MLB Ejection 016 - Adam Hamari (1; PJ Pilittere)

HP Umpire Adam Hamari ejected Rockies assistant hitting coach PJ Pilittere (strike one call; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Rockies-#Mariners game. With one out and none on, Rockies batter Yonathan Daza took a first-pitch fastball from Mariners pitcher George Kirby for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the midpoint (px -0.11, pz 3.58 [sz_top 3.60 / RAD 3.72]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Mariners were leading, 5-1. The Mariners ultimately won the contest, 9-2.

This is Adam Hamari (78)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 2.68 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 16th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 2nd non-manager coach ejection of 2023.

This is Colorado's 1st ejection of 2023, T-1st in the NL West (ARI, COL, LAD, SD 1; SF 0).

This is PJ Pilittere's first career MLB ejection.

This is Adam Hamari's 1st ejection since August 3, 2021 (David Ross; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs Seattle Mariners, 4/15/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 015 - Erich Bacchus (1; Bruce Bochy)

HP Umpire Erich Bacchus ejected Rangers manager Bruce Bochy (ball two call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Rangers-#Astros game. With one out and two on (R1, R2), Astros batter Kyle Tucker took a 1-1 slider from Rangers pitcher Josh Sborz for a called second ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.16, pz 1.76 [sz_bot 1.77 / RAD 1.65 / MOE 1.73]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 6-2. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 8-2.

This is Erich Bacchus (12)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 0.36 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 15th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 7th manager ejection of 2023.

This is Texas' 1st ejection of 2023, T-1st in the AL West (HOU, TEX 1; LAA, OAK, SEA 0).

This is Bruce Bochy's 1st ejection since May 17, 2019 (Andy Fletcher; QOC = N-c [Check Swing]).

This is Erich Bacchus' 1st ejection since May 23, 2021 (David Ross; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros, 4/15/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 014 - Will Little (1; Oliver Marmol)

HP Umpire Will Little ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (ball four call; QOCY) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Pirates-#Cardinals game. With two out and the bases loaded, Pirates batter Connor Joe took a 3-2 changeup from Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.79, pz 2.38), the call was correct.*

This is Will Little (93)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.50 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 14th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 6th manager ejection of 2023.

This is St Louis' 1st ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL Central (STL 1; CHC, CIN, MIL, PIT 0).

This is Oliver Marmol's 1st ejection since August 21, 2022 (CB Bucknor; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Will Little's 1st ejection since August 17, 2022 (Brian Snitker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs St Louis Cardinals, 4/15/23 | Video as follows:

Former Dodger Cody Bellinger Dinged for Pitch Clock Violation During Standing Ovation Tribute in LA Return

Longtime Dodgers outfielder and current Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger received a video tribute and standing ovation when he returned to Los Angeles, but found himself called for a pitch clock violation by HP Umpire Jim Wolf when he failed to be alert to the pitcher at 8 seconds, because he was acknowledging the fans that were applauding him in his first plate appearance at Dodger Stadium since leaving the team.

MLB's pitch clock rules state that batters must be in the batter's box and alert to the pitcher at the eight-second mark of the countdown timer, while pitchers must begin their delivery or disengage prior to the expiration of time. Bellinger wasn't yet alert to Dodgers pitcher Noah Syndergaard at the eight-second mark, and HP Umpire Wolf thus called him for a violation of the batter's pitch clock requirement. No matter for Chicago, which nonetheless won the game, defeating the Dodgers 8-2.

Since baseball revises and tweaks its rules in response to events that may occur during gameplay (e.g., the so-called Max Scherzer rule instituted in Spring Training declaring that a pitcher may not come set prior to the batter becoming alert in the box), will the extenuating circumstance of a player simply acknowledging a crowd giving them a standing ovation on their first at-bat since returning to a former team's city qualify as an event that causes the sport to add an exemption to the pitch clock rule?

Only time will tell | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 013 - James Hoye (1; Rocco Baldelli)

1B Umpire James Hoye ejected Twins manager Rocco Baldelli (illegal substance check/non-ejection of Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Twins-#Yankees game. Prior to the top of the 4th inning, umpires were seen meeting with several members of the Yankees, notably Germán and manager Aaron Boone, following an illegal substance inspection of Germán's hand conducted by Hoye in the middle of the third inning. After the conclusion of this discussion between umpires and New York, Baldelli argued that Germán should have been ejected pursuant to the illegal substance rule, and was himself ejected for his extended argument. Following the game, it was revelaed that Germán had excess rosin on his hands (e.g., OBR 4.01(f) requires a rosin bag be placed on the mound). Rosin is not an illegal substance, so OBR 6.02(c)(7) does not apply, but instead Hoye's "wash your hands" instruction to Germán was akin to a don't-do-that rule, as in don't have excess rosin on your hands, the remedy for which is NOT ejection or removal but simple remediation of performing the required act, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 3-0. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is James Hoye (92)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(7) states: "The pitcher shall not have on their person, or in their possession, any foreign substance...The pitcher may not attach anything to either hand, any finger or either wrist (e.g., Band-Aid, tape, Super Glue, bracelet, etc.). The umpire shall determine if such attachment is indeed a foreign substance for the purpose of Rule 6.02(c)(7), but in no case may the pitcher be allowed to pitch with such attachment to their hand, finger or wrist."

