Ejection 167: Marvin Hudson (2)

1B Umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Nationals Manager Davey Johnson for arguing a safe call in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Nationals-Braves game. With none out and none on, Braves batter Martin Prado hit a 3-2 fastball from Nationals pitcher Edwin Jackson, who fielded and threw to first baseman Adam LaRoche. Replays indicate LaRoche caught the throw and legally tagged first base with his left foot in contact with the bag prior to Prado's arrival, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 4-2. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Marvin Hudson (51)'s second ejection of 2012.
Marvin Hudson now has 2 points in the UEFL (4 Previous + 2 MLB + -4 Incorrect Call = 2).
Crew Chief Fieldin Culbreth now has 0 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 0).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 167th ejection of 2012.
This is the 76th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is the Nationals' 4th ejection of 2012, T-2nd in the NL East (NYM 8; ATL, MIA, WSH 4; PHI 3).
This is Davey Johnson's first ejection of 2012 and first since August 28, 2011 (Joe West; QOC = Incorrect).
This is Marvin Hudson's first ejection since April 29 (Jordan Shafer; QOC = Correct).

Wrap: Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves, 9/15/12

Video: After a charged error to pitcher Jackson, Johnson is ejected protesting the call

Ejection 166: Mike Estabrook (3)

HP Umpire Mike Estabrook ejected Royals designated hitter Billy Butler for arguing a strike call in the top of the 10th inning of the Royals-Twins game. With one out and one on, Butler took a 2-1 slider from Twins pitcher Glen Perkins for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located midpoint high and over the heart of home plate (sz_top = 3.480, pz = 3.464), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 3-3. The Twins ultimately won the contest, 4-3, in 10 innings.

This is Mike Estabrook (83)'s third ejection of 2012.
Mike Estabrook now has 8 points in the UEFL (3 Previous + 3 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 8).
Crew Chief Jerry Layne now has 12 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (11 Previous + 1 Correct = 12).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 166th ejection of 2012.
This is the 73rd player ejection of 2012. Prior to his ejection, Billy Butler was 2-5 in the contest.^
This is the Royals' 8th ejection of 2012, T-2nd in the AL Central (DET 11; CLE, CWS, KC 8; MIN 6).
This is Billy Butler's first career MLB ejection.
This is Mike Estabrook's first ejection since September 8 (Carlos Pena; QOC = Incorrect).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins, 9/13/12
Video: Butler ejected arguing a strike two call, ^subsequent PH swing & miss results in strikeout

Ejection 165: Bill Miller (3)

HP Umpire Bill Miller ejected Astros pitcher Lucas Harrell for arguing a ball call in the top of the 6th inning of the Phillies-Astros game. With two out and two on, Phillies batter Juan Pierre took a 3-2 fastball from Harrell for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located thigh high and off the inner edge of home plate while the ball three pitch was located belt high and in borderline territory (px = .882), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 4-3. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Bill Miller (14)'s third ejection of 2012.
Bill Miller now has 0 points in the UEFL (-4 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 0).
Crew Chief Dale Scott now has 9 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (8 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 9).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 165th ejection of 2012.
This is the 72nd player ejection of 2012.
This is the Astros' 6th ejection of 2012, T-2nd in the NL Central (CHC 8; HOU, MIL 6; PIT 5; STL 4; CIN 3).
This is Lucas Harrell's first career MLB ejection.
This is Bill Miller's first ejection since May 15 (Brett Lawrie, John Farrell; QOC = Incorrect).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies at Houston Astros, 9/13/12
Video: Harrell ejected while exiting the field during a pitching change

Ejections 162, 163, 164: Alfonso Marquez (3, 4, 5)

HP Umpire Alfonso Marquez ejected Red Sox LF Cody Ross, Manager Bobby Valentine and 3B Coach Jerry Royster for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Yankees-Red Sox game. With two out and one on, Ross took a 3-2 slider from Yankees pitcher Rafael Soriano for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located at the hollow of the knee and over the outer half of home plate (px = .643; sz_bot = 1.580, pz = 1.507), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 5-3. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

These are Alfonso Marquez (72)'s third, fourth and fifth ejections of 2012.
Alfonso Marquez now has 13 points in the UEFL (1 Previous + 3*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 13).
Crew Chief Tom Hallion now has 10 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (7 Previous + 3* [1 Correct] = 10).
*This call is correct pursuant to UEFL Rule 6-2-b-2 (Miller Rule).

UEFL Standings Update

These are the 162nd, 163rd and 164th ejection of 2012.
This is the 71st player ejection of 2012. Prior to his ejection, Ross was 0-4 in the contest.
This is the 75th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is the Red Sox's 13th ejection of 2012, 1st in MLB and the AL East (BOS 13; NYY, TB, TOR 5; BAL 4).
This is Cody Ross' first ejection since June 9, 2008 (Bill Hohn; QOC = Incorrect).
This is Bobby Valentine's sixth ejection of 2012 and first since August 26 (Dan Bellino; QOC = Incorrect).
This is Jerry Royster's first ejection since May 16, 2002 (Doug Eddings; QOC = Unknown).

Wrap: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, 9/12/12
Video: Ross is called out on strikes and ejected by Marquez for arguing the strike zone (BOS)
Video: Ross' ejection is followed by Bobby Valentine's heave-ho from the dugout (BOS)

Ejection 161: Clint Fagan (1)

HP Umpire Clint Fagan ejected Marlins left fielder Justin Ruggiano for arguing a strike three call in the top of the 2nd inning of the Marlins-Phillies game. With none out and two on, Ruggiano took a 2-2 fastball from Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee for a called third strike. Replays indicate the strike three pitch was located thigh high and off the inner edge of home plate (px = -1.341), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 0-0. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 3-1.

This is Clint Fagan (82)'s first ejection of 2012.
Clint Fagan now has -2 points in the UEFL (0 Previous + 3 AAA + -1 Penalty + -4 Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Mike Winters now has 3 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (3 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 3).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 161st ejection of 2012.
This is the 70th player ejection of 2012. Prior to his ejection, Ruggiano was 0-1 in the contest.
This is the Marlins' 4th ejection of 2012, T-2nd in the NL East (NYM 8; ATL, MIA 4; PHI 3, WSH 3).
This is Justin Ruggiano's first career MLB ejection.
This is Clint Fagan's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies, 9/12/12
Video: Ruggiano argues Fagan's zone and an inside strike, is ejected walking back to his dugout

Rule 7.08(j): Lifting the Batter-Runner's Overrun Privelege

A core principle of baseball often neglected is the batter-runner's overslide/overrun protection at first base.

Rule 7.08(j) addresses when this protection is eliminated, specifying that the runner is out when:

He fails to return at once to first base after overrunning or oversliding that base. If he attempts to run to second he is out when tagged. If, after overrunning or oversliding first base he starts toward the dugout, or toward his position, and fails to return to first base at once, he is out, on appeal, when he or the base is tagged.

Runners are authorized to overslide/run 1st base by rule

On Monday, Rockies batter-runner B1 Tyler Colvin was ruled out after Giants catcher Buster Posey's throw eluded Brandon Belt before striking 1B Umpire Eric Cooper and staying on the infield. Colvin was ruled to have made an attempt to run to second, thus putting him in jeopardy of being tagged out pursuant to Rule 7.08(j). (Video: Eric Cooper hit by throw, crew reverses call).
Video: Carlos Santana reaches on error, but is tagged out after making an attempt to advance
Video: Jerry Meals ejects Rays Manager Joe Maddon after Upton is ruled out for attempting to advance
Video: Manny being Manny, Ramirez tagged after attempt at advancement on overthrown ball
Video: Joey Votto clearly attempts turns to advance and is tagged out forfeiting overrun protection

Myth: A runner must (1) turn into (2) fair territory to be declared out (Video: False, it need only be an attempt)
Undetermined: Does sliding into first base save any time? Perhaps if a runner has miscalculated his stride so as to ensure he will contact first base, the slide is valuable; it surely is a tool used to avoid tags. However, sliding into first base eliminates the umpire's ability to call safe/out "by sound," which may have been a contributing factor to recent high-profile misses at first base (Video: Teixeira called out sliding into first)

Rule 7.08(j) Comment additionally specifies that a runner who touches first base in an overrun and is declared safe by the umpire has reached first base for the purposes of Rule 4.09(a), effectively eliminating that rule's exception wherein a run is not scored if the third out occurs after the runner touches home plate. (Video: Lee misses first base entirely for out #3, meaning Marlins run does not score).

This protection only applies to the batter-runner at first base. (Video: McLouth out after oversliding second).
Video: Cliff Pennington overslides third base and is tagged out trying to return

*Once a runner legally touches home plate, he has scored and is "safe" (Video: Andrus safe at home)

Ejection 160: Angel Campos (7)

2B Umpire Angel Campos ejected Rockies Manager Jim Tracy for arguing an out call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Giants-Rockies game. With one out and one on, Rockies batter Carlos Gonzalez hit a 2-2 fastball from Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt on the ground to second baseman Marco Scutaro, who attempted to tag baserunner R1 Josh Rutledge enroute to completing the double play by throwing to first baseman Brandon Belt. Replays indicate Scutaro's glove failed to make contact with Rutledge as he ran by while evidence suggests Rutledge's path of travel did take him out of the baseline pursuant to Rule 7.08(a)(1), the call was correct (see also: UEFL Rule 6-2-b-6-a). The call is now incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Rockies were leading, 6-4. The Rockies ultimately won the contest, 6-5.

This is Angel Campos (84)'s seventh ejection of 2012.
Angel Campos now has 21 points in the UEFL (23 Previous + 3 AAA + -1 Penalty + -4 Incorrect Call = 21) and remains the UEFL points leader.
Crew Chief Tim McClelland now has 3 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (3 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 3).
*QOC has been reversed by the UEFL Appeals Board (3-2).

UEFL Standings Update

This is the 160th ejection of 2012.
This is the 74th Manager ejection of 2012.
This is the Rockies' 3rd ejection of 2012, 4th in the NL West (LAD 11; SD, SF 4; COL 3; AZ 2).
This is Jim Tracy's first ejection since August 6 (Mike Everitt; QOC = Correct).
This is Angel Campos' first ejection since August 22 (Ozzie Guillen; QOC = Correct).

Wrap: San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies, 9/10/12
Video: Tracy argues close out call at second base as Giants escape 7th inning jam (COL)

Injury: Jeff Kellogg and Torii Hunter's Dangerous Lumber

After his foul ball injured plate umpire Jeff Kellogg, Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels might be suffering from an unfortunate series in which he has contributed to the incapacitation of two umpires in less than one month's time, a condition most informally referred to as "Dangerous Lumber."

In August, Hunter's rubber-soled cleat spiked Greg Gibson near the left eye during a tumbling slide into home plate, also in Anaheim.

Kellogg's condition had been described as "a pretty bad migraine," though Angels head trainer Nevala stopped short of calling it a concussion. Meanwhile, Hunter wished Kellogg well, prognosticating, "Hopefully I'll see him [Sunday]."

Video: Kellogg struck by foul ball off tough-luck Torii Hunter's bat, leaves ballgame
Related Post: Ejections 158, 159: Tim Timmons (2, 3)