Ejections: Marvin Hudson (3)

HP Umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday for arguing a strike call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Blue Jays-Cardinals game. With none out and two on, Holliday took a 1-2 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Jon Rauch for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located thigh high and several inches off the inner edge of home plate, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Blue Jays were leading, 5-2. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

This is Marvin Hudson (51)'s third ejection of 2011.
Marvin Hudson now has 6 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (8 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = 6)
Marvin Hudson is owned as a Secondary Umpire by mtn335, who is now in 10th place in the UEFL with 9 points.

This is the 87th ejection of 2011.
This is the 38th player ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Holliday was 0-4 in the contest.

Wrap: TOR @ STL 6/25/11 Wrap
Video: Holliday is ejected by Hudson after being called out on strikes

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Chris Conroy (3)

HP Umpire Chris Conroy ejected Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp for arguing a strike call in the bottom of the 5th inning of the Angels-Dodgers game. With none out and none on, Kemp took a 1-2 fastball from Angels pitcher Tyler Chatwood for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located thigh high and over the heart of home plate, the call was correct. Replays indicate 1B Umpire Tom Hallion's swing call on the 1-1 pitch was also correct. At the time of the ejection, the Angels were leading, 2-0. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Chris Conroy (98)'s third ejection of 2011.
Chris Conroy now has 15 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (10 Previous + 3 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 15).
Chris Conroy was not drafted in 2011.

This is the 86th ejection of 2011.
This is the 37th player ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Kemp was 0-2 in the contest.

Wrap: LAA @ LAD 6/25/11 Wrap
Video: Kemp is tossed arguing balls and strikes

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Mike Estabrook (2)

1B Umpire Mike Estabrook ejected Nationals Interim Manager John McLaren for arguing a safe call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Nationals-White Sox game. With two out and none on, White Sox batter Paul Konerko hit a 2-0 fastball from Nationals pitcher Henry Rodriguez to shortstop Ian Desmond to first basemen Michael Morse. Estabrook ruled Konerko out, but after conferring, overturned the call and ruled Morse failed to tag Konerko. Replays indicate no tag was applied to Konerko, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 2-0. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 9-5, in 14 innings.

This is Mike Estabrook (83)'s second ejection of 2011.
Mike Estabrook now has 10 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (5 Previous + 3 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 10).
Mike Estabrook was not drafted in 2011.
*Mike Estabrook is the calling umpire under UEFL Rule 6.b.iii.a.1.

This is the 85th ejection of 2011.
This is the 45th manager ejection of 2011.
This is John McLaren's first ejection of 2011 and first game as Interim Manager of the Nationals.
**The post game box score has been updated and now credits Estabrook, not Jeff Nelson, with the ejection of McLaren.

Wrap: WAS @ CWS 6/24/11 Wrap
Video: Konerko Ruled Safe
Video (2): Nationals Telecast
Related Post: Jeff Nelson (3)

Ejections: Jeff Nelson (3)

HP Umpire Jeff Nelson ejected Nationals left fielder Jerry Hairston Jr. for arguing a safe call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Nationals-White Sox game. With two out and none on, White Sox batter Paul Konerko hit a 2-0 fastball from Nationals pitcher Henry Rodriguez to shortstop Ian Desmond to first basemen Michael Morse. 1B Umpire Mike Estabrook ruled Konerko out, but after conferring, overturned the call and ruled Morse failed to tag Konerko. Replays indicate no tag was applied to Konerko, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 2-0. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 9-5, in 14 innings.

This is Jeff Nelson (45)'s third ejection of 2011.
Jeff Nelson now has 11 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (8 Previous + 2 MLB + 1 Correct Call [Crewmate] = 11).
Jeff Nelson is owned as a Secondary Umpire by spence1222, who is now tied for 18th place in the UEFL with 7 points.
*Mike Estabrook is the calling umpire under UEFL Rule 6.b.iii.a.1.

This is the 84th ejection of 2011.
This is the 36th player ejection of 2011.
This is Jerry Hairston Jr.'s second ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Hairston was 2-2 in the contest.
This is Jeff Nelson's second consecutive plate game with at least one ejection.
**The post game box score has been updated and no longer credits Nelson with the ejection of Nationals Interim Manager John McLaren.

Wrap: WAS @ CWS 6/24/11 Wrap
Video: Konerko Ruled Safe
Video (2): Nationals Telecast
Related Post: Mike Estabrook (2)

Discussions: Hit by Pitch

A few days ago, HP Umpire Bob Davidson ejected the Brewers' Dale Svuem and Ron Roenicke for arguing a ball call under Rule 6.08(b). Though this call was ultimately ruled "incorrect," Davidson properly enforced Rule 6.08(b) for what he thought was a batter not attempting to avoid being touched by a pitched ball. Specifically, Rule 6.08(b) states:

6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when - (b) He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball

Last night, the A's lost to the Mets on a walk off hit by pitch in the bottom of the 13th inning. UEFLer Penwhale points out this hit by pitch might not have been merited:

Should this have been called under Rule 6.08(b)(2)? I found this call to be pretty questionable...

Discussion Point: What is your opinion of the A's-Mets walk off HBP sequence? Was this call proper? We have already determined Davidson's previous call to be incorrect. Recall the Rule specifies a batter shall not be awarded first base if he "makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball." The Rules do not specify any requirement in regards to degree of attempt to avoid contact, just that a batter is not entitled to first base if he makes no attempt to avoid contact, and that his movements must be consistent with an attempt to avoid, rather than initiate, contact. Therefore, a batter who flinches away from the pitch may be interpreted as having made an attempt to avoid contact, even if his actual physical displacement is minimal. In any case, what's your call?

Soccer Ejections: Ricardo Salazar (1)

Continuing the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League "Other Sports" coverage, we turn to a controversial soccer ejection.

Referee Ricardo Salazar ejected New York Bulls striker Thierry Henry for Excess Contact during the Bulls-Timbers game. After scoring his 8th goal of season, Henry and Timbers midfielder Adam Moffat appeared to engage in a physical dispute. Replays indicate Henry's left hand briefly contacted Moffat's head; Salazar ejected Henry after conferring with Assistant Referee Peter Manikowski. This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e., which governs ejections for Excess Contact.* At the time of the red card & ejection, the contest was tied, 3-3. The contest eventually ended in a draw, 3-3.

This is Ricardo Salazar's third ejection of the season.
*This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e.

Wrap: PTLN-RBNY Wrap 06/20/11

Video (1): Henry receives Red Card

Ejections: James Hoye (1)

HP Umpire James Hoye ejected White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen for arguing a fair ball (out) call in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Cubs-White Sox game. With one out and none on, White Sox batter Alexei Ramirez hit a 1-2 slider into the ground that was ruled fair. Cubs catcher Geovany Soto tagged Ramirez for the second out. Replays indicate that Soto picked the ball while it was still touching a portion of home plate and in fair territory. The 0:59 mark of the video shows the ball was touched by Soto with the ball centered exactly at the middle of the plate, while the 1:15 mark shows that the ball is in front and atop of the apex of the plate, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Cubs were leading, 6-3. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

This is James Hoye (92)'s first ejection of 2011.
James Hoye now has 4 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).

James Hoye was undrafted in 2011.

This is the 83rd ejection of 2011.
This is the 44th manager ejection of 2011.
This is Ozzie Guillen's second ejection of 2011.

Wrap: CWS @ CHC 6/20/11 Wrap
Video: Hoye Runs Ozzie

Ejections: Bob Davidson (4, 5)

HP Umpire Bob Davidson ejected Brewers Batting Coach Dale Sveum and Brewers Manager Ron Roenicke for arguing a hit by pitch call in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Rays-Brewers game. With none out and none on, Brewers batter Nyjer Morgan was hit by a 0-2 fastball on the arm. Davidson ruled that Morgan had the opportunity to avoid the pitch, but did not attempt to. Replays indicate Morgan turned his body away from the pitch with his arms behind his body, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 1-0. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

These are Bob Davidson (6)'s fourth and fifth ejections of 2011.
Bob Davidson now has 2 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (6 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = 2).
*Quality of Correctness was challenged and confirmed ("Incorrect" => "Incorrect")

Bob Davidson is owned as a Primary Umpire by Bino, who is now in 22nd place in the UEFL with 5 points.
Bob Davidson is owned as a Primary Umpire by BGMTOM, who is now tied for 31st place in the UEFL with 1 point.
Bob Davidson is owned as a Secondary Umpire by BrooklynUmp, who is now tied for 26th place in the UEFL with 3 points.

These are the 81st and 82nd ejections of 2011.
This is the 44th manager ejection of 2011.
This is Ron Roenicke's first ejection of 2011.
This is Bob Davidson's third consecutive plate game with at least one ejection.

Wrap: TB @ MIL 6/20/11 Wrap
Video: Davidson Ejects Sveum, Roenicke

Related Post: Hit by Pitch, Stay Here!

Ejections: Jeff Nelson (1, 2)

HP Umpire Jeff Nelson ejected Astros center fielder Michael Bourn for arguing a strike three call in the top of the 5th inning and Astros Manager Brad Mills for Unsportsmanlike-NEC in the top of the 6th inning of the Astros-Dodgers game. With two out and none on, Bourn took a 2-2 sinker from Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda for a called strike three. Replays indicate the pitch was located thigh high and borderline on the inside corner, the call was correct.* Mills was ejected an inning later arguing the same call; Mills' ejection is not eligible for a Post Inning Exemption as it occurred at least one half inning after the questioned call; therefore, the reason is Unsportsmanlike-NEC and the QOC is correct.** At the time of both ejections, the contest was tied, 0-0. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 1-0.

These are Jeff Nelson (45)'s first and second ejections of 2011.
Jeff Nelson now has 8 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 8).
Jeff Nelson is owned as a Secondary Umpire by spence1222, who is now tied for 21st place in the UEFL with 6 points.
*This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.a.
**This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e.

These are the 79th and 80th ejections of 2011.
This is the 35th player ejection of 2011.
This is the 43rd Manager ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Bourn was 0-3 in the contest.
This is Brad Mills' third ejection of 2011.

Wrap: HOU @ LAD 6/19/11 Wrap
Video (1): Bourn Ejected by Nelson
Video (2): Mills' Ejection

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball
Pitch #5: px = 0.92 => Borderline => Correct

UEFL News: Store & Umpire Forum

The Umpire Ejection Fantasy League is dedicated to constant development into a greater umpiring reference. Accordingly, we are happy to debut the UEFL's newest features, the Umpire Forum, Post Rules Tags, and the UEFL Store.

Umpire Forum: The newest page of the UEFL, the Umpire Forum is the official Discussion Request page. Feel free to post a comment in the Umpire Forum to request and nominate a topic for discussion, or just to chat in general. We'll take the best candidates and feature those topics as upcoming Discussions: posts.

Post Rules Tags: Using the blog's labels feature, applicable posts will now be tagged with the rule(s) they reference, as long as the post deals with a rules topic that isn't quite straightforward. For instance, while a balls/strikes ejection might not be tagged with Rule 2.00 STRIKE ZONE, a slightly less straightforward appeal play might be tagged with Rule 7.10. You may search by label using the labels feature in the right column.

UEFL Store: The UEFL Online Store features various merchandise with a uniquely UEFL twist. Now you can support the UEFL while getting something truly tangible in return. To visit the UEFL Online Store, click here.