Record Breaker: Another Perfecto, Umpiring History Made

Yet again, for the fifth time this season the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League and Major League Baseball witnessed a no-hitter (the 277th in MLB history) and perfect game for the second time this season and 22nd in MLB history today, June 13, when Ted Barrett (65) umpired the plate for San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain's first career no-hitter and perfect game (and the Giants franchise's first perfect game) against the Houston Astros. Tonight's no-hitter becomes the third such contest in less than two weeks. Cain struck out 14 Astros and threw 125 pitches, though only 68 were callable, with 39 balls and 29 called strikes.

MLB is on pace for a record 11 no-hitters in 2012

Brian Runge, who called the most recent both the most recent no-hitter and the most recent perfect game (and the last to work the plate for a Giants no-hitter, thrown by Johnathan Sanchez) worked third base, taking part in his third no-hitter of the year. Barrett also partook in his third no-hitter of the season tonight and his second no-hitter calling balls and strikes in as many seasons. He umpired Angels pitcher Ervin Santana's no-hitter of the Indians on July 27, 2011. Umpires Mike Muchlinski and Angel Campos (both AAA fill-ins) were not part of either previous no-hitter Runge & Barrett worked in 2012.

With this perfect game, Ted Barrett becomes the first umpire in Major League history to work the plate for two perfect games in a career. Barrett called balls and strikes for David Cone's perfect game in July of 1999.

With the increased frequency of the no-hitter, there very well may possibly be something to the idea that we will easily surpass the logarithmic trend prediction of six no-hitters in the 2012 season. Could it be thanks to the human element? The umpiring? Whatever is stirring the pot in 2012, there is no shortage of hair thin close calls.

With another no-hitter, we all of course saw yet another very close play that kept the perfect game and no-hitter intact, as in the previous four no-hitters. The previous four were: Brian Runge's inconclusive ruling of a swing made by Brendan Ryan, Angel Hernandez's correct call of a batted foul ball, Adrian Johnson's incorrect call of foul on a batted ball by Carlos Beltran, and Ted Barrett's inconclusive call of out on Dee Gordon at first base. This time, it was yet another fair/foul call. 1B Umpire Mike Muchlinski ruled a 1-2 batted ball by Astros batter Jordan Schafer foul on a bouncing ball that bounded near the bag at first. Astros Manager Brad Mills shortly questioned the call, as replays showed a very close play.
UEFL Embedded Video: Did Shafer's Foul Ball Hit the First Base Bag?

Video: Cain finishes out his perfect game
Wrap: Astros at Giants 6/13/12
Column: Matt Cain Perfect Game: Saved by the Umpire? [b/r]

Here is a quick look at the statistics of how Ted Barrett called Matt Cain's perfect game & no hitter:
Total Pitches: 125
Swinging Strikes: 14
Foul Balls: 33
In Play, Out: 13
Callable Pitches: 68
Balls: 39
Called Strikes: 29

Correct Called Balls: 38
Incorrect Called Balls (Called balls within the strike zone): 1
Correct Ball %: 97.4%

Correct Called Strikes: 19
Incorrect Called Strikes (Called strikes outside the strike zone): 10
Correct Strike %: <90.0%

Correct % of Called Pitches: <90.0%

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball
(Note: Pitches thrown by Cain are squares)