OBR 4.01(f): "Before the game begins the umpire shall ensure that an official rosin bag is placed on the ground behind the pitcher's plate prior to the start of each game."

This is the 13th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 5th manager ejection of 2023.

This is Minnesota's 1st ejection of 2023, T-1st in the AL Central (CWS, MIN 1; CLE, DET, KC 0).

This is Rocco Baldelli's 1st ejection since August 23, 2022 (Todd Tichenor; QOC = Y [Mound Visit]).

This is James Hoye's 1st ejection since Sept 18, 2021 (Bob Melvin; QOC = Y-c [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees, 4/15/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 012 - Manny Gonzalez (1; Brian Snitker)

3B Umpire Manny Gonzalez ejected Braves manager Brian Snitker (foul ball call overturned via Replay Review to fair & runner placement) in the top of the 2nd inning of the #Braves-#Royals game. With none out and one on (R1), Braves batter Matt Olson hit a 1-1 fastball from Royals pitcher Brady Singer on a line drive to left fielder Edward Olivares, originally ruled a foul ball by 3B Umpire Gonzalez and overturned via Replay Review as as result of a manager's challenge by Snitker. As part of the Replay Review, the Replay Official placed runners at first and second base. Replays indicate that Braves baserunner R1 Ronald Acuña Jr returned to first base to tag up and didn't leave until the ball was dropped and 3B Umpire Gonzalez had called the foul ball, at which time outfielder Olivares had stopped playing, and that batter-runner Olson's advancement was limited by preceding baserunner Acuña's placement, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Braves were leading, 5-1. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 10-3.

This is Manny Gonzalez (79)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

This is the 12th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 4th manager ejection of 2023.

This is Atlanta's 1st ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the NL East (PHI 2; ATL, MIA 1; NYM, WAS 0).

This is Brian Snitker's 1st ejection since August 17, 2022 (Will Little; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Manny Gonzalez's 1st ejection since Aug 27, 2022 (Mike Napoli; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Atlanta Braves vs Kansas City Royals, 4/14/23 | Video as follows:

Larry Vanover Hit by Throw & Erich Bacchus Hit by Ball

Crew Chief Larry Vanover left the Yankees-Guardians game in Cleveland after being hit in the head by a relay throw, resulting in an extra Guardians run scoring, while 2B Umpire Erich Bacchus called "Time" to enforce the umpire interference rule in Toronto after being hit by a batted ball while working in the infield. Jerry Layne, meanwhile, also left a game due to a foul ball injury to his hand.

Larry Vanover (NYY-CLE): With one out and two on (R1, R2) in the top of the 5th inning, Yankees batter Kyle Higashioka hit a fly ball to deep center field, played off the wall by Guardians center fielder Miles Straw, who threw to shortstop Andres Gimenez, whose relay throw to home hit 2B Umpire Vanover in the side of the head, bouncing high in the air and enabling further advancement of Cleveland's runners.

Vanover left the game and was hospitalized with a head injury and was discharged from Cleveland Clinic two days later.

Erich Bacchus (DET-TOR): 2B Umpire Erich Bacchus found himself in the middle of umpire interference Type 2 in Toronto as he was hit by a batted ball from Blue Jays batter Bo Bichette while working inside: "Umpire’s interference occurs (1) when a plate umpire hinders, impedes or prevents a catcher’s throw attempting to prevent a stolen base or retire a runner on a pick-off play; or (2) when a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory before passing a fielder." (Official Baseball Rule 6.01(f) Comment). IMPORTANT: The pitcher is not considered as "a fielder" for the purpose of this rule unless the pitcher touches the batted ball first. Weird, right?

Jerry Layne (HOU-PIT): HP Umpire Jerry Layne exited the Astros-Pirates game an out after getting hit in the hand by a foul ball. This is not umpire interference since it's a foul ball. After Layne left the game, call-up umpire Brock Ballou put on the gear and filled in as home plate umpire for the remainder of the contest. Similary, the Mike Estabrook play in Toronto is not umpire interference as the ball was foul.

Video as follows:

Guerrero Awarded Home on Obstruction...Interference on Next Play

3B Umpire Erich Bacchus awarded Blue Jays baserunner R2 Vlad Guerrero home, scoring a run, due to obstruction by Tigers 3B Ryan Kreidler on a ground ball past third base. On the very next play, HP Umpire Ryan Wills called umpire interference on himself. Article:

To set the scene, with two on (R1 and R2) and two on in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Detroit-Toronto game, Blue Jays batter Whit Merrifield hit a ground ball into the hole on the infield's left side, where it was fielded in a diving play by Detroit shortstop Javier Baez. With Toronto's runners off with the pitch on the hit-and-run, R2 Guerrero had to hurdle the batted ball to avoid interference, signified by 3B Umpire Bacchus' "safe" mechanic.

But when Guerrero rounded third base, he nearly collided with Tigers third baseman Kreidler, who was stuck watching Baez's diving play and thus inadvertently (but still violative of rule) obstructed Guerrero by impeding his path to home plate by forcing Guerrero to run further outside, thus making his journey home a longer one, both in distance and in travel time.

Bacchus pointed at the obstruction and after the play concluded awarded Guerrero home. Under Obstruction Type 2 (Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(2)), Bacchus nullified the act by ruling that had obstruction not occurred, Guerrero would have scored, the penalty for OBS Type 2, which keeps play alive until its natural conclusion before the penalty phase of "nullify the act" is imposed.

Was that the correct call? Had this been Obstruction Type 1, Guerrero would be automatically awarded home and the ball would be dead immediately upon obstruction occurring. In order for OBS 1 to happen, though, there would have to have been a play on Guerrero actively occurring at the time of obstruction.

The very next play produced an umpire interference (OBR 6.01(f)) situation when, with the Blue Jays trying a double steal once again, HP Umpire Ryan Wills accidentally hindered or impeded Tigers catcher Eric Haase's attempted throw to third base. The penalty for ump interference is simply to send the runners back to the bases they came from.

Both managers were out to speak with the umpires in the 4th inning about the respective plays (Tigers manager AJ Hinch spoke with 3B Umpire Bacchus about the obstruction play at third while Blue Jays manager Jon Schneider spoke with HP Umpire Wills about the umpire interference play at home), both calls were concisely explained, and the game resumed without further incident in both cases.

MLB Ejection 011 - Gabe Morales (1; Torey Lovullo)

HP Umpire Gabe Morales ejected Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (ball one call; QOCY) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Brewers-#Diamondbacks game. With one out and none on, Brewers batter Mike Brosseau took a first-pitch sinker from D-Backs pitcher Drey Jameson for a called first ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located near the outer edge of home plate and below the midpoint (px -0.78, pz 2.99), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 1-0. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 7-3.

This is Gabe Morales (47)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.38 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 11th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 3rd manager ejection of 2023.

This is Arizona's 1st ejection of 2023, T-1st in the NL West (ARI, LAD, SD 1; COL, SF 0).

This is Torey Lovullo's 1st ejection since Sept 28, 2022 (Alan Porter; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Gabe Morales' 1st ejection since June 4, 2022 (Dave Martinez; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs Arizona Diamondbacks, 4/12/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 010 - Larry Vanover (1; Aaron Boone)

2B Umpire Larry Vanover ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone (Replay Review decision that overturned 1B Umpire David Rackley's out call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 1st inning of the #Yankees-#Guardians game. With one out and two on (R2, R3), Guardians batter Josh Naylor hit a fly ball to Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks, who dove in an attempt to catch the ball, ruled a catch (out) by 1B Umpire Rackley. After umpire consultation which did not change the initial out call and upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Guardians manager Terry Francona, Rackley call was overturned, the Replay Official ruling the ball was trapped and that had the proper call been made as the initial call, Guardians baserunner R3 Steven Kwan would have scored and R2 Jose Ramirez would have advanced to third base. Replay indicate Hicks did not catch the baseball and that Francona timely indicated his desire to initiate the review process ("hold"), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Guardians were leading, 1-0. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Larry Vanover (27)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*Official Baseball Rule 8.02(c) states, in part, "If the umpires consult after a play and change a call that had been made, then they have the authority to take all steps that they may deem necessary, in their discretion, to eliminate the results and consequences of the earlier call that they are reversing, including placing runners where they think those runners would have been after the play, had the ultimate call been made as the initial call."

This is the 10th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 2nd manager ejection of 2023.

This is New York's 1st ejection of 2023, 2nd in the AL East (BAL 2; NYY 1; BOS, TB, TOR 0).

This is Aaron Boone's 1st ejection since Sept 23, 2022 (Brian Knight; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Larry Vanover's 1st ejection since May 17, 2022 (QOC = N [Check Swing]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Cleveland Guardians, 4/12/23 | Video as follows: