Analysis - Tennessee Wins on Walk-Off Obstruction Call

The Tennessee Lady Vols won a weekend softball game against Utah after an umpire's obstruction call on a game-ending play at the plate scored the winning run. Was the call correct pursuant to NCAA rules or should the game have continued?

Utes catcher Martinez blocks plate too early.

The Play: With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th inning and Utah leading, 5-3, Tennessee batter Abby Lockman hit a 2-1 pitch from Utah pitcher Miranda Viramontes to left field, scoring baserunners Chelsea Seggern and Scarlet McSwain. Utah left fielder Julia Noskin retrieved and threw the ball to catcher Kelly Martinez, who received the throw as R1 Brooke Langston arrived at home plate, resulting in a game-ending obstruction call from HP Umpire Vince Price, who signaled a delayed dead ball as soon as the violation occurred.
Video at bottom of post.

Still image of catcher's tag of baserunner.

Analysis: Replays indicate that Utah catcher Martinez caught the ball and tagged baserunner Langston before the latter touched home plate, but also suggest that Martinez positioned herself in front of home plate and between the plate and baserunner Langston before gaining possession of the ball. Key to the analysis is a college softball rules change, enacted just in time for the 2018 season.

The Rule: Pursuant to the NCAA Softball Rules Committee's recommendation over the winter, the sport's new Rule 9.5.1, regarding obstruction, states:

Obstruction occurs when a defensive player, not in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball, impedes a batter's attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball. It can be intentional or unintentional. It is obstruction if a defensive player is blocking the whole base/plate or base path without the ball and/or the runner does not have a clear path to the base/plate. (See also Rule 12.13.)

Rationale: College softball's move toward eliminating the defense's opportunity to block the plate without the ball follows both NCAA and MLB baseball's move to eliminate this area of potential contact. For instance, both baseball and softball agree that once in possession of the ball, the catcher may be positioned between the runner and plate, and all rules codes allow for the runner to be called out if, not withstanding the catcher's positioning, she would have been out by a throw that clearly beat her. College softball's obstruction rule formerly referred to a catcher in the act of fielding a throw (baseball still allows this); softball's present rule requires possession first, in a "Catch=>Block=>Tag" sequence of legality, thus rendering "Block=>Catch=>Tag" explicitly illegal.

An example of a legally positioned catcher.

Baseball Equivalent: OBR's Rule 7.13 came into existence ahead of the 2014 season, and outlawed certain collisions at home plate by prohibiting the catcher without possession of the ball from blocking the pathway of the runner while prohibiting the runner from deviating from his path to initiate contact with the catcher.
Related Post: Test Yourself: MLB Adopts Home Plate Collision Rule 7.13 (2/25/14).

The rule also allows a catcher to move up the line to catch a thrown ball, even if such a catch would take the catcher into the runner's path, and dictates that a runner shall be called out if he would have been out "notwistanding the catcher's improper positioning in front of the plate."
Related Post: MLB Issues Rule 7.13 Plate Blocking Clarification (9/10/14).

After the catch, F2 legally blocks home.

SIDEBAR: One notable difference between the codes is that, in softball, this form of obstruction can occur on a force play. In MLB baseball, however, force plays are excluded from the plate blocking rule (MLB added this exclusion in June 2014 after a force play was called off due to the catcher's blocking of home plate; the formal language went into effect for the 2015 season under 6.01(i)(2)).
Related Post: How to Illegally Block the Plate with the Bases Loaded (6/4/15).

Still, this rule (now known in OBR as 6.01(i)(2)) has caused its fair share of controversy in baseball, most recently resulting in Cubs Manager Joe Maddon's ejection from Game 1 of the 2017 National League Championship Series for arguing a Replay Review decision that overturned an out call to that of a Rule 6.01(i)(2) violation, thus scoring a Dodgers run.
Related Post: MLB Ejection P-2 - Mike Winters (2; Joe Maddon) (10/14/17).

An example of an illegal catcher.

As was the case during the 7th inning of Utah-Tennessee softball, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras had positioned himself in front of home plate—and, specifically, between the plate and scoring baserunner Charlie Culberson—such that even though the throw was up the line, and Contreras may have legally moved into the runner's path in order to field the throw, he nonetheless violated MLB's plate blocking rule simply because he started the play positioned illegally between the runner and the plate.

Conclusion: As such, HP Umpire Price's obstruction call to end the Utah-Tennessee softball game was correct; Utah's catcher started the play in an illegal position between the scoring runner and home plate, thus forcing the runner to alter her path toward home even before the throw arrived in the vicinity of the plate.

In other words, the NCAA wants the play-at-the-plate sequence to read "Catch=>Block=>Tag." By changing the sequence to "Block=>Catch=>Tag," Utah committed obstruction in contravention of Rule 9.5.1, and awarding Tennessee the game-winning run was indeed the proper call.

Wrap: Tennessee vs Utah (NCAA Division I Softball), 2/10/18 | Video as follows:

UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Gabe Morales

Presenting the UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Gabe Morales.
Name: Gabriel Morales
Pronunciation Guide: GAYB Mow-RALL-ess
Date of Birth: June 21, 1984
Place of Birth: Santa Clara, California

MiLB Leagues Worked: Arizona, New York-Penn, South Atlantic, Arizona Instructional, Texas, International, Pacific Coast.
MLB Debut: April 2, 2014
Level: MLB
Umpire Uniform Number: 47
Crew Chief: No

2019 Ejections: 3.
Ejection 208 (PHI M Gabe Kapler; QOC = N).
Ejection 207 (PHI RF Bryce Harper; QOC = N).
Ejection 017 (CHC LF Kyle Schwarber; QOC = Y).

2018 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 143 (CHC P Carl Edwards, Jr.; QOC = Y).
Ejection 142 (CHC M Joe Maddon; QOC = Y).

2017 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 165 (CWS P Lucas Giolito; QOC = N).

2016 Ejections: 2.
Ejection 120 (BOS M John Farrell; QOC = Y).
Ejection 078 (DET CF Cameron Maybin; QOC = Y).

2015 Ejections: 1.
Ejection 177 (MIN M Paul Molitor; QOC = Y). *First Career MLB Ejection*

2014 Ejections: None.

Ejection History: 0 (2014), 1 (2015), 2 (2016), 1 (2017), 2 (2018), 3 (2019).

UEFL History: Gabe Morales

Postseason and Special Events History
World Baseball Classic: -
All-Star Game: -
Wild Card Game: 2018, 2020
Division Series: -
Championship Series: -
World Series: -

Notes: Hired to the full-time MLB staff prior to the 2017 season.
» Graduated from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring (JEAPU) in 2009.

Site Remodel Announcement

Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League is getting a facelift. Over the next week, the website's appearance will be fine tuned in preparation for the upcoming 2018 UEFL season. We'll be open during construction, meaning you will still have access to all CCS content, and we'll continue posting news stories and other content as per the usual offseason schedule. The site may look odd or downright broken over the next few days, but rest assured, we'll be busy working on a new look.

What's more, you will now be able to visit Close Call Sports over an encrypted, or secure, connection. Similar to the circa-2017 address at http://www.closecallsports.com, the encrypted link will be accessible at https://www.closecallsports.com (adds an 's'). Both links will work for the time being, but our goal is to redirect all traffic to the secure connection at some point in the future.

Feel free to comment, tweet, or e-mail any feedback or features you'd like to see in 2018!

Will Little Inducted into Science Hill Athletics Hall of Fame

MLB Umpire Will Little has been inducted into his alma mater's Hall of Fame, accepting his plaque this month from Science Hill's athletics department. He goes into the high school's Hall as both a baseball and basketball alum.

MLB Umpire Will Little is a HS Hall of Famer.

During Little's senior year at the Tennessee high school in 2001-02, Science Hill basketball finished as state runners-up and the baseball team won conference, district, and regional titles.

Little continued playing baseball while attending Milligan College (studying biology), after which he attended the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in 2007, landing a job in the Gulf Coast League shortly thereafter before his 2013 MLB debut and 2015 full-time hiring.

The Science Hill Athletics Hall of Fame biographies are available via the Johnson City Press.

GHSA Affirms Basketball Protest, Orders Replay

Having already entertained protests in two sports (baseball - affirmed; football - denied), the Georgia High School Association brought its Board full circle, hearing a protest in its third-straight season as the GHSA overturned a basketball game result based on a misapplication of the rules.

Related Post: Dangerous Precedent - GHSA Overturns Judgment Call (5/22/17 - Baseball Decision).
Related Post: GHSA Amends Bylaws to Exclude Judgment Calls (12/20/17 - Football Decision).

GHSA has heard 3 protests in last 3 seasons.

Unlike the baseball and football plays, however, the most recent basketball case features a protest based on a rule interpretation issue, as opposed to a judgment call.

With nary one second remaining in the fourth quarter and Discovery High School leading Collins Hill 45-44, Collins Hill prepared to throw the ball in along the far end-line. After a throw-in violation, Discovery received a throw-in at the spot, upon which an inbounds Discovery player punched the throw-in pass toward the goal, and away from opposing Collins Hill players, prompting a whistle (it is illegal to punch or strike the ball with a fist).

After a conference, officials ruled a technical foul against Discovery, awarded Collins Hill two free throws (which they made), and the game concluded thereafter with Collins Hill winning, 46-45.

NFHS Rule 9-4 prohibits a player from striking the ball with a fist, and its penalty states, "The ball is dead when the violation occurs and is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in from the designated out-of-bounds spot nearest the violation."

In affirming Discovery's appeal, the GHSA determined Rule 9-4 had been misapplied and ordered the game replayed from the point of protest (with Discovery leading 45-44):

Since this was NOT a ‘judgment call’ but a clear misapplication of a rule, play shall be resumed at the point of interruption when the violation occurred. It will be the responsibility of the two schools to determine when/where the resumption of play will take place and communicate that information with the local officials association and myself. Additionally, there shall be no added expense for officials assigned to finish the game in question.

NFHS Basketball does not recognize protests.

GHSA's decision to replay the Discovery-Collins Hill game angered Peach County, the football team whose December protest was turned down. Though GHSA officials made clear that January's basketball protest concerned a misapplication of rules and December's football controversy dealt with a judgment call, Peach County superintendent Dr. Daryl Fineran wasn't buying it: "This [Discovery] is a Gwinnett County school, and Gwinnett County wags the tail. It's the money, the socioeconomics...I told them that's ridiculous."

Added GHSA executive director Robin Hines, "We had the opportunity to make that right and correct that misapplication of the rules. That’s well within the NFHS (national federation) rules."

Except it isn't. NFHS Basketball Rule 5-4-2 states, "The NFHS Basketball Rules Committee does not recognize protests."

Players Reject Pace of Play Proposal, Override Probable

Although the Major League Baseball Players Association rejected his latest pace-of-play proposal, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred may nonetheless overrule the MLBPA and introduce pitch clock rules for the 2018 season without the union's support, thanks to a CBA rule that allows the Commissioner to play hardball.

MLB may receive new pitch clock rules.

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB owners and the MLBPA, the Clubs (which are led by Commissioner Manfred) are empowered to implement rules changes in one of two ways: A) With the players' consent, or B) without it.

If an agreement is reached with MLBPA) The rules may be changed for the upcoming season pursuant to the terms of that agreement; or,
If no agreement is reached with MLBPA) The rules may be changed without player consent as long as the Clubs wait one entire season before implementing the new, not-agreed-to rules.

Article XIII of the MLBPA's Basic Agreement states:

If the Clubs and the Association fail to reach agreement on a proposed change which is subject to negotiation, the proposed change shall not be put into effect until the completion of the next complete succeeding season (including the Wild Card Game, Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series) following the date the change was proposed.

Time is running out on limitless baseball.

In other words, this all goes back to the preceding offseason (2016-17), when the MLBPA rejected the Commissioner's proposed pace-of-play changes regarding pitch clocks and the like. Now that a full season and postseason has passed, the Commissioner has the authority to impose these same circa 2016-17 proposals, essentially overriding the players' veto.

To illustrate this principle, consider the Arizona Fall League, MLB's self-described testing ground for pace of play and other rules change initiatives. The 2014 AFL tested a concept called "no-pitch intentional walks," in which a batter would be awarded first base with no pitches thrown if the defense simply wanted to add a baserunner. The 2014 AFL also introduced a 20-second pitch clock.
Related Post: MLB to Test Pace of Game Proposals at Arizona Fall League (10/1/14).

Though the 2015 and 2016 seasons retained the traditional intentional walk, Manfred's crew eliminated the practice ahead of the 2017 season, while decrying "a lack of cooperation from the MLBPA." Thus, the no-pitch intentional walk rules change was implemented in the majors over a year removed from its first appearance in the laboratory fall league.
Related Post: Four-Pitch Intentional Walk, Potential Flubs, Abolished (2/22/17).

Manfred is authorized to overrule the MLBPA.

The 2016 Arizona Fall League experimented with a 15-second pitch clock and additional timers for other game situations (35 seconds between batters and 30 seconds for mound visits). The 2016 AFL also experimented with a three mound visit/conference limit per team, per game.

This is all in addition to Minor League Baseball's use of pitch clocks, which have existed in one form or another since well before the 2017 offseason. MiLB does not have a bartering partner as formidable as the MLBPA.

At a November 2017 owner's meeting, Manfred all but assured baseball's brass that pace of play rules changes will be implemented in time for the 2018 regular season, with or without MLBPA support. The changes are owner-friendly and corporate hopes it will help the brand—from the big prize of keeping fans engaged with on-field action to smaller fringe benefits, such as cutting payroll expenses as hourly stadium employees spend less time at work or being able to shut the lights off 10 minutes earlier, an average savings-per-game predicted by the commissioner's office. Cue Article XIII.
Related Post: Rob Manfred Vows Pace of Play Rules Changes for 2018 (11/16/17).

MLB will purportedly introduce a 20-second pitch clock for all situations—both "bases empty" and "runners on" scenarios—starting when the pitcher has the ball on the mound and stopping when the windup begins, or the pitcher comes set, in a form similar to that first introduced at the 2014 AFL.

As has been practice in the minors, this pitch clock will reset if the pitcher steps off the rubber, while the batter must enter the box within five seconds of the clock starting; pitchers who fail to windup or set prior to the expiration of time will be warned, after which any subsequent violation will result in an automatic ball.

A 30-second between-batters clock, similar to the 2016 AFL model, is also expected to make an appearance in 2018; the rejected proposal had included a 35-second between-batters timer.

Mound visits are about to change.

Another initiative likely to see implementation concerns mound visits, and will expand the current definition of a mound visit—which presently occurs when a coach or manager enters the field to confer with a pitch—to include players, such that a pitcher conferring with a first baseman, for instance, shall be charged a mound visit, the second of which within an inning would require the pitcher to leave the game, as in OBR 5.10(l) regarding "Visits to the Mound."

Sidebar: In our 2017 postseason live blog, we noted that catchers were visiting the mound to confer with pitchers to a point of excess; the proposed change would limit their ability to do this.

For reference, Rule 5.10(l) presently reads, in part (circa 2017):

(1) This rule limits the number of trips a manager or coach may make to any one pitcher in any one inning;

(2) A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher’s automatic removal from the game

The Clubs had purportedly proposed six allowed "no-charge" conferences per game, which would have allowed players to confer with the pitcher without invoking the mound visit rule up to six times per game; instead, MLBPA's rejection means that Manfred and the Clubs are free to implement any pace-of-play proposal first introduced in Winter 2016 or earlier, which includes the aforementioned pitch clocks, between-batters clock, and mound visit restrictions.

Hall of Fame and Former NL Umpire Doug Harvey Dies

National Baseball Hall of Fame umpire Harold Doug "God" Harvey has passed away at the age of 87. Harvey, who officiated 4,673 regular season National League games from 1962-1992, joined the California League in 1958, at the age of 28, and worked in the Pacific Coast League prior to his NL hiring.

Born in South Gate, California on March 13, 1930 to Harold Wollen (a former minor league umpire himself) and Target Mae Harvey, Doug Harvey began his sports officiating career as a high school basketball referee at the age of 16.

A San Diego State College alum, Harvey played collegiate baseball, basketball, and football, opting to pursue umpiring after leaving SD State, landing placement in the California League soon thereafter.

Doug Harvey has died.

