MLB Ejection 066 - Hunter Wendelstedt (2; Jurickson Profar)

HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Padres CF Jurickson Profar (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Mets-#Padres game. With none out and one on (R1), Profar took a 2-2 fastball from Mets pitcher Seth Lugo for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px 0.48, pz 1.76 [sz_bot 1.53 / RAD 1.41]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Mets were leading, 3-0. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 4-0.

This is Hunter Wendelstedt (21)'s 2nd ejection of 2021.

Hunter Wendelstedt now has 6 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 6).

Crew Chief Hunter Wendelstedt now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 QOCY = 4).

*This pitch was located 5.23 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 66th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 24th player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Profar was 0-4 (2 SO) in the contest.

This is San Diego's 6th ejection of 2021, 1st in the NL West (SD 6; COL 2; LAD, SF 1; ARI 0).

This is Jurickson Profar's first career MLB ejection.

This is Hunter Wendelstedt's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since May 3 (Matt Joyce; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs. San Diego Padres, 6/5/21 | Video as follows:

Canada Protests HR vs 2B Runner Placement vs USA After Batted Ball Sticks to Top of Wall

Team Canada filed a protest with WBSC officials after USA batter Triston Casas' fly ball to right field, originally ruled a home run and reversed to a double on replay, resulted in baserunner R1 Logan Forsythe being allowed to score from first base despite Casas' two-base award.

Play: With one out and one on (R1), batter Casas hit a fly ball to deep right center, ruled a home run by 1B Umpire Ramiro Alfaro. Upon Replay Review, the call was overturned to a double, but the Replay Official placed Forsythe at home plate, ruling he would have achieved three bases had the original call been a live ball.

Team Canada protested the game, resulting in a significant delay as WBSC officials and three umpires left the field and returned, denying Canada's protest and ruling that Forsythe would be allowed to score.

Rule: The relevant rule is OBR 5.06(b)(4)(F) which grants runners two bases if a ball "sticks in such fence, scoreboard, shrubbery or vines." The question of what "sticks" means is valid, as is the correct observation that no ball stuck in a fence: it was on top of the wall. For this, we consult the relevant MLB Umpire Manual interpretation, which states, "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."

In other words, a ball that comes to rest on top of the wall is deemed a ground-rule double. As long as the ball continues moving, it is live and in play, but when it stops, untouched, it results in two bases.

Related Post: Replay Review, Ground Rules, and Levi's Landing (9/1/17).

Analysis: In the 9th inning, the English-language broadcast communicated a statement purportedly offered by the WBSC regarding the play in which officials purportedly claimed that the ball was still alive by virtue of Canada right fielder Jesse Hodges playing it; had Hodges put his hands up or otherwise not retrieved the ball, the argument goes, it would have resulted in a dead ball, two-base award for all runners.

The broadcast continued, reasoning that the Replay Official awarded R1 Forsythe home plate because had the correct call been made and play not declared dead, Forsythe would not have remained at third base, as replays indicate he did.

Gil's Call: First and foremost, as we'll discuss momentarily in the following section, Replay Review's availability has changed the way stuck/lodged/coming to rest plays are officiated. In Replay games, it does not matter whether the fielder plays the ball or not: the Replay Official can and has determined the ball is dead by virtue of being "stuck" regardless of the fielder's actions after the ball has come to rest.

Second, the logic with USA R1 Forsythe vs Canada F9 Hodges is inconsistent. How come Forsythe gets the benefit of the doubt regarding the dead ball call yet Hodges does not (simply because Hodges' back is turned?)? Forsythe's actions after the umpire declares the ball dead—remaining at third base—are disregarded by the Replay Official, but Hodges' actions in playing the ball (which, again, does not matter in a Replay game when determining whether the ball has come to rest atop the outfield wall) are key to the Replay Official's determination that the ball is live.

Either we disregard everything that happens after the ball became dead—Forsythe's baserunning and Hodges' fielding—or we account for all of it.

Past Practice and Precedent: One additional clue is how MLB began handling the issue of balls sticking in or under outfield fences in the wake of replay's expansion. Umpire Mike DiMuro, in 2016, summed up MLB's historical way of treating potential stuck balls: "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."

In games without replay, this logic still prevails: if an umpire cannot discern whether or not a ball is stuck prior to a fielder playing it, the umpire has little choice but to keep play alive.

However, when MLB adopted expanded replay and made stadium boundary calls reviewable, it changed how this play was officiated via video: the Replay Official was now able to determine that a ball was stuck the moment it came to rest in or under a wall, whether or not the fielder raised their arms or played the ball. For instance, in 2016, we saw a slew of stuck/lodged ball calls via Replay Review, even when the fielder played the ball—or the ball didn't appear "stuck-stuck," but just "at rest" or immobile. Thus, we were treated to MLB's new standard: a ball at the wall that comes to rest in or under (or on top of) said wall is now deemed "stuck."

Related Post: Cause You're Stuck in the Wall - Batted Ball Out of Play (9/20/16).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 064-65 - Quinn Wolcott (1-2; NYM x2)

HP Umpire Quinn Wolcott ejected Mets catcher James McCann and manager Luis Rojas (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Mets-#Padres game. With one out and one on (R1), McCann took a 1-2 cutter from Padres pitcher Mark Melancon for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and waist-high (px -0.88, pz 2.22) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 2-0. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 2-0.

These are Quinn Wolcott (81)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2021.

Quinn Wolcott now has 8 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 8).

Crew Chief Hunter Wendelstedt now has 3 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 2 QOCY = 3).

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

This pitch was located 0.41 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

History: MLB Ejections 172-173 - Wolcott/McCann/Ausmus, September 13, 2017

These are the 64th and 65th ejection reports of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 23rd player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, McCann was 0-4 (3 SO) in the contest.

This is the 35th manager ejection of 2021.

This is New York's 3/4th ejection of 2021, T-1st in the NL East (NYM, PHI 4; MIA, WAS 2; ATL 0).

This is James McCann's 1st ejection since Sept 11, 2019 (Dan Bellino; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Luis Rojas' 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since April 20 (John Libka; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Quinn Wolcott's 1st ejection since October 1, 2020 (Brandon Woodruff; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs. San Diego Padres, 6/4/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 063 - Will Little (2; Lucas Giolito)

HP Umpire Will Little ejected White Sox bench player [pitcher] Lucas Giolito (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Tigers-#WhiteSox game. With two out and none on, White Sox batter Yoan Moncada took a 2-2 fastball from Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.14, pz 1.29 [sz_bot 1.59 / RAD 1.47 / MOE 1.38]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 4-1. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

This is Will Little (93)'s 2nd ejection of 2021.

Will Little now has 3 points in the UEFL Standings (5 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 3).

Crew Chief Greg Gibson now has 2 points in Crew Division (2 Prev + 0 Incorrect Call = 2).

*This pitch was located 1.13 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 63rd ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 22nd player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Giolito didn't appear in the game.

This is Chicago's 1st ejection of 2021, 3rd in the AL Central (KC 4; MIN 3; CWS 1; CLE, DET 0).

This is Lucas Giolito's 1st ejection since Sept 8, 2017 (Gabe Morales; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Will Little's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since May 19 (Torey Lovullo; QOC = Y [RLI]).

Wrap: Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago La Russas, 6/3/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 062 - Edwin Moscoso (1; Brett Anderson)

HP Umpire Edwin Moscoso ejected Brewers pitcher Brett Anderson (balls/strikes; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Brewers game. With none out and none on, D-backs batter Ketel Marte doubled, Eduardo Escobar flied out, Carson Kelly hit a home run, and Christian Walker doubled. Anderson was ejected during a pitching change; Moscoso's callable pitch accuracy during the fractional inning immediately preceding ejection was 90% (9/10), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 4-2. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Edwin Moscoso (109)'s 1st ejection of 2021.

Edwin Moscoso now has 4 points in UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 4).

Crew Chief Joe West now has 11 points in Crew Division (10 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 11).

*Pitching Change QOC considered pursuant to UEFL Rule 6-5-d-2 and based on the umpire's accuracy rating during the fractional half-inning immediately preceding ejection (top 7th prior to the pitching change/mound visit).

This is the 62nd ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 21st player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Anderson's line was 4.1 IP, 3 ER.

This is Milwaukee's 6th ejection of 2021, 1st in the NL Central (MIL 6; CHC, CIN, PIT 3; STL 2).

This is Brett Anderson's first career MLB ejection.

This is Edwin Moscoso's 1st ejection since Sept 17, 2020 (Tyler Anderson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 6/3/21 | Video as follows:

New York Misinformation - Base Path is Not a Baseline

After 1B Umpire Alan Porter called Tampa Bay batter-runner Kevin Kiermaier safe in the 5th inning of Thursday's #Rays-#Yankees, New York manager Aaron Boone came out to argue as YES broadcasters mused about the baseline and runner's lane. Unfortunately, the rule about a base path has nothing to do with either of those concepts, meaning all within earshot of a television tuned to YES in New York were witness to misinformation regarding the out of the base path rule.

Play: With one out and none on, Kiermaier hit a 0-1 changeup from Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole on the ground to first baseman DJ LeMahieu, who attempted to tag Kiermaier as he ran to first base.

Call: Kiermaier avoided LeMahieu's tag and 1B Umpire Porter ruled him safe. Yankees manager Boone campaigned for a base-running infraction, but to no avail: the safe call stood.

Rule: Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1) governs this play and states that "any runner is out when they run more than three feet away from their base path to avoid being tagged unless their action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base they are attempting to reach safely."

In other words, the runner sets their own base path and is allowed three feet to the left or right of that established position on their way to the next (or previous) base in order to avoid a tag.

Not the Rule: The 45-foot runner's lane painted on the ground to the right of the foul line is rules-relevant for one and only one play: runner's lane interference, which occurs when a batter-runner outside of the lane "interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base" (OBR 5.09(a)(11)). If there is no throw (or no fielder taking a throw), there can bee no runner's lane interference, meaning the lane line is immaterial during a tag play.

The baseLINE, meanwhile, is simply a direct line between any two bases, such as the painted foul line between home and first base. The baseline has no relevance for a base path call such as the Kiermaier play and the only relevance of both the foul line and runner's lane line is that we know, dimensionally, the distance between the two lines is three feet. Thus, we have an impromptu painted ruler or yardstick on the ground that we could conceivably apply to Kiermaier's journey.

Analysis: Accordingly, Porter's only consideration is whether Kiermaier deviated by more than three feet, pursuant to OBR 5.09(b)(1), to avoid being tagged. Umpire Porter could use the three-foot wide yardstick known as the runner's lane to help guide him to determine what three feet might actually look like, but the runner's lane itself is meaningless for this play. All that is relevant is whether Kiermaier ran more than three feet away from his base path—which he establishes well into foul territory—to avoid being tagged. If so, the runner would be out for running away from (or out of) his base path to avoid being tagged. If not, the runner is safe. 

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 061 - Lance Barrett (1; Alex Cora)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Red Sox manager Alex Cora (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #RedSox-#Astros game. With none out and none on, Red Sox batter Kevin Plawecki took a 0-2 slider from Astros pitcher Cristian Javier for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px 0.72, pz 1.77 [sz_bot 1.59 / RAD 1.47]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 3-0. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 5-1.

This is Lance Barrett (16)'s 1st ejection of 2021.
Lance Barrett now has 4 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Crew Chief Alfonso Marquez now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 4).

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

*This pitch was located 2.33 horizontal and 4.60 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 61st ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 34th manager ejection of 2021.

This is Boston's 2nd ejection of 2021, 2nd in the AL East (NYY 3; BOS 2; BAL, TOR 1; TB 0).

This is Alex Cora's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since April 15 (Jordan Baker; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Lance Barrett's 1st ejection since October 6, 2020 (Jayce Tingler; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros, 6/3/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 060 - Chad Whitson (1; Aaron Boone)

HP Umpire Chad Whitson ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone (balls/strikes; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Rays-#Yankees game. With none out and none on, Rays batter Kevin Kiermaier struck out, Randy Arozarena singled, Brandon Lowe walked, Yandy Diaz walked, Austin Meadows doubled, Manuel Margot grounded out, and Joey Wendle singled. Boone was ejected during a pitching change; Whitson's callable pitch accuracy during the fractional inning immediately preceding ejection was 94.7% (18/19), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 9-1. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 9-2.

This is Chad Whitson (62)'s 1st ejection of 2021.
Chad Whitson now has 4 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Crew Chief Chris Guccione now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).

*Pitching Change QOC considered pursuant to UEFL Rule 6-5-d-2 and based on the umpire's accuracy rating during the fractional half-inning immediately preceding ejection (top 7th prior to the pitching change/mound visit).

This is the 60th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 33rd manager ejection of 2021.

This is New York's 3rd ejection of 2021, 1st in the AL East (NYY 3; BAL, BOS, TOR 1; TB 0).

