Ejections: Ted Barrett (2)

1B Umpire Ted Barrett ejected Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp for arguing a check swing call in the top of the 9th inning of the Dodgers-Rockies game. With one out and none on, Kemp attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 changeup from Rockies pitcher Josh Roenicke for strike three. Replays indicate that Kemp failed to check his swing and attempted to swing, the call was correct. *The call is now incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 8-2. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 8-2.

This is Ted Barrett (65)'s second ejection of 2011.
Ted Barrett now has 1 point in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (3 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = 1).
Ted Barrett was undrafted in 2011.
*Quality of Correctness was challenged and overturned ("Correct" ==> "Incorrect").

This is the 163rd ejection of 2011.
This is the 77th player ejection of 2011.
This is Matt Kemp's third ejection of 2011, leading in player ejections.
Prior to his ejection, Kemp was 1-5 in the contest.

Wrap: Dodgers at Rockies 8/19/11 Wrap
Video: Barrett Ejects Kemp in the 9th

Ejections: Jeff Nelson (4)

HP Umpire Jeff Nelson ejected White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez for arguing a called strike three in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Rangers-White Sox game. With one out and none on, Ramirez took a 3-2 slider from Rangers pitcher Mike Adams for a called strike three. Replays indicate the pitch was knee high and over the outside corner of the plate, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Rangers were leading, 7-4. The Rangers ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Jeff Nelson (45)'s fourth ejection of 2011.
Jeff Nelson now has 15 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (11 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 15).
Jeff Nelson is owned as a Secondary Umpire by spence1222, who is now tied for 12th place in the UEFL with 15 points.

This is the 162nd ejection of 2011.
This is the 76th player ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Ramirez was 1-4 in the contest.

Wrap: Rangers at White Sox 8/19/11 Wrap
Video: Ramirez given the heave-ho for arguing balls and strikes after making out

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Angel Campos (5)

HP Umpire Angel Campos ejected Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun for arguing strike calls in the top of the 3rd inning of the Brewers-Mets game. With none out and one on, Braun took a 2-2 slider from Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey for a called strike three. Earlier in the at bat, Braun took a 1-0 sinker for a strike one call. Replays indicate the pitch was located navel high, but off the inside corner of the plate, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 1-0. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Angel Campos (84)'s fifth ejection of 2011.
Angel Campos now has -10 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (-8 Previous + 3 AAA + -1 Penalty + -4 Incorrect Call = -10).
Angel Campos was not drafted in 2011.
*Quality of Correctness was challenged and confirmed ("Incorrect" ==> "Incorrect").

This is the 161st ejection of 2011.
This is the 75th player ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Braun was 0-2 in the contest.
This is Ryan Braun's second ejection of 2011.
All five of Campos' ejections have been associated with an incorrect QOC.

Wrap: Brewers at Mets 8/19/11 Wrap
Video: Braun Ejected by Campos for Arguing

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Brian Knight (4)

HP Umpire Brian Knight ejected Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 5th inning of the Reds-Pirates game. With none out and one on, Pirates batter Garrett Jones took a 3-2 curveball from Reds pitcher Homer Bailey for a called strike three. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of the plate and below the midpoint between the shoulders and top of the jersey pants, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 6-2. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 11-8.

This is Brian Knight (91)'s fourth ejection of 2011.
Brian Knight now has 4 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Brian Knight was not drafted in 2011.

This is the 160th ejection of 2011.
This is the 77th Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Hurdle's third ejection of 2011.

Wrap: Reds at Pirates 8/19/11
Video: Hurdle Ejected by Knight

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Brian O'Nora (1)

HP Umpire Brian O'Nora ejected Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire for arguing a reviewed and overturned: foul ball call in the bottom of the 1st inning of the Yankees-Twins game. With two out and one on, Twins batter Justin Morneau hit a 1-0 fastball from Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia for a home run call by 1B Umpire Jim Wolf. After instant replay review, the umpires overturned the call to a foul ball. Replays indicate the ball crossed into and exited the playing field in foul territory [in front of the pole], the call was correct.*^ At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 0-0. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

This is Brian O'Nora (7)'s first ejection of 2011.
Brian O'Nora now has 4 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Brian O'Nora is owned as a Secondary Umpire by jeruhmed, who is now tied for 27th place in the UEFL with 7 points.
*This call is correct per UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.g.

^Brian O'Nora is listed as the calling umpire under UEFL Rule 6.b.iii.a.2., as O'Nora was the acting crew chief during this contest.

This is the 159th ejection of 2011.
This is the 76th Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Ron Gardenhire's fifth ejection of 2011. All 2011 Gardenhire ejections are associated with  a 'correct' QOC.
Gardenhire is one umpire short of the "ejection cycle" (Ejections by... HP: 3, 2B: 1, 3B: 1).
This is the first ever instant replay review ejection in Major League Baseball.

Wrap: Yankees at Twins 8/18/11
Video (1): Gardenhire ejected after an overturned review results in a foul ball
Video (2): Girardi asks for the home run / foul ball review; conclusive evidence overturns the original call

Discussions: Replaying a Home Run

It was only a matter of time before someone would disagree with an umpire's home run call... a home run call made after consulting instant replay. In Wednesday's Yankees-Royals game, with none on and one out in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Royals batter Billy Butler hit a 0-1 fastball from Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon for a home run, as called on the field by 2B Umpire Dana DeMuth. The Umpires went to instant replay review and upheld the home run call, maintaining the ball first hit the padding of the larger outfield wall, bounced up and hit the padding of the chain link fence 'mini-wall.' Upon viewing the instant replay, several Yankees personnel and fans grew upset at what they perceived as a missed call. UEFL'er Garrett Meyer asks...

I have a question about the disputed Butler homerun in the game against the Yankees. It appears that the umpires missed the call despite looking at the replay. Is this a situation where Joe Girardi and the Yankees could play the rest of the game under protest?

To answer this question requires several elements. First is a look at Rule 4.19.

PROTESTING GAMES. Each league shall adopt rules governing procedure for protesting a game, when a manager claims that an umpire’s decision is in violation of these rules. No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment decisions by the umpire. In all protested games, the decision of the League President shall be final. Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the League President the violation adversely affected the protesting team’s chances of winning the game.

Obviously, Yankees Manager Joe Girardi did not protest the game, but assuming he had, would this protest be allowed? The deciding factor: was DeMuth's instant replay a judgment call or a rules interpretation? To answer that requires a look at Kauffman Stadium's ground rules. Both the Royals and Yankees play in stadiums (Kauffman and Yankee) that do not have ground rules other than the Universal Ground Rules. The third and final stadium with no ground rules of its own is U.S. Cellular Field (White Sox). The Universal Ground Rule concerning home runs: there is none other than "all yellow lines are in play." But Kauffman doesn't have any left field yellow lines.

View from the spectator's area behind the left field wall at Kauffman Stadium. txrangersfan

Rule 7.05(a) permits each runner, including the batter, to advance to home plate if "a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight." Accepted interpretations of Rules 6.09(d) and (h) permit the deflection of a fair ball out of the playing area over fair territory to be called a home run. Rule 1.04 defines the outer limit of The Playing Field as a "fence, stand or other obstruction on fair territory." Rule 2.00 FAIR TERRITORY specifies that fair territory encompasses "the bottom of the playing field fence [extended] perpendicularly upwards."

Notice from the picture above, that the chain link fence and padding appears to be slightly recessed from the playing field fence (you may have to look towards the left-center field area to see it). In other words, the ~ three foot high chain link fence and its corresponding padding ("an obstruction") is on the out of play side of the fence defined by Rule 1.04. It is not flush with the wall, is not perpendicular to the ground at the point in which the fence defined by Rule 1.04 begins, and therefore, is not part of the playing field. By virtue of all that rules review, the umpires got it right.

But the question remains, can it be protested? Because Kauffman Stadium has no ground rules of its own and because there are no yellow lines, there are no rules specifically governing that chain link fence. Though we were able to use Rules 1.04, 2.00 FAIR TERRITORY, 6.09(d), 6.09(h), and 7.05(a) to answer the Quality of Correctness question, there is no one rule that specifically states, "the chain link fence above the outfield wall is in/out of play." Therefore, this call falls under Rule 9.01(c), the elastic clause, which is a judgement call and is not grounds for protest (well, Girardi still could have filed the protest, it just might not have been admitted). Still, that didn't prevent MLB Supervisor Steve Palermo from allegedly (and publicly) going out to left field after the game with DeMuth, Kerwin Danley, Doug Eddings, and Chad Fairchild and discussing the play within several feet of where the earlier Butler ball rattled around somewhere above the outfield wall. Perhaps one less stadium will be without its own set of ground rules next season. Either that or the Royals are going to have to invest in some yellow paint.

Ejections: Wally Bell (1)

1B Umpire Wally Bell ejected Indians pitcher Tony Sipp for arguing a safe call in the bottom of the 10tth inning of the Indians-White Sox game. With one out and one on, White Sox batter Alejandro De Aza singled on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Matt LaPorta. Sipp was ejected after being removed from the game. Replays indicate LaPorta's path was blocked by Sipp, but was still able to apply the tag to De Aza prior to De Aza reaching first base, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 7-7. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 8-7, in 14 innings.