After a rapid ascent to Triple-A's PCL in 1961, he was hired to the NL staff in 1962 at the age of 32, becoming the first major league umpire of Native American ancestry to officiate at baseball's highest level, and the last not to have first attended professional umpire school.

The Silver Fox remained a San Diego resident throughout his professional umpiring career, was voted the NL's best umpire in a 1974 Major League Player's Association poll, best umpire once again in a 1990 Sport magazine ranking, and officiated five All-Star games, nine National League Championship Series, and five World Series by the time he retired from baseball in 1992, due in part to failing knees. His former sleeve #8 is presently worn by Major League crew chief Jeff Kellogg.

Doug Harvey's Hall of Fame plaque.

Having often used chewing tobacco, Harvey in 1997 was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, an ailment which impacted his 2010 Hall of Fame induction ceremony speech, and necessitated the use of pre-recorded video to accept the induction.

He concluded his career with 58 ejections, his first on May 9, 1962 (Milwaukee catcher Joe Torre), and his final on September 16, 1992 (Cardinals Manager, the same Joe Torre).

Residents of Southern California could easily tell who and where Harvey was thanks to his personalized license plate, which Harvey customized to read "NL UMP."

Following his career, Harvey published a memoir entitled, They Called Me God: The Best Umpire Who Ever Lived, recounting tales from his three decades on the field.

After the Veterans Committee elected him to the Hall of Fame in 2010, the California League celebrated his induction with the creation of its Doug Harvey Award, which honors the Cal League's Umpire of the Year; the California League is the only professional league to annually honor an umpire.

The Single-A California League later named Harvey to its 2017 Hall of Fame class.
Related Post: Doug Harvey Set for CAL League Hall of Fame Induction (6/16/17).

Harold Douglas Harvey was 87 years old; his wife has confirmed he passed from natural causes.

Running the Numbers for MLB's Next Crew Chief

Let's play a little offseason ball and run the numbers for the most viable 'Umpire 2' candidates for promotion to crew chief, care of Dale Scott's retirement. For a little more spice, we'll consider Angel Hernandez's perspective, relative to his lawsuit against the MLB Commissioner's Office alleging an unjust denial of promotion to crew chief. Will 2018 prove, finally, to be his time?

Related Post: Angel Hernandez Sues MLB for Racial Discrimination (7/3/17).

Which umpire's promotion is in the cards for 2018?

Does plaintiff Angel Hernandez have a point—is he truly the most qualified candidate who continually is passed over? We'll also analyze some recent promotions to crew chief over the past few seasons to see if the numbers truly support Hernandez's case. We will conclude with a ranking of potential candidates for the crew chief vacancy based on the following analysis. The following sections contain conjecture based upon on-field and roster-based historical statistics. First, we define the terms and scope of this study.

Eligibility: Generally speaking, an umpire is eligible for promotion to crew chief if: A) The umpire has served as a "Number 2" or backup crew chief on a Major League crew and/or has played the part of interim or acting crew chief; and B) the umpire actually wants, and presumably applies for, the crew chief role.

Candidates: Although we are not privy to the details regarding which umpires fit criterion B) regarding interest in the position, we can narrow down the staff to those number twos who are most qualified. The following analysis will include only the top candidates who also fit criterion A). Generally speaking, there is great overlap between top candidates and those who are already number twos.

Angel Hernandez has been #2 since 2002.

Qualification Standards: There are a few ways to look at which candidates are most qualified to serve as a permanent crew chief. We will define three qualification standards for use in our analysis.

One metric is experience: How long has the umpire been a number two (var: Ump2), or what history does the umpire have serving as an acting crew chief during regular season play?

The second is postseason work: What does the umpire's body of October assignments look like?

Third, we consider performance: What are the umpire's RAPs, strike zone %, and observer feedback?

Finally, intangibles takes into account extracurricular leadership qualities that generally can't be quantitatively measured. For instance, how, exactly, would one go about numerically factoring in achievements such as "Reverend Doctor" or serving on a Board of Directors (e.g., Calling for Christ or UmpsCare Charities)?

Analysis:

Joe West to Join North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame announced MLB umpire Joe West as part of its 2018 induction class; West will be inducted into the NCSHOF during a May banquet and ceremony at the Raleigh Convention Center.

'Blue Cowboy' Joe West will be inducted in May.

NC HOF President Nora Lynn Finch cited the class's achievements, which enrich the state's sports heritage; according to the Hall's website, "The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 1963, celebrates excellence and extraordinary achievement in athletics."

In June 2017, West officiated his 5,000th regular season game at the Major League level, and is the longest-tenured umpire in MLB history (by years of service) with over 40 games of big league experience. West's 5,074 games through 2017 ranks third on the all-time list, behind National Baseball Hall of Fame Umpire Bill Klemm (5,375 games) and the more recently retired Bruce Froemming (5,163 games). West has also officiated the second-most postseason games in MLB history, behind Gerry Davis.
Related Post: Umpire Joe West Officiates 5,000th Regular Season Game (6/20/17).

West is the second umpire to be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. In 1997, the Hall inducted Jim Mills of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, who also officiated college basketball and football in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference during the 1950s and 1960s after umpiring in baseball's Carolina League in 1954; Mills later served as President of the Carolina League from 1977 to 1983.

Top 20 Ejections of 2017 - UEFL Year in Review

As the year draws to a close, we revisit the 2017 season with a UEFL Year in Review. With assistance from voting data gathered during the 2017 year-end Awards Nominations, these are the Top 20 Ejections from the 2017 baseball year (pre-season, regular season, and postseason).

*Quality of Correctness is provided in the following format:
Y = Correct, N = Incorrect, U = Irrecusable.

Umpire Ejection Fantasy League Year in Review: The UEFL's Top 20 Ejections of 2017
Note: Click each ejection number and umpire name to view the report and video from the season.
20: E-090: John Libka (1); Astros 1B Marwin Gonzalez (Strike Two Call; QOC = Y).
19: E-151: Laz Diaz (2); Astros Bench Coach Alex Cora (Legal Baseball Inspection; QOC = U).
18: E-006: CB Bucknor (1); Mariners Manager Scott Servais (Fair/Out Call; QOC = Y).
17: E-117: Phil Cuzzi (6); Twins DH Miguel Sano (Strike Three Call; QOC = N).
16: E-056: Ted Barrett (1); Braves Manager Brian Snitker (Balk Call; QOC = Y).
15: E-058|9: Marty Foster (1-2); Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez, C Yasmani Grandal (Strikes; QOCN).
14: E-089: Doug Eddings (1); Angels 3B Yunel Escobar (Strike Two Call; QOC = Y).
13: P-1: Mark Wegner (1); Red Sox Manager John Farrell (Strike Three Call; QOC = Y).
12: E-178: Ryan Additon (1); Marlins Manager Don Mattingly (Denied BOO Appeal; QOC = Y).
11: E-027: Vic Carapazza (1); Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons (Obstruction A Call; QOC = Y).
10: E-038-40: Carlos Torres (1-3); Marlins and Dodgers (Throwing At and Fighting; QOC = U).
#9: P-2: Mike Winters (2); Cubs Manager Joe Maddon (Replay/Overturned HP violation; QOC = Y).
#8: WBC-6: Will Little (1); Dominican Republic Mgr Tony Pena Sr (Strike One Call; QOC = U).
#7: E-107: Chris Segal (2); Nationals RF Bryce Harper (Strike One Call; QOC = Y).
#6: E-087-8: Greg Gibson (2-3); Dodgers Mgr Dave Roberts, Padres Mgr Andy Green (Fighting; QOCU).
#5: E-097: Tom Hallion (1); White Sox Manager Rick Renteria (Wild Pickoff Base Award; QOC = Y).
#4: S-7: Angel Hernandez (1); Mets SS Asdrubal Cabrera (USC-NEC [Time Not Granted]; QOC = U).
#3: E-021: Stu Scheurwater (1); Orioles Manager Buck Showalter (Balk Call; QOC = Y).
#2: WBC-2-4: Tripp Gibson (1-3); Team Columbia x3 (Out/HP block violation no-call; QOC = Y).
HONORABLE MENTION: Dan Bellino removes fan for tipping pitches (unofficial ejection).
#1: E-109: Gerry Davis (1); Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre (USC-NEC [Moving On-Deck Circle]; QOC = U).

Links to previous years' Top Ejections countdowns: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012.