This is Aaron Boone's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since April 26 (Greg Gibson; QOC = N [Replay Review]).

This is Chad Whitson's 1st ejection since May 11, 2019 (Miguel Cabrera; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees, 6/3/21 | Video as follows:

Catcher's Mask Knocks Ball Out of Mitt - What's the Call?

In this Ask the UEFL, we consider a college catcher whose mask appeared to knock the baseball out of his mitt during a tag attempt at home plate. Ruled safe by HP Umpire Jeff Wright during the Georgia Southern vs Louisiana SBC Semifinal game, and affirmed by replay review, what is the rule?

Play: With none out and two on (R1, R3) in the bottom of the 9th inning, Louisiana batter hit a ground ball to Georgia Southern third baseman Jarrett Brown, who threw to catcher Matt Anderson as Louisiana baserunner R3 Tyler Robertson attempted to score. During the play at the plate, Robertson slid head-first and made contact with Anderson, the force of the collision appearing to knock Anderson's mask off his head, resulting in his mask making contact with his mitt, causing the baseball to fall to the ground.

Call: Upon seeing the ball on the ground, HP Umpire Wright ruled the runner safe, a call upheld after replay review.

A Legal Collision: Before we discuss the mask and mitt, we first establish that the runner's slide into home plate was legal and not a violation of any collision rule. The catcher's initial positioning gave the runner the entirety of foul territory as a pathway to home plate, and, upon receiving the ball, the catcher moved to tag the runner as the runner slid head-first in the direction of home plate. This is a legal collision.

Tag Rule: With collision legality established, we move onto NCAA Rule 2-78, the definition of a tag: "The action of a fielder in touching a base with any part of the body while holding the ball securely and firmly in the hand or glove or touching a runner with the ball or with the glove while holding the ball securely and firmly in that hand or glove...The fielder shall maintain or regain control of his body and if he drops the ball due to his lack of body control or control of the ball, it is not a tag. A voluntary and intentional release is substantive proof of complete control." NCAA 8-5-i states that a runner is out when "the individual is touched by the ball (when not dead) securely held in the hand or glove of a fielder while the runner is not touching the base."

NCAA's Appendix E-2-g states that "force and tag play calls at any base" are reviewable.

The MLB/MiLB/pro equivalent under the Definition of Terms provides further clarify for that level of play: "It is not a tag, however, if simultaneously or immediately following his touching a base or touching a runner, the fielder drops the ball. In establishing the validity of the tag, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that they have complete control of the ball. If the fielder has made a tag and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the tag, the tag shall be adjudged to have been made." A runner is out when tagged while off a base (5.09(b)(4)).

The NFHS/high school rule 2-24-4 states "the ball is not considered as having been securely held if it is juggled or dropped after the touching, unless the runner deliberately knocks the ball from the hand of the fielder."

Analysis: The relevant phrase in college baseball is "voluntary and intentional release." In pro, the phrase "long enough to prove that they have complete control" is added. In real-time, less than five-tenths of a second transpires from the moment the fielder touches the runner until the ball falls out of the catcher's mitt. Because the catcher's own equipment (mask) caused the ball to come loose in a way that did not appear to be voluntary nor intentional, it would follow that the fielder did not complete the tag action pursuant to rule and, therefore, according to NCAA's complete control language, "it is not a tag."

Video as follows:

Olympic Q Ejection - Edwin Hernandez (Mike Scioscia)

HP Umpire Edwin Hernandez ejected Team USA manager Mike Scioscia (Replay Review that upheld 3B Umpire Wilfredo Montoya's foul ball [not HR] call) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the WBSC Olympic Baseball Qualifier game between Dominican Republic and United States of America. With two out and two on, USA batter Todd Frazier hit a 1-2 pitch from Dominican Republic pitcher Román Méndez on a fly ball down the left field line and toward the foul pole, ruled a foul ball by 3B Umpire Wilfredo Montoya. After a crew consultation and upon Replay Review, the foul ball call was upheld, resulting in Scioscia's ejection for arguing a Replay Review decision.* At the time of the ejection, Team USA was leading 8-5. Team USA ultimately won the contest, 8-6.

*Baseballs Standards for Removal from the Game states a person shall be ejected for, amongst others, "arguing after a Replay Review."

Wrap: Dominican Republic vs USA (WBSC Olympics Qualifier), 6/1/21 | Video as follows: