standings (6 Prev + 2 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 10).
Crew Chief Mike Everitt now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).
*This pitch was located 1.60 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call. If overnight processing changes Brinson's sz_top value from 3.60 to 3.73, the call will be considered incorrect. Postgame processing, however, rarely changes a zone variable by such a significant amount.

This is the 182nd ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 91st player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Brinson was 0-3 (SO) in the contest.
This is Miami's 5th ejection of 2019, T-4th in the NL East (PHI, WAS 7; ATL 6; MIA, NYM 5).
This is Lewis Brinson's first career MLB ejection.
This is Nic Lentz's 3rd ejection of 2019, 1st since June 27 (Carlos Gonzalez; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals, 8/31/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 181 - Will Little (2; Rhys Hoskins)

HP Umpire Will Little ejected Phillies 1B Rhys Hoskins (strike two/three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the #Mets-#Phillies game. With two out and one on (R2), Hoskins took a 0-1 and 0-2 sinker from Mets pitcher Steven Matz for a called second and third strike. Replays indicate the pitch ruled strike two was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.18, pz 1.61 [sz_bot 1.68 / RAD 1.56]) and the pitch ruled strike three was located over the inner half of home plate and at the midpoint (px -0.57, pz 3.59 [sz_top 3.52 / RAD 3.64]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Mets were leading, 2-1. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

This is Will Little (93)'s second ejection of 2019.
Will Little now has 6 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 6).
Crew Chief Joe West now has -5 points in Crew Division (-6 Previous + 1 Correct Call = -5).
*The 0-1 pitch was located 1.63 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call.
*The 0-2 pitch was located 1.63 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call.
If overnight processing for the strike two call changes Hoskins' sz_bot value to 1.81 or greater, Little's call will be deemed incorrect.
If overnight processing for the strike three call changes Hoskins' sz_top value to 3.39 or less, Little's call will be deemed incorrect.

This is the 181st ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 90th player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Hoskins was 0-1 (SO) in the contest.
This is Philadelphia's 7th ejection of 2019, T-1st in the NL East (PHI, WAS 7; ATL 6; NYM 5; MIA 4).
This is Rhys Hoskins' first career MLB ejection.
This is Will Little's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since July 7 (Miguel Cabrera; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 8/31/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 180 - Mike Estabrook (11; Vladimir Guerrero)

HP Umpire Mike Estabrook ejected Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr (strike two call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Astros-#BlueJays game. With one out and one on (R1), Guerrero took a 1-1 slider from Astros pitcher Hector Rondon for a called second strike before striking out swinging on the ensuing pitch. Replays indicate the 1-1 pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px 0.75, pz 1.87 [sz_bot 1.67]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 6-2. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Mike Estabrook (83)'s 11th ejection of 2019.
Mike Estabrook now has 34 points in the UEFL Standings (30 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 34).
Crew Chief Paul Emmel now has 7 points in Crew Division (6 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 7).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
This pitch was located 1.968 horizontal inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 180th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 89th player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Guerrero was 0-3 (SO) in the contest.
This is Toronto's 5th ejection of 2019, T-2nd in the AL East (NYY 7; BAL, BOS, TOR 5; TB 2).
This is Vlad Guerrero Jr's first career MLB ejection.
This is Mike Estabrook's 11th ejection of 2019, 1st since August 3 (Chris Sale; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Houston Astros vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 8/30/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 179 - Brian Knight (3; Rick Renteria)

HP Umpire Brian Knight ejected White Sox Manager Rick Renteria (ball three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Braves game. With two out and two on (R1, R2), Braves batter Tyler Flowers took a 2-2 fastball from White Sox pitcher Aaron Bummer for a called third ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.82, pz 2.50) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Braves were leading, 6-5. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 10-7.

This is Brian Knight (91)'s third ejection of 2019.
Brian Knight now has 12 points in the UEFL Standings (8 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 12).
Crew Chief Greg Gibson now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
This pitch was located 0.86 horizontal inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 179th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 81st Manager ejection of 2019.
This is Chicago's 9th ejection of 2019, 2nd in the AL Central (DET 11; CWS 9; KC 8; MIN 3; CLE 1).
This is Rick Renteria's 7th ejection of 2019, 1st since July 28 (Angel Hernandez; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Brian Knight's 3rd ejection of 2019, 1st since May 8 (Ned Yost; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Atlanta Braves, 8/30/19 | Video as follows:

Teachable - Umpire Turns Back During Play at 2B

This edition of Tmac's Teachable Moments comes from a play in Italy involving a second base umpire whose position adjustment during a bunt play in the 9th inning of a one-run Parma-Bologna game produced a fantastic safe/pulled foot call...

...Followed by a premature turn away from the play such that the umpire's back was to the runner when he was tagged by a fielder while the runner briefly took off for third. Moon Over Parma, indeed!

Fortunately, this crew corrected the error at second base and ruled the runner out.

This video discusses how to take such a play in the two- three- and four-umpire systems, using the mechanics, limitations, and features of each.

We also discus the importance of keeping an eye on the play—usually the ball itself, but sometimes base touches, obstruction/interference interactions between fielders and runners.

Remember, a play is not complete in baseball until no more action is possible and although it is sometimes difficult to anticipate a runner at second base suddenly stepping off the base after being called safe, it is important to watch the entirety of the action until the ball is returned to the pitcher or otherwise leaves the area at the base where a potential play may occur.

This Teachable Moment is brought you by our sponsor, Umpire Placement Course.

Video as follows:

Chris Segal's KC Catch & Carry Scores Game Winner

Lack of rules knowledge led to a game-winning run in Kansas City when 3B Umpire Chris Segal awarded A's runners a base after Royals third baseman Chelsor Cuthbert caught batter Corban Joseph's fly ball, only to step with it into the third base dugout—what's known as a catch and carry and whose penalty is "Time" and a one-base award (batter is out).

Oakland won the game by a single run—the one that was awarded on the catch-and-carry, making it all the more painful and preventable when Cuthbert said after the game that he didn't know the rule.

The Play: With one out and runners on second and third base in the top of the 9th inning of Thursday's Athletics-Royals game, Athletics batter Joseph hit a fly ball in foul territory near Oakland's third-base dugout. Kansas City fielder Cheslor Cuthbert reached over the dugout to make the catch and then jumped into the dugout so as not to fall.

Segal calls Cuthbert's catch in Kansas City.

The Call: 3B Umpire Chris Segal called the batter out on Cuthbert's legal catch (both feet were on the playing field at the time of the catch, as the top step or lip of the dugout is considered part of the live ball territory) and then called "Time" as a result of Cuthbert stepping fully into the dugout. Segal then awarded A's baserunner R3 Seth Brown home plate (from his origin at third base) and runner R2 Jurickson Profar third base (from his origin at second base).

The Rule: Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(3) states, "Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when—A fielder, after catching a fly ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area" while 5.06(b)(3)(C) Comment states, "If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should step or fall into any out-of-play area, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area."

Finally, to cover all our bases, OBR 5.09(a)(1) Comment indicates, "A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed. A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area."
Related Post: Case Play 2019-1 - Modified Catch & Carry [Solved] (5/6/19).

Cuthbert looks on as Segal enforces the rule.

Player Admits Not Knowing Rule: After the game, Cuthbert told the media that he didn't know the rule: "The umpire said the runners were going to advance a base. I didn't know that rule. Every day you learn something in baseball." With Oakland winning by a 9-8 final score, that lack of rules knowledge very likely hurt Kansas City's chances to win the game.

BONUS: Watch HP Umpire Bill Welke explain to Ned Yost and the Royals dugout the reason for Segal's call. This is what we mean by backing up a crewmate on a rudimentary rules-related play or call.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 178 - Jordan Baker (3; Josh Reddick)

HP Umpire Jordan Baker ejected Astros RF Josh Reddick (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Rays-#Astros game. With one out and none on, Reddick took a 3-2 fastball from Rays pitcher Emilio Pagan for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below at the hollow of the knee (px 0.24, pz 1.40 [sz_bot 1.67 / RAD 1.54 / MOE 1.46] [sz_bot 1.59 / RAD 1.47 / MOE 1.38]), the call was incorrect correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 9-8. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 9-8.

This is Jordan Baker (71)'s third ejection of 2019.
Jordan Baker now has 10 points in the UEFL Standings (6 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 10).
Crew Chief Greg Gibson now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).
*This call is was previously incorrect by 0.72 vertical inches. If overnight processing for Reddick's sz_bot for the strike three call changed the value to 1.61 or less, Baker's call would be deemed correct.
*Postgame processing lowered Reddick's sz_bot from 1.67 to 1.59, which is a 0.08-foot or 0.96-inch adjustment. Accordingly, the call, previously incorrect by 0.72 inches, is now correct by 0.24 vertical inches (0.72 - 0.96 = -0.24).

This is the 178th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 88th player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Reddick was 1-4 (2 SO) in the contest.
This is Houston's 5th ejection of 2019, T-2nd in the AL West (OAK 6; HOU, SEA 5; TEX 4; LAA 3).
This is Josh Reddick's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since August 1 (Vic Carapazza; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Jordan Baker's 3rd ejection of 2019, 1st since July 24 (Anthony Rizzo; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros, 8/29/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Rules Gearrin's Toe Tap Legal - Analysis

MLB informed New York that Yankees pitcher Cory Gearrin's toe tap pitching delivery is legal and does not constitute the second step portrayed by Official Baseball Rule 5.07(a). HP Umpire Manny Gonzalez called a balk in Seattle based on this rule, and he isn't the first umpire to have taken MLB's fairly-new OBR 5.07(a) Comment to heart.

To understand this Ask the UEFL question, we go all the way back to MLB's introduction of OBR 5.07(a) Comment, which states, "The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch. If there is a runner, or runners, on base it is a balk under Rule 6.02(a); if the bases are unoccupied it is an illegal pitch under Rule 6.02(b)."

Also known as the Carter Capps rule, the Rule Committee incorporated the second step prohibition prior to the 2017 season. The rule outlaws both crop-hops/resets with the pivot foot and second steps with the free foot.
Related Post: 2017 Rules Mods, Including IBB Change, Announced (3/2/17).

Other than helping to end Capps' big league career—and prompting a series of illegal pitch calls against Capps in the minor leagues—the 5.07(a) Comment prohibitions set in motion a slow-moving set of problems relating to the question, "what constitutes a 'step'?"
Related Post: Carter Capps - Back to Old Tricks or Just a Spring Thing? (3/14/18).

This festering issue came to a head in early 2019, when a multitude of big league pitchers began testing the limits of the traditional pitching motion known as the slide step. Ordinarily, a slide step is effected by sliding the free foot along the dirt of the pitchers mound during delivery before landing at a final resting point and throwing the pitch toward home plate.

At what point does a tap become a set/reset?

As early as Spring Training, however, pitchers who had already begun to experiment with delivery styles started lifting their free feet and legs during delivery such that the traditional slide transformed into more of a bounce, with the pitcher's free foot making contact with the ground more than once during delivery—the act of planting a foot became much more fluid.

On May 13, Fieldin Culbreth initiated a Crew Chief Review—Rules Check—after his crew observed Cory Gearrin, then a member of the Seattle Mariners, warming up and appearing to bounce quite animatedly with his free foot during delivery. After a six-minute Replay Review, the crew determined that Gearrin should be instructed to keep his free foot off the ground until reaching its final landing place.
Related Post: SEA Replay - Cubby's Pitching Motion Rules Check (5/14/19).

Joe Maddon already tried protesting the rule.

This seemingly strict interpretation of a step caused more problems just days later when Cubs Manager Joe Maddon—already steamed because his pitcher, Carl Edwards, had been counseled on an illegal second step earlier in 2019—attempted to protest a game in Washington when Sam Holbrook refused to call Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle for an illegal pitch due to an alleged second step. The protest was doomed to fail because whether or not a slide/bounce/jab/toe-tap constitutes a second step has traditionally been a judgment call, for lack of MLB specifically addressing the matter.
Related Post: Maddon Protests Game Over Pitcher's Toe-Tap (5/18/19).

The umpires and Yankees discuss pitching.

MLB didn't address the issue in May, which leads us to August and Manny Gonzalez's balk call on Gearrin for taking an illegal second step (Holbrook via a pool reported described it as a second setting of the free foot) as in OBR 5.07(a) Comment, which is a balk pursuant to Rule 6.02(a).

MLB Legalizes The Move: According to skipper Aaron Boone, MLB informed the Yankees organization that Gearrin's move is, in fact, legal. Thus, the toe tap now officially no longer constitutes a second step...a matter that could have been resolved in May—the first time Gearrin's delivery caused a delay in Seattle.

Instead, we're left with an umpire in Manny Gonzalez exercising on-field judgment to call a balk, which has now been precluded after-the-fact by a league interpretation that the toe tap is legal.

Try and observe the pitch holistically.

Gil's Call: In my estimation, the question of toe tap vs second step is somewhat of a misnomer. Yes, the two terms are very useful to describe and discern the difference between legal and illegal, but from what I've gleaned, here's the fundamental difference between a legal and illegal delivery, and it goes beyond the sole action of a leading free foot: Simply making contact with the ground more than one time with the free foot isn't enough for an illegal pitch call (and never has been). What is illegal—watch the Carl Edwards delivery—is a free foot that lifts, comes back to the ground, stops, and lifts again, and whose action effectively interrupts the entire delivery.

In other words, if a potential second step causes the pitcher to stop the movement of his delivery, such that his motion can be described as a "start-stop-start," he has violated the rule. If the pitcher has set his foot down, only to lift it and set it down again, it's illegal. Otherwise, a toe tap or sliding action that doesn't constitute an actual "set" of the foot should be deemed legal.

A word of caution: This is the MLB interpretation. Lower levels may still deem this an illegal step.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 176-177 - Jerry Meals (2-3; COL)

HP Umpire Jerry Meals ejected Rockies RF Charlie Blackmon and Manager Bud Black (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #RedSox-#Rockies game. With none out and none on, Blackmon took a 2-2 cutter from Red Sox pitcher Brandon Workman for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -1.05, pz 2.95 [sz_top 3.47]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejections, the Red Sox were leading, 7-4. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

These are Jerry Meals (41)'s second and third ejections of 2019.
Jerry Meals now has -2 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Prev + 2*[2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call] = -2).
Crew Chief Jerry Meals now has -2 points in Crew Division (-2 Previous + 2*[0 QOCN] = -2).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
This pitch was located 1.63 horizontal inches from being deemed a correct call.

These are the 176th and 177th ejection reports of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 87th player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Blackmon was 0-5 (2 SO) in the contest.
This is the 80th Manager ejection of 2019.
This is Colorado's 5/6th ejection of 2019, 1st in the NL West (COL 6; SD, SF 5; ARI 4; LAD 3).
This is Charlie Blackmon's 1st ejection since July 8, 2017 (Sam Holbrook; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Bud Black's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since July 19 (Doug Eddings; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is Jerry Meals' 2/3rd ejection of 2019, 1st since April 20 (Aaron Boone; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies, 8/28/19 | Video as follows:

Joe West's Inning-Ending Base Touch Appeal Play

Umpiring fundamentals were on display Tuesday night in Chicago as 2B Umpire and Crew Chief Joe West taught a lesson plan of base touch appeal plays with an inning-ending double play during the Twins-White Sox game.

The Play: With one out and one on (R1), White Sox batter Leury Garcia hit a fly ball to Twins center fielder Jake Cave, who ran down and caught the batted ball for an air out as White Sox baserunner R1 Adam Engel prepared to scamper back to first base to tag up. While Engel did return to first base before a play could be made on him, the Twins noticed that Engel ran/slid past second base during the batted ball, and failed to retouch second base on his way back to first after the ball was caught.

Runner Engel fails to retouch second base.

The Call: Minnesota appealed through second baseman Jonathan Schoop that Engel failed to retouch second base and 2B Umpire Joe West was there to affirm the appeal, ruling Engel out for violation of Rule 5.06(b)(1), which states, "In advancing, a runner shall touch first, second, third and home base in order. If forced to return, he shall retouch all bases in reverse order, unless the ball is dead under any provision of Rule 5.06(c). In such cases, the runner may go directly to his original base."

The rule putting the runner out is 5.09(c), which states, "Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when—With the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, he fails to touch each base in order before he, or a missed base, is tagged."

Visit the following Related Post for a more in-depth discussion of when a runner is considered to have run "past" a base (and must therefore retouch it), but this discussion pertains to umpiring responsibility.
Related Post: Past or Prior - Deciding When a Runner Has Passed a Base (7/1/17).

Mechanically Speaking: The rule and call are rather elementary for most officials, but what I want to discuss here are the mechanics: specifically what our second base umpire does and what he puts himself in position to see.

Even with a ball in CF, West watches R1.

Notice that in a crew of four with a runner on first, 2B Umpire Joe West is working on the infield grass (Deep B or Deep C are the typical "in" positions for a 2B Umpire, and that's where West starts from). With West positioned inside, he knows he won't be leaving the infield to rule on any batted balls hit to the outfield and, accordingly, he has no responsibility as to Garcia's fly ball. But he does have a responsibility for runner R1 Engel's touch of second base, and watches the runner intently as Engel slides past second base and fails to retouch the bag on his way back to first base.

West knows this is a violation of Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(1) and a potential appeal play pursuant to 5.09(c), and West keeps silent while remaining ready to rule on the appeal as soon as Minnesota executes it, which comes in the form of an appeal during the play—remember, the ball doesn't have to be returned to the pitcher prior to an appeal, but at the professional level, appeals must be executed during a live ball.

Little answers Engel's rules question.

Pick Up Your Crewmate: Finally, 1B Umpire Will Little is approached by a perplexed Engel and without missing a beat, explains precisely what West called and what the relevant rule is. Even if it's not your play, a good crew member is ready to explain a routine rules-related call made by a partner, as long as, naturally, the call is rather rudimentary as it was here.

Video as follows: