MLB Ejection 084: Will Little (1; Manny Machado)

HP Umpire Will Little ejected Orioles 3B Manny Machado for arguing a strike three (non-foul ball) call in the bottom of the 5th inning of the Indians-Orioles game. With none out and two on, Machado attempted to strike

Both Little, Machado's first ejection.

a 1-2 curveball from Indians pitcher Corey Kluber. Replays indicate Machado's swing did not result in contact between the bat and ball, the foul ball no-call (strike three swinging call) was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Indians were leading, 3-2. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 7-3.

This is Will Little (93)'s first ejection of 2013. 

Will Little now has 5 points in the UEFL (0 + 3 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 5).

Crew Chief Ted Barrett now has 3 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).

This is the 84th ejection of 2013. 

This is the 37th player ejection of 2013. Prior to his ejection, Machado was 1-3 in the contest.

This is the Orioles' 3rd ejection of 2013, 3rd in the AL East (TOR 6; TB 4; BAL 3; BOS 2; NYY 1).

This is Manny Machado's first career MLB ejection.

This is Will Little's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Cleveland Indians vs. Baltimore Orioles, 6/27/13
Video: Striking out swinging at a pitch low and away, Machado has parting words and is thrown out (BAL)

Case Play 2013-05: Murphy Runs Out to Stray Past Second

David Murphy's overrun of second base on a walk inspires a UEFL Case Play. In the top of the 3rd inning of Thursday's Rangers-Yankees game, with none out and R1, Rangers batter Jurickson Profar attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 curveball from Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes, ruled ball four and no swing.

Murphy's hands are on his head after
Umpire Dan Iassogna calls him out.

Catcher Austin Romine, believing the pitch may have been strike three, threw to shortstop Jayson Nix, covering second, in attempt to retire baserunner David Murphy, running with the pitch. Murphy was tagged sliding into second base and, mistakenly believing he was out, began running toward the Texas dugout before realizing his error and attempting to retouch second base; while he was off the base, Nix applied another tag, resulting in an out call from 2B Umpire Dan Iassogna, who properly signaled nothing during the prior sequence. (Video: Murphy runs himself off the base, into an out)

Q: This Case Play is worth two points (one for the rule and one for QOC) and expires Saturday, June 29 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time; to secure your Case Play point, be sure to include your username in your reply (or as your posting name).

As in the video above, B1 faces a 3-2 count, but instead there are two outs and the bases are loaded. As such, all runners are off with the pitch; baserunner R3 from third base, due to his proximity to home plate, strolls slowly down the line while R1 and R2 advance to their next bases more quickly. As in the video, B1 checks his swing on a pitch ruled ball four and no swing while catcher F2 throws down to second base and shortstop F6, who, as in the video above, tags R1 after he strays off of second base, resulting in a third out. R3, still, has not touched home plate and only does so after R1 is tagged past second base. Shall the run score; does the fact that R3 was entitled to home plate as a result of the walk have any bearing on the call?

Major League Umpiring Debut: Adam Hamari

Umpire Adam Hamari made his MLB debut Tuesday night during the Cubs-Brewers game. Hamari joined Jeff Kellogg's crew and umpired at second base, working alongside 3B Umpire Eric Cooper, 1B Umpire Paul Schrieber and Home Plate Umpire Kellogg, filling in for MLB regular Chad Fairchild.

Adam Hamari / JEAPU

Hamari has been working the 2012 season in the International League, which is his third full season in the IL and as a AAA umpire. Like Will Little who made his big league debut Monday, Hamari graduated with honors from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in 2006 and was assigned to the New York-Penn (Short A) Leagues, working the league's All-Star Game and League Championship Series. From there, Hamari's path has included the Midwest (A) and California (A) Leagues in 2007, Florida State (A) and Southern (AA) Leagues in 2008, Eastern (AA) League from 2009-2010 and the International League (AAA) since 2011. Hamari has also worked the Arizona Instructional (07, 09) and Arizona Fall (2011) Leagues.

