Discussions: 2012 ALCS and NLCS

As the ALCS and NLCS get underway, we again open the umpire forum to discussion. Notes include home plate umpire performance according to pitch f/x and UEFL Rules 6-2-b-a (horizontal bound, "Kulpa Rule") and 6-2-b-b (vertical strike zone, "Miller Rule"). Plays include significant plays, if such plays occur. Listed below are home plate umpire probables for each game given MLB Championship Series rotational assignments.

The following games are final and include Pitch f/x-related umpiring statistics
- 10/13/12, DET@NYY, Gm 1: HP Umpire Jeff Kellogg: pfx (134/144 Balls, 70/80 Strikes = 204/224 = 91.1%)
- 10/14/12, DET@NYY, Gm 2: HP Umpire Rob Drake: pfx (87/90 Balls, 36/43 Strikes = 123/133 = 92.5%)
- 10/14/12, STL@SF, Gm 1: HP Umpire Gary Darling: pfx (96/100 Balls, 53/59 Strikes = 149/159 = 93.7%)
- 10/15/12, STL@SF, Gm 2: HP Umpire Chris Guccione: pfx (87/88 Balls, 47/54 Strikes = 134/142 = 94.4%)

- 10/16/12 NYY@DET, Gm 3: HP Umpire Sam Holbrook: pfx (97/104 Balls, 34/44 Strikes = 131/148 = <90%)
- 10/17/12 SF@STL, Gm 3: HP Umpire Bill Miller: pfx (85/87 Balls, 42/51 Strikes = 127/138 = 92.0%)
- 10/18/12 NYY@DET, Gm 4: HP Umpire Jeff Nelson: pfx (96/102 Balls, 49/57 Strikes = 145/159 = 91.2%)
- 10/18/12 SF@STL, Gm 4: HP Umpire Greg Gibson: pfx (102/105 Balls, 46/50 Strikes = 148/155 = 95.5%)

- 10/19/12 SF@STL, Gm 5: HP Umpire Ted Barrett: pfx (91/92 Balls, 50/60 Strikes = 141/152 = 92.8%)

- 10/21/12 STL@SF, Gm 6: HP Umpire Jerry Layne: pfx (86/89 Balls, 38/43 Strikes = 124/132 = 93.9%)
- 10/22/12 STL@SF, Gm 7: HP Umpire Gary Darling: pfx (118/122 Balls, 36/49 Strikes = 154/171 = 90.1%)

Notes & Plays (Video) — Green shade indicates a QOC of Correct / Red shade indicates a QOC of Incorrect
ALCS Game 1: Alex Rodriguez forces out Ibanez at second to end 1st inning (2B Umpire Sam Holbrook)
ALCS Game 1: Ichiro ruled safe on ground ball, infield single to Peralta (1B Umpire Rob Drake)
ALCS Game 1: Cano declared out 1-6-4 on bang-bang play at first base (1B Umpire Rob Drake)
ALCS Game 1: Jackson hits a liner ruled fair/no fan interference for a triple (Drake/RF Umpire Mike Winters)
ALCS Game 2: After rounding second, Infante called safe trying to return (2B Umpire Jeff Nelson)
NLCS Game 2: Holliday takes out Scutaro with hard slide, no interference (2B Umpire Greg Gibson)
NLCS Game 2: Attempting to avoid B1, Carpenter throws ball away, no interference (HP Umpire Guccione)
NLCS Game 2: Craig attempts to tag Blanco for double play, ruled no tag (1B Umpire Bill Miller)
NLCS Game 3: Blanco grounds out, Belt safe at second on beaten tag (2B Umpire Ted Barrett)
NLCS Game 4: Carpenter scores safely on Holliday single, dropped throw (HP Umpire Greg Gibson)
NLCS Game 5: Lance Lynn attempts pickoff of Gregor Blanco, ruled safe (1B Umpire Jerry Layne)
NLCS Game 5: Pablo Sandoval collides with Kozma on error, no obstruction (2B Umpire Gary Darling)
NLCS Game 7: Molina returns to third on Posey's pick attempt, ruled safe (3B Umpire Greg Gibson)

Abbreviations: ALCS = Tigers @ Yankees (on TBS) / NLCS = Cardinals @ Giants (on FOX). Gm = Game #
*Indicates if necessary