This is Wally Bell (35)'s first ejection of 2011.
Wally Bell now has -2 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Inorrect Call = -2)
Wally Bell is owned as a Secondary Umpire by MrBillMueller, who is now tied for 14th place in the UEFL with 13 points.

This is the 158th ejection of 2011.
This is the 74th player ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Sipp's line was .1 IP, 0 ER.

Wrap: Indians at White Sox 8/16/11
Video: Sipp is ejected as he departs

Ejections: Kerwin Danley (2)

HP Umpire Kerwin Danley ejected Royals Manager Ned Yost for arguing balls and strikes in the top of the 4th inning of the Yankees-Royals game. With none out and two on, Royals pitcher Danny Duffy gave up a single to Yankees batter Mark Teixiera. Yost was ejected during a subsequent mound visit; a Balls/Strikes Exemption was applied under UEFL Rule 6.e.iv.b. Replays indicate Danley had no missed ball calls in the top of the 4th inning, the call must be correct.* At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 5-5. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 9-7.

This is Kerwin Danley (44)'s second ejection of 2011.

Kerwin Danley now has 2 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (-2 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 2)

Kerwin Danley is owned as a Secondary Umpire by jdbr78, who is now tied for 30th place in the UEFL with 4 points.

*A Balls/Strikes Exemption was applied under UEFL Rule 6.e.iv.b.
**This call is correct per "Kulpa Rule" 6.b.ii.a and Rule 6.e.iii.d.

This is the 157th ejection of 2011.

This is the 75th Manager ejection of 2011.

This is Yost's third ejection of 2011.

Wrap: Yankees at Royals 8/16/11

Video: Yost gets tossed arguing the strike zone

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Polls: Toughest Calls

The Umpire Ejection Fantasy League routinely rules on Quality of Correctness, and for the majority of ejections we see, the umpire is right & QOC is correct. In today's world of replay technology, pitch f/x, and infinite interpretation, there seems to always be a probable QOC to determine: rarely is the "inconclusive" QOC used. Still, for the umpire on the field, who has one chance in real time, there is no luxury of contemplation: terms such as "impedes the fielder," "voluntary release," or "naturally associated with" must be deeply and completely ingrained; the play must fully be seen the first time. In this poll, we'll ask for the most difficult play to call, but first...

Previous Poll (Most Often Ejection) Results: Our previous poll, Polls: He Gone, asked who you eject most often when you eject a person. Combining your votes on the blog and on our Facebook page, we see a strong trend. For the purposes of which level of ball these ejections occur in, we refer to Polls: Umpiring Experience, in which most UEFL'ers umpire organized youth (including High School) leagues (Total Votes: 231):

• Managers & Coaches - 62% - Especially at the organized youth levels (from Little League to High School), coaches are the unquestionable captains of the ship. As such, coaches tend to be the team representative to have the most interaction with umpires over close calls and tough plays. This simply gives coaches the greatest chance of being ejected. This isn't to say that coaches aren't ejected at the recreational (unorganized), adult, or professional levels, but coach ejections tend to comprise a larger proportion of those ejected most often in organized youth & school sport.
• Players - 31% - On the field, players outnumber coaches anywhere from 5-9:1, yet according to our poll at our levels and in our proportions, their "most often ejected" numbers are only half of their coaches' respective numbers. This reflects the notion above, that players give way to coaches, that players at these levels by and large behave more politely, and that players are still in it to have fun, rather than to win or make money (at the amateur level, let's at least hope that last one is true).
• Spectator: Parent - 6% - Backing the notion that players are well behaved and they leave arguments to the adults, it appears parents at times feel responsibility in speaking for their children. Parents by and large tend to be ejected (or removed) from their younger child's games, wherein the association between parent ejection #s and player's age tends to be inversely proportional.
• Spectator: Other - <1% - Simply put, fans are fans, and by the time fans care who care about the team rather than the team's players (their children) enter into the picture, the stands are probably far enough removed, the number of fans far more significant, and the ambient noise loud enough, that the umpire doesn't notice any particular individual of this variety of fan as much.

Current Poll: In your opinion, of the following what is the most difficult call to make? You may consider any level of ball in which you have worked or have observed/watched and you may place yourself at any position in which you believe you would have primary responsibility for such a call (e.g., HP, 1B, or 3B for Check Swings, 2B for Lob to Base, etc.).

What is the toughest call to make?