Ejections: Hunter Wendelstedt (7)

HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Rockies Manager Jim Tracy for arguing a balk call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Rockies-Dodgers game. With two out and one on, Rockies pitcher Matt Reynolds was called for a balk with Dodgers James Loney batting. On the balk, Dodgers R1 Justin Sellers advanced to second base. Replays indicate Reynolds failed to properly step directly toward a base (first base) in violation of MLB rule 8.05(c), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 3-1. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Hunter Wendelstedt (21)'s seventh ejection of 2011.
Hunter Wendelstedt now has 23 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (19 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 23).
Hunter Wendelstedt is owned as a Primary Umpire by tt49, who is now in 2nd place in the UEFL with 30 points.
Hunter Wendelstedt is owned as a Secondary Umpire by kickersrule, who is now in 1st place in the UEFL with 33 points.
*Quality of Correctness was challenged and confirmed ("Correct" ==> "Correct")

This is the 171st ejection of 2011.
This is the 82nd Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Jim Tracy's third ejection of 2011.

All seven of Hunter Wendelstedt's ejections have come after the All-Star break.
This is the first game in which Wendelstedt has had a single ejection.
This is the 25th ejection by Jerry Lane's crew (Layne (4), Brian Knight (5), Bob Davidson (8), and Wendelstedt (7); Vic Carapazza (1 ejection while with Layne's crew)).

During the previous at bat to Loney's, a balk call was made with the bases loaded on Rockies pitcher Esmil Rogers that scored Dodgers R3 Aaron Miles with Justin Sellers at bat.

Wrap: Rockies at Dodgers 8/26/11
Video: Tracy ejected after two balk calls in two at bats.

Ejections: Bill Welke (1)

HP Umpire Bill Welke ejected Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista for arguing strike calls in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Rays-Blue Jays game. With none out and none on, Bautista swung at and missed a 3-2 curveball from Rays pitcher James Shields for strike three. To begin the at bat, Bautista took the 0-0 pitch and the 0-1 pitch for called strike one and two respectively. Replays indicate that both pitches were within the confines of the strike zone, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 4-1. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Bill Welke (52)'s first ejection of 2011.
Bill Welke now has 4 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Bill Welke is owned as a Primary Umpire by josh7377, who is now tied for 34th place in the UEFL with 2 points.

This is the 170th ejection of 2011.
This is the 79th player ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Bautista was 0-3 and 3 K's in the contest.

Wrap: Rays at Blue Jays 8/26/11 Wrap
Video: Bautista eject after third strike out, smashing bat in dugout

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Todd Tichenor (3)

1B Umpire Todd Tichenor ejected Marlins Interim Manager Jack McKeon for arguing a check swing call in the top of the 3rd inning of the Reds-Marlins game. With none out and none on, Reds batter Homer Bailey attempted to check his swing on a 0-2 curveball from Marlins pitcher Javier Vasquez for ball one. Replays indicate Bailey did not successfully check his swing and attempted a swing, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 0-0. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 6-5.

This is Todd Tichenor (97)'s third ejection of 2011.
Todd Tichenor now has 6 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (8 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = 6).
Todd Tichenor is owned as a Secondary Umpire by Scumpire, who is tied for 17th place in the UEFL with 12 points.

This is the 169th ejection of 2011.
This is the 81st Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Jack McKeon's first ejection of 2011.

Wrap: Reds at Marlins Game #1 8/24/11 Wrap
Video: McKeon is tossed arguing the appeal after Bailey surrenders a double

Polls: Instant Replay

With the Little League World Series underway, we have seen several plays determined via instant replay. Safe/Out (time/tag), Fair/Foul, HBP/Batted Ball: these issues have all been decided this LLWS by coach's challenge and instant replay, the outcome of which is determined solely by a replay official (7th official... LLWS uses a six man crew, which can cause problems when the 3B Umpire calls a ball "foul" and the LF Umpire calls the same ball "fair"). Over the past few years, Little League has certainly expanded replay at the World Series level.

Previous Poll (Toughest Calls) Results: Our previous poll, Polls: Toughest Calls, asked what is the toughest call to make in baseball. Combining your votes on the blog and on our Facebook page, we see a few popular answers. 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: 251):

• Balls/Strikes: Check Swing - 26% - With so many different codes calling for so many different interpretations of what it means to attempt to strike a baseball, it's no wonder "check swing" lands in the top spot.
• Balk - 15% - If a double play is a pitcher's best friend, a balk is his rival. From the slightest start-stop-flinch to the failure to step directly towards a base, the balk call is the second toughest to make.
• Safe/Out: Tagging the Runner - 14% - When a fielder has to contort himself to attempt to tag out a runner who himself is trying to avoid this contact, angles often are destroyed. With no surefire way to tell where a tag is coming from, safe/out: tagging the runner is the third toughest call in the game.
• Safe/Out: Lob to Base - 10% - On a routine safe/out throw to first base, umpires generally get into a position with an optimum angle, listen for the glove/base, and render a verdict. Like tagging the runner, a lob to a base has the potential for throwing off the angle, surely takes away any sound clues, and quite often occurs on the opposite side of the fielder, making the lob a tough call to make.
• Interference/Obstruction - 10% - In many other team ball/puck sports (basketball, football, hockey), an official must train to routinely watch off ball activity. In baseball, this is the exception as most calls are made on the ball rather than on the player. Judging who impeded whom is therefore another tough call in baseball.
• Safe/Out: Foot Race, Force Out - 6% - Which foot belongs to which player? Once this is established, this tough call becomes a whole lot easier.
• Balls/Strikes: Pitched Ball - 5% - This most commonly made call in a game is not always an easy one, especially when establishing a new vertical zone for each pitch and keeping track of that outer edge of home plate.
• The Least Difficult Call: HR/No HR - 1% - When MLB introduced instant replay, they confined it to determining HR/Boundary calls. According to this poll, HR/No HR calls are the easiest calls to make in baseball (or more accurately, the HR/No HR call is easier to make than any other on this list). Then again, most of our respondents' stadiums likely don't have sharp angles and spectators sitting within inches of and on top of the outfield fence.

Current Poll: What should be reviewable under MLB Instant Replay? And how? As mentioned above, Little League has expanded replay to encompass many different types of plays. Should MLB follow suit partially or fully, why, and how? Select all options that apply, including options that indicate how instant replay should be handled (procedures, administration, etc.) in MLB. The top options include various types of plays. The bottom options include various procedural and administrative options. Feel free to comment as well if you have more detail to add.

What should be reviewable under MLB Instant Replay? And how should replay be conducted (if applicable)?

Ejections: Hunter Wendelstedt (5, 6)

HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Twins third basemen Danny Valencia and Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire for arguing a strike call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Orioles-Twins game. With one out and none on, Valencia swung and missed a 3-2 slider from Orioles pitcher Michael Gonzalez for strike three. On the prior pitch, Valencia took a 3-1 fastball for a called strike two. Replays indicate the called strike two pitch was located above the knees and caught the inner half of the plate, the call was correct. At the time of the ejections, the Orioles were leading, 4-1. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

These are Hunter Wendelstedt (21)'s fifth and six ejections of 2011.
Hunter Wendelstedt now has 19 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (11 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 19).
Hunter Wendelstedt is owned as a Primary Umpire by tt49, who is now in 3rd place in the UEFL with 26 points.
Hunter Wendelstedt is owned as a Secondary Umpire by kickersrule, who is now in 2nd place in the UEFL with 30 points.

These are the 167th and 168th ejections of 2011.
This is the 78th player ejection of 2011.
This is the 80th Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Ron Gardenhire's sixth ejection of 2011, leading all Managers, coaches, and players.
Danny Valencia is now the only other Twin besides Gardenhire to be ejected in 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Valencia was 1-4 in the contest.
Wendelstedt last ejected Gardenhire during the 2010 ALDS.

Wrap: Orioles at Twins 8/22/11
Video: Direct Link N/A

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Bob Davidson (8)

HP Umpire Bob Davidson ejected Reds Bench Coach Chris Speier for arguing a strike three swinging call in the top of the 8th inning of the Reds-Pirates game. With two out and none on, Reds batter Jay Bruce attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 curveball from Pirates pitcher Jose Veras for a called third strike swinging. Replays indicate Bruce was not successful in checking his swing, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 4-3. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Bob Davidson (6)'s eighth ejection of 2011.
Bob Davidson now has 14 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (10 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 14)
Bob Davidson is owned as a Primary Umpire by BGMTOM, who is now tied for 9th place in the UEFL with 18 points.
Bob Davidson is owned as a Primary Umpire by Bino, who is now tied for 11th place in the UEFL with 17 points.
Bob Davidson is owned as a Secondary Umpire by BrooklynUmp, who is now tied for 19th place in the UEFL with 10 points.
*Broadcast angles not shown in the linked video were used to determine this QOC.

This is the 166th ejection of 2011.
This is the Cincinnati Reds' first ejection of 2011. The Reds were the last MLB team with zero ejections.
More ejections have occurred on Sunday than on any other day of the week (46 thus far).
Bob Davidson now trails ejections leader Rob Drake by one. Drake has nine ejections.

Wrap: Reds at Pirates 8/21/11
Video: Speier is thrown out in the middle of the 8th inning for arguing the strikeout and check swing call

Ejections: Brian Knight (5)

2B Umpire Brian Knight ejected Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle for arguing an out call in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Reds-Pirates game. With none out and one on, Pirates batter Neil Walker took a 0-2 fastball from Reds pitcher Francisco Cordero for ball one. Pirates baserunner R1 Josh Harrison attempted to steal second base and was thrown out by Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez to shortstop Todd Frazier. Replays indicate Harrison made contact with second base prior to the tag, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 5-4. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

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

This is the 165th ejection of 2011.
This is the 79th Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Clint Hurdle's fourth ejection of 2011.
Brian Knight most recently ejected Clint Hurdle from HP on 8/19/11 (Brian Knight (4)).

Wrap: Reds at Pirates 8/21/11
Video: Hurdle is ejected arguing a stolen base call at second base

Ejections: Alan Porter (2)

3B Umpire Alan Porter ejected Tigers Manager Jim Leyland for arguing an out call in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Indians-Tigers game. With none out and one on, Tigers batter Ramon Santiago bunted a 0-1 slider from Indians pitcher Joe Smith. The ball was retrieved by Indians catcher Lou Marson, who threw to third baseman Jack Hannahan in an attempt to retire Tigers baserunner R2 Wilson Betemit at third base. Replays indicate Betemit made contact with third base prior to the application of the tag, the call was incorrect.* The call was then inconclusive. The call is now correct. At the time of the ejection, the Tigers were leading, 8-7. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 8-7.

This is Alan Porter (64)'s second ejection of 2011.
Alan Porter now has 10 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (5 Previous + 3 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 10)
Alan Porter was undrafted in 2011.
*Quality of Correctness was challenged and deferred, then overturned ("Incorrect" ==> "Inconclusive" ==> "Correct").

This is the 164th ejection of 2011.
This is the 78th Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Jim Leyland's fifth ejection of 2011, his second "QOC Incorrect" ejection.

Wrap: Indians at Tigers 8/21/11
Video: Leyland is ejected arguing an out call at third base