Ejection 027: Mike Muchlinski (1)

HP Umpire Mike Muchlinski ejected Braves pinch hitter Eric Hinske for arguing a swinging strike call in the top of the 8th inning of the Braves-Cardinals game.* With one out and one on, Braves batter Eric Hinske attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 changeup from Cardinals pitcher Mitchell Boggs. Replays indicate that even though Hinske held his bat back, his wrists clearly went forward in an attempt to swing at the ball and failed to check his swing, the call was correct. The call is now incorrect.^ At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 6-6. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 9-7, in 12 innings.

This is Mike Muchlinski (76)'s first ejection of 2012.
Mike Muchlinski now has -2 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 3 AAA + -1 Penalty + -4 Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Mike Winters now has 1 point in the UEFL Crew Division (1 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 1).
*Brooks Baseball notes that the 7th (strike three pitch) to Hinske was a called strike three, however the official score, MLB.com, and the mechanics of Muchlinski show it was a ruled swinging strike. 
^Afer review, the Appeals Board has reversed the Original QOC ("Correct" ==> "Incorrect").

UEFL Standings Update
This is the 27th ejection of 2012.
This is the 8th player ejection of 2012.
This is Eric Hinske's first ejection of 2012.
Prior to his ejection, Hinske was 0-1 with 1 K in the contest.

Wrap: Braves at Cardinals 5/11/12
Video: Muchlinski rules Hinske swung; Hinske angers, gets ejected by Muchlinski, and then throws bat

Ejection 026: Jim Joyce (1)

1B Umpire Jim Joyce ejected Astros Manager Brad Mills for arguing a foul ball call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Astros-Pirates game. With none out and one on, Pirates batter Clint Barmes fouled off a 1-2 sinker from Astros pitcher Wilton Lopez. Originally, Home Plate umpire James Hoye ruled that Barmes attempted to bunt the ball, thus ruling strike three for a fouled off bunt with two strikes. After Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle came out, Hoye conferred with crewmates. After conferring, Hoye ruled that Barmes did not bunt, thus the foul ball kept the count 1-2.* Replays indicate Barmes successfully brought his bat back and successfully checked his swing, but the ball did touch the bat. Under OBR Rule 2.00, a bunt is defined as "a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield." Since Barmes did not intentionally meet the ball with his bat, it did not satisfy OBR Rule 6.05(d) for a bunt foul third strike. The call was correct.^ At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 1-0. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 1-0.

This is Jim Joyce (66)'s first ejection of 2012.
Jim Joyce now has 3 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 1 Correct Call [Crewmate]* = 3).
Crew Chief Jim Joyce now has 1 point in the Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).
*James Hoye is the calling umpire and Jim Joyce the secondary umpire under UEFL Rule 6-2-c-1-a.
^This call is correct under OBR Rule 2.00 and Rule 6.05(d).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 26th ejection of 2012.
This is the 17th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is Brad Mills' first ejection of 2012.

Wrap: Astros at Pirates 5/11/12
Video: Joyce ejects Mills in heated argument over a foul ball-bunted strike three call

Ejection 025: Derryl Cousins (1)

HP Umpire Derryl Cousins ejected Indians 3B Coach Steve Smith for arguing an out call in the top of the 2nd inning of the Indians-Red Sox game. With two out and one on, Indians batter Jason Kipnis hit a 2-2 fastball from Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz to left fielder Daniel Nava who threw to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia as Indians runner Jack Hannahan arrived at home plate. Replays indicate Saltalamacchia successfully blocked home plate, Hannahan's foot did not touch it, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 2-1. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 7-5.

This is Derryl Cousins' (13) first ejection of 2012.
Derryl Cousins now has 4 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Crew Chief Derryl Cousins now has 1 point in the Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 1).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 25th ejection of 2012.
This is Steve Smith's first ejection of 2012.
This is the second non-manager, non-player ejection of 2012.

Wrap: Indians at Red Sox 5/11/12
Video: Cousins bangs out Hannahan at the plate, ejects 3rd base coach Steve Smith for arguing
Video: Nava gets Hannahan at the plate with a Saltalamacchia block of the plate

Ejection 024: Sam Holbrook (2)

HP Umpire Sam Holbrook ejected Angels Manager Mike Scioscia for arguing ball calls in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Angels-Twins game. With one out and two on, Twins batter Josh Willingham took a 1-0 fastball from Angels pitcher Emesto Frieri for a called ball two. Replays indicate that the 1-0 pitch was knee high high and off the outside corner of the plate. There were no incorrect callable pitches in the at bat, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Angels were leading, 6-2. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 6-2.

This is Sam Holbrook (34)'s second ejection of 2012.
Sam Holbrook now has 8 points in the UEFL (4 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 8).
(Interim) Crew Chief Sam Holbrook now has 1 point in the Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 1).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 24th ejection of 2012.
This is the 16th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is Mike Scioscia's first ejection of 2012.

Wrap: Angels at Twins 5/9/12
Video: Scioscia is tossed from the game by Holbrook after Mauer walks, Willingham takes two balls (12:55)

Case Plays: Decoying the Runner at Second Base

This Case Play has been completed. Congratulations to UEFL League Members RichMSN, cyclone14, kickersrule, TXWrangler, Three-Ballin', clement30, nwsquid & Turducken  for correctly answering at least one portion of the posted scenario. The correct response is:

(1) The ball is alive and remains alive throughout the play on R1 at first base. Obstruction requires impeded progress; the runner's progress was not impeded as he made no attempt to return to first base (OBR 2.00 OBSTRUCTION).

(2) The ball is alive and remains alive throughout the play on R1 at first base; R1 may be awarded first base. Known as "Type B" Obstruction, this play requires the decoying act to physically impede the runner's ability to attempt a retag of his base. This physical impediment must be ruled to have occurred while the ball was in the air or before the catcher made a play on R1 and such imposition must nullify the obstruction (OBR 7.06(b)).

(3) The ball is dead and R1 is awarded second base. Known as "Type A" Obstruction, this play requires the decoying act to physically impede the runner's ability to attempt a retag of his base. This physical impediment must be ruled to have occurred after the catch, while a play was being made on R1. R1 must touch first base before advancing to second base. (OBR 7.06(a)).

Points Distribution

+3: RichMSN

+2: cyclone14, kickersrule, TXWrangler, Three-Ballin'

+1: clement30, nwsquid, Turducken

Thank you for participating in this Case Play and congratulations to all participants, who responded with at least partial correctness. Stay tuned for further Case Plays. The original Case Play post has been reproduced below.

Ejection 023: Brian Knight (1)

HP Umpire Brian Knight ejected Tigers Manager Jim Leyland for arguing a check swing call in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the Tigers-Mariners game. With two out and one on, Mariners batter John Jaso attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 curveball from Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. An appeal was made to 3B Umpire Wally Bell, who ruled no swing.* Replays indicate that Jaso successfully checked his swing, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Tigers were leading, 5-3. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Brian Knight (91)'s first ejection of 2012.
Brian Knight now has 3 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 1 Correct Call [Crewmate] = 3).
Crew Chief Mike Winters now has 1 point in the Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 1).
*Wally Bell is considered the calling umpire and Brian Knight secondary under UEFL Rule 6-2-c-1.

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 23rd ejection of 2012.
This is the 15th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is Jim Leyland's first ejection of 2012.

Wrap: Tigers at Mariners 5/8/12
Video: Leyland yells from the dugout over check swing call, Knight warns and ejects

Ejection 022: Chris Conroy (1)

HP Umpire Chris Conroy ejected Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez for Unsportsmanlike Conduct-NEC in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Braves-Cubs game. With two out and none on, Cubs batter David DeJesus took a 2-0 fastball from Braves pitcher Eric O'Flaherty for a hit by pitch. Replays indicate the first two balls were inside and the 2-0 pitch hit DeJesus in the back. Conroy immediately gave a warning to O'Flaherty, the Cubs dugout, and then the Braves dugout. Gonzalez subsequently came to the plate to argue the warnings issued by Conroy, the call is irrecusable.* At the time of the ejection, the Cubs were leading, 2-1. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 5-1.

This is Chris Conroy (98)'s first ejection of 2012.
Chris Conroy now has 3 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 3 AAA + 0 Irrecusable Call = 3).
Crew Chief Jerry Layne now has 1 point in the Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Irrecusable Call = 1).
*This call is irrecusable under UEFL Rule 6-2-b-5.

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 22nd ejection of 2012.
This is the 14th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is Fredi Gonzalez's first ejection of 2012.
This is Conroy's third career MLB ejection.
This is the 3rd ejection at Wrigley Field in the last four days.

Wrap: Braves at Cubs 5/7/12
Video: Gonzalez gets tossed by Conroy for arguing issued warnings after DeJesus is hit by pitch
Video: Gonzalez discusses ejection, incorrectly believes he was Conroy's first career MLB ejection

Joey Crawford: 35-Year NBA Referee Influenced by Baseball

He's officiated NBA basketball for 35 years and nearly 2,500 games. So what do NBA referee Joey Crawford and MLB umpire Joe West have in common?

Crawford recently opened up about his long journey into basketball officiating, an open discussion about his anger management issues and upbringing influences, his quick ascent to the top of his game and a uniquely common sports injury—for a referee, at least.

Crawford made his officiating debut at age 18 in small recreational leagues near his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After his first 13-game weekend and months of similar work, Crawford worked the Eastern League for four years, all while serving as a fill-in postal carrier in the town of Wayne, PA.

At the young age of 25, Crawford worked his first NBA game: Still a young adult, Crawford recalls the first time he met Los Angeles Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson: