Ejections: Hunter Wendelstedt (8)

HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Rays Manager Joe Maddon for arguing a called third strike in the top of the 6th inning of the Rays-Red Sox game. With two out and one on, Rays batter John Jaso took a 3-2 cutter from Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located thigh high and off the outer edge of home plate, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 4-3. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Hunter Wendelstedt (21)'s eighth ejection of 2011.
Hunter Wendelstedt now has 21 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (23 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = 21).
Hunter Wendelstedt is owned as a Primary Umpire by tt49, who is now tied for 5th place in the UEFL with 28 points.
Hunter Wendelstedt is owned as a Secondary Umpire by kickersrule, who is now in 1st place in the UEFL with 36 points.
*Pitch #6 is associated with a px value of -1.022, which falls into the "ball" range under the Kulpa Rule.

This is the 191st ejection of 2011.
This is the 93rd Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Joe Maddon's sixth ejection of 2011.
All eight of Wendelstedt's 2011 ejections have come since the All-Star Break.

Wrap: Rays at Red Sox, 9/16/11
Video: Maddon is ejected arguing the width of Wendelstedt's strike zone

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball

Ejections: Bill Welke (2, 3)

HP Umpire Bill Welke ejected Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Manager Don Mattingly for throwing at Diamondbacks left fielder Gerardo Parra in the top of the 6th inning of the Diamondbacks-Dodgers game. With none out and none on, Parra took a 0-1 pitch for a hit by pitch from Kershaw. Replays indicate the pitch was thrown inside, the call was correct.* In yesterday's Diamondbacks-Dodgers game, Parra took a high and inside pitch for a ball from Dodgers pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo. Later in the at bat, Parra homered and "admired" his home run leading to Kershaw shouting at Parra from the Dodgers dugout. At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 2-0. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

These are Bill Welke (52)'s second and third ejections of 2011.
Bill Welke now has 12 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (4 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 12).
Bill Welke is owned as a Primary Umpire by josh7377, who is now tied for 25th place in the UEFL with 10 points.

*This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e.

These are the 189th and 190th ejections of 2011.
This is the 85th player ejection of 2011.

This is the 92nd Manager ejection of 2011.

This is Clayton Kershaw's first ejection of 2011.

This is Don Mattingly's third ejection of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Kershaw's line was 5IP, 1 H (a double by Parra).

Wrap: Diamondbacks at Dodgers 9/14/11 Wrap
Video: Kershaw beans Parra, is thrown out; Mattingly is thrown out for arguing the ejection
Video (2): Kershaw asked about and discusses his game and sixth inning ejection

Related: Clayton Kershaw: Why the Dodgers Ace and Cy Young Candidate was Ejected

Ejections: Sam Holbrook (4)

3B Umpire Sam Holbrook ejected Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle for Unsportsmanlike-NEC in the top of the 6th inning of the Cardinals-Pirates game.~ With one out and two on in the bottom of the 5th inning, Pirates batter Derrek Lee flied into a double play, Cardinals right fielder Lance Berkman to pitcher Chris Carpenter to third baseman Daniel Descalso. Pirates R3 Pedro Ciriaco out at 3rd. Ciriaco was ruled out on appeal by Holbrook. Hurdle was ejected after arguing at the conclusion of the top of the 6th inning. Replays indicate that Ciriaco successfully tagged up and did not leave third base prior to the ball touching Berkman's glove. However, a Post-Inning Exemption under Rule 6.e.iii.b.* cannot be applied to this ejection, therefore the reason for ejection is Unsportsmanlike-NEC, the call was correct.**^ At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 4-2. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Sam Holbrook (34)'s fourth ejection of 2011.
Sam Holbrook now has 16 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (12 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 16).
Sam Holbrook is owned as a Secondary Umpire by HIGHSCHOOLUMP, who is now tied for 20th place in the UEFL with 14 points.

*A Post-Inning Exemption is only allowed during the inning break immediately concluding the half inning in which the call in question was made.

**This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e.
^Quality of Correctness was challenged and summarily confirmed ("Correct" ==> "Correct").
~Reason for Ejection was challenged and summarily upheld ("Unsportsmanlike-NEC" ==> "Unsportsmanlike-NEC").

This is the 188th ejection of 2011.

This is the 91st Manager ejection of 2011.
This is Sam Holbrook's third ejection with Joe West's crew.
This is Clint Hurdle's fifth ejection of 2011.
This is the 25th ejection by Joe West's crew.

Wrap: Cardinals at Pirates Wrap 9/13/11
Video: Hurdle ejected a half inning after appeal play

Polls: Tribute Uniforms

All sports' rules books contain provisions on uniforms that a team or individual may wear during play. While at the amateur levels of youth, high school, or even college ball, these rules or guidelines may be varied, uniform rules at the professional level tend to portray amateur uniform rules as lax by comparison. MLB is no different: Rules 1.11-1.17 comprise MLB's uniform and equipment guidelines, such as Rule 1.11(a), which reads, "all players on a team shall wear uniforms identical in color, trim and style." Specific allowances are made for equipment, such as gloves or protective helmets, as well as approved logos or patches.

Previous Poll (Instant Replay) Results: Our previous poll, Polls: Instant Replay, asked what should be reviewable under MLB Instant Replay, and how replay should be conducted. Combining your votes on the blog and on our Facebook page, we see a trend toward limited replay (Total Votes: 221):

• Nothing (No Replay) - 19% - Almost 1/5 of all UEFL'ers want replay out of baseball.
• HR/Boundary (Current Rules) - 68% - About seven of 10 UEFL'ers like being able to review boundary calls.
• Fair/Foul (Field of Play) - 36% - More than one of three of us would like to rectify another Twins-Yankees Cuzzi call.
• HBP/Foul - 33% - A third of the group would like to review close hit batsman or foul ball plays.
• Safe/Out (Catch/Trap) - 30% - Three of 10 people would like to be able to use replay here. However, placing runners on an overturned call may introduce further complications.
• Safe/Out (Force/Time AND Tag) - 25% - A full fourth would like to be able to take a second look at bang-bang plays.
• Interference/Obstruction - 16% - Perhaps this would solve who started what... Makes you wonder what percent of votes "Fighting" would get.
• -- And how to conduct review? --
• No challenges, only officials can elect to use replay (current MLB) - 26% like the way it is now.
• Teams receive a # of challenges (LLWS, NFL >2min) - 25% - Basically, the same number of people would like to offer challenges.
• Replay/5th Umpire buzzes CC to halt play while Replay Booth conducts review (NCAA FB) - 19% would like to visit the college system with a 5th official in the press box.
• Replay/5th Umpire buzzes CC to have CC do the review (NFL <2min) - 11% prefer to keep the decision making with the on field officials.
• -- Recall 19% voted for "No Replay," which accounts for the remainder, up to 100% --
• 5th Umpire added to crew (3B-2B-1B-HP-Replay) - 26% want to add the position.
• Non-Umpire replay judge is hired to conduct reviews (NHL) - 13% want that type of separation.
• CC will continue to leave field to watch replay/no added persons - 13% want to keep current numbers.

Current Poll: What are your thoughts on tribute uniforms as they relate to uniform codes and rules? Consider any level of play you feel is appropriate, select all options that apply. The NFL relaxed its tight hold on uniform restrictions this weekend to accommodate teams' requests to pay tribute to the 10th anniversary of 9/11/01. By contrast, however, MLB sent out a league-wide memo which basically denied a Mets request to wear NYPD, NYFD, and PAPD hats on September 11, 2011. When they wore the hats in 2001, the Mets were fined by MLB for the uniform violation. MLB Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations Joe Torre told the Associated press it was his decision: "Certainly it's not a lack of respect," Torre said. "We just felt all the major leagues are honoring the same way with the American flag on the uniform and the cap. This is a unanimity thing."

Tribute Uniforms and Rules... Your Thoughts?