Close Call Sports objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner's MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), baseball's number one source for umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.
As one of our UEFL commenters noted, "it's rare you see interference at the major league level... and tonight it was called three times!" Let's review:
1) Vanover (WSH@NYM): With three on and none out in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Nationals-Mets game, Mets batter Josh Thole hit a 0-0 fastball from Nationals pitcher Doug Slaten back up the middle. Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond attempted to field the ball on the third base side of the second base bag, where Mets baserunner Ike Davis was taking his secondary lead. Contact did not appear to have occurred (it doesn't have to), and Davis was ruled out for interference by 2B Umpire Larry Vanover. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 8-4.
2) Davidson (TOR@LAA): With two on and two out in the top of the 13th inning of the Blue Jays-Angels game, Blue Jays batter Edwin Encarnacion hit a 0-1 slider from Angels pitcher Jason Bulger to the area between third base and shortstop. Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo attempted to field the ball, where Blue Jays baserunner Yunel Escobar was running. Contact did not appear to have occured, and Escobar was ruled out for interference by 3B Umpire Bob Davidson. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 6-5, in 14 innings.
3) Hickox (LAD@SD): With three on and two out in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Dodgers-Padres game, Padres batter Cameron Maybin hit a 2-1 fastball from Dodgers pitcher Jonathan Broxton softly on the ground to the area between third base and shortstop. Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake charged the grounder and collided with Padres baserunner Chase Hedley, who was ruled out for interference by 3B Umpire Ed Hickox to end the game, which the Dodgers won, 4-0. Hickox also served as HP Umpire during the first game of the Dodgers-Padres quasi-double header. Good call?
Relevant Rule: 7.09(j): A batter is out for interference when... he fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball...
Related Article: Umpire Odds & Ends: Interference Ends Game (09/05/2010) - Tidbit: Alfonso Marquez, who was featured in this related Umpire Odds & Ends, was also involved in the current version. Alfonso was the 2B Umpire for the current contest, which also ended with an interference call at third base.
The Left Field Corner is pleased to announce a new addition to the UEFL Staff. Please welcome jeruhmed, who will serve as the UEFL's co-administrator, appellate rules interpreter, and will take responsibility for all linking activity on the website. As co-administrator, jeruhmed is authorized to create or edit any UEFL post; as appellate rules interpreter, he will rule on any appeals regarding any variable specified by UEFL Rules 6.b. and 6.c., including but not limited to Quality of Correctness, Name of Ejector, and Reason for Ejection; he additionally will assume sole responsible for creating, posting, and maintaining all links from the UEFL website. Appellate decisions may come from either the CAScreaminDude or Jeruhmed accounts.
Jeruhmed finished 13th in the UEFL last season, and is participating once again this year, with Gerry Davis as his Primary Umpire and Brian O'Nora as his Secondary Umpire. Accordingly, jeruhmed will not serve as a rules interpreter for any ejection involving Gerry Davis or Brian O'Nora, wherein Davis or O'Nora was an ejector or a calling umpire. Jeruhmed has served as a sports official in various sports, and at the high school and collegiate levels in baseball and softball.
HP Umpire Tim Tschida ejected Nationals pitcher Todd Coffey for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Nationals-Marlins game. With two out and two on, Marlins batter Gaby Sanchez hit a 0-1 fastball from Coffey to Nationals center fielder Rick Ankiel for a sacrifice fly, Chris Coghlan scoring. Replays indicate there were no incorrect callable pitches thrown to Sanchez, the call was correct under Rule 6.e.iii;* however, this ejection is eligible for a Balls/Strikes Exemption under Rule 6.e.iv.b.** The call is incorrect.*** At the time of the ejection, the Marlins were leading, 7-4. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 7-4.
This is Tim Tschida (4)'s first ejection of 2011. Tim Tschida now has -2 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = -2). Tim Tshida is owned as a Secondary Umpire by jhagen88, who is now in 37th place in the UEFL with -3 points. *This ejection is correct under Rule 6.e.iii. **This ejection is eligible for a Balls/Strikes Exemption under Rule 6.e.iv.b. ***Quality of Correctness was challenged and overturned [affirmed] ("Correct" ==> "Incorrect").
This is the 1st ejection of 2011. This is the 1st player ejection of 2011.