The 6-foot Hamari resides in Marquette, Michigan and wears the sleeve uniform number 78. Hamari makes his MLB debut at the age of 30. Hamari has also officiated high school and college basketball and serves as a Marquette County substitute teacher during the offseason. Hamari worked the plate for the 2010 MLB All-Star Futures Game in Anaheim.

Major League Umpiring Debut: Will Little

Will Little made his MLB Umpiring debut Monday night during the Indians-Orioles game. Little joined Ted Barrett's crew and umpired at third base. Little worked alongside 2B Umpire Barrett, 1B Umpire Mike DiMuro and Home Plate Umpire Scott Barry, filling in for MLB regular Alfonso Marquez.

Umpire Will Little / JEAPU

Little has been working the 2012 season in the International League, which is his second full season in the IL and as a AAA umpire. In 2010-2011, Little was assigned to the AA Southern League and has umpired professionally since 2006. He graduated with honors from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in 2006 and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League (Rookie). Since then, Little has worked the Appalachian (Rookie), South Atlantic (A), Carolina (A), SL (AA) and IL (AAA) Leagues.

The 5 foot, 11 inch Little resides in Fall Branch, Tennessee and wears the sleeve uniform number 93. Little makes his MLB debut at the age of 29.

Video: Mark Reynolds reaches into stands, fan catches ball, Little calls foul ball, no interference (BAL)

MLB Reshuffles Umpire Crews After Conroy Promotion

MLB reshuffled its umpiring crews this past week after promoting Chris Conroy while bidding adieu to Brian Runge. Changes to the updated crew lineup include the following moves:

» Marty Foster joined Tim McClelland's crew in place of the departed Runge, from Tim Welke's crew;
» Bruce Dreckman and Dan Bellino joined Tim Welke's crew, from Darling (Bruce) & Barrett's (Dan) crews;
» Chris Conroy joined Darling's crew in place of Dreckman, Conroy promoted from AAA to replace Runge;
» Scott Barry joined Ted Barrett's crew in place of Bellino, Barry leaving Welke's crew;
» Umpire Supervisors were published to the revised crews; the former MLB umpires were each assigned:
» » » Chuck Meriwether and Rich Rieker were assigned to Jerry Layne's crew (joint assignment)*;
» » » Ed Montague was assigned to Ted Barrett, Dale Scott, Brian Gorman and Dana DeMuth's crews;
» » » Steve Palermo was assigned to Fieldin Culbreth, Welke, Gary Cederstrom and Darling's crews;
» » » Charlie Reliford was assigned to Mike Winters, Joe West, McClelland and John Hirschbeck's crews;
» » » Larry Young was assigned to Jeff Kellogg, Tom Hallion, Gerry Davis and Jim Joyce's crews.
*Rieker, who is the Director of Umpire Development, shares with Chuck Meriwether oversight of Crew P.

**Cris Jones continues as Umpire Supervisor & Triple-A Coordinator in charge of assigning call-up umpires.

The updated MLB umpire crew list (6/23) has been posted to the Umpire Roster page and appears below:

Crew [Supervisor]	Crew Chief (Yr)	Umpire 2	Umpire 3	Umpire 4
Crew A [Reliford]	33 Mike Winters ('11)	14 Mark Wegner	63 Laz Diaz	95 Tim Timmons
Crew B [Palermo]	25 Fieldin Culbreth ('13)	7 Brian O'Nora	52 Bill Welke	80 Adrian Johnson
Crew C [Young]	8 Jeff Kellogg ('10)	56 Eric Cooper	43 Paul Schrieber	75 Chad Fairchild
Crew D [Montague]	65 Ted Barrett ('13)	72 Alfonso Marquez	16 Mike DiMuro	87 Scott Barry
Crew E [Palermo]	3 Tim Welke ('00)	57 Mike Everitt	1 Bruce Dreckman	2 Dan Bellino
Crew F [Palermo]	38 Gary Cederstrom ('08)	44 Kerwin Danley	23 Lance Barksdale	85 Vic Carapazza
Crew G [Montague]	5 Dale Scott ('01)	26 Bill Miller	54 CB Bucknor	97 Todd Tichenor
Crew H [Montague]	9 Brian Gorman ('10)	27 Larry Vanover	11 Tony Randazzo	79 Manny Gonzalez
Crew I [Reliford]	22 Joe West ('03)	34 Sam Holbrook	49 Andy Fletcher	30 Rob Drake
Crew J [Young]	20 Tom Hallion ('10)	46 Ron Kulpa	10 Phil Cuzzi	68 Chris Guccione
Crew K [Reliford]	36 Tim McClelland ('00)	35 Wally Bell	60 Marty Foster	51 Marvin Hudson
Crew L [Reliford]	17 John Hirschbeck ('00)	77 Jim Reynolds	61 Bob Davidson	92 James Hoye
Crew M [Palermo]	37 Gary Darling ('04)	41 Jerry Meals	50 Paul Emmel	98 Chris Conroy
Crew N [Montague]	32 Dana DeMuth ('99)	55 Angel Hernandez	88 Doug Eddings	39 Paul Nauert
Crew O [Young]	12 Gerry Davis ('99)	58 Dan Iassogna	6 Mark Carlson	91 Brian Knight
Crew P [Meriwether/Rieker]*	24 Jerry Layne ('10)	53 Greg Gibson	21 Hunter Wendelstedt	64 Alan Porter
Crew Q [Young]	66 Jim Joyce ('13)	45 Jeff Nelson	28 Jim Wolf	15 Ed Hickox

For UEFL scoring information regarding the Crew Division, refer to the UEFL Rules Book. Pursuant to UEFL Rule 3-3 regarding Crews, points will be assigned to the crew chief who works the ejection-inclusive game, even if the on-field umpiring alignment differs from the above MLB umpire crew list.

MLB Ejection 083: Mike DiMuro (2; John Farrell)

2B Umpire Mike DiMuro ejected Red Sox Manager John Farrell for arguing a safe (no catch) call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Red Sox-Tigers game. With none out and none on, Tigers batter Avisail Garcia hit a 0-0 fastball from Red Sox pitcher Andrew Miller to center fielder Daniel Nava, who attempted to catch

Farrell demonstrates the alleged catch/transfer act.

the fly ball by employing a basket (underhanded) catch. Replays indicate Nava failed to securely possess the ball in his glove and firmly hold it before voluntarily and intentionally releasing the ball as prescribed by Rule 2.00 [Catch], the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 4-4. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 7-5.

This is Mike DiMuro (16)'s second ejection of 2013.
Mike DiMuro now has 2 points in the UEFL (-2 + 2 + 2 Y = 2).
Crew Chief Ted Barrett now has 2 points in the UEFL's Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).

This is the 83rd ejection of 2013.
This is the 38th Manager ejection of 2013.
This is the Red Sox's 2nd ejection of 2013, T-3rd in the AL East (TOR 6; TB 4; BAL, BOS 2; NYY 1).
This is John Farrell's 1st ejection of 2013 and first since October 1, 2012 (Marvin Hudson; QOC = Y).
This is Mike DiMuro's first ejection since April 24, 2013 (John Gibbons; QOC = N).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers, 6/23/13
Video: DiMuro rules Nava failed to securely possess the baseball, Farrell kicked out arguing the case (BOS)

MiLB Ejection of the Week: ALB-MEM Bench Clearing Brawl

A bench-clearing brawl featuring 10 ejections between the PCL's Isotopes and Redbirds is our MiLB Ejection of the Week. To begin the madness, Redbirds pitcher Maikel Cleto hit Isotopes batter Jeremy Moore with an up-and-in pitch in the bottom of the 3rd inning, resulting in a bench clearance and warnings issued. After Moore hit a three-run home run in the 4th, Redbirds pitcher Jorge Rondon was immediately ejected for throwing at the very next Isotopes batter, Justin Sellers. Rondon's 0-0 fastball grazed Seller's upper shoulder, producing another bench clearing and a brawl.

Two players fought to the ground.

In all, 10 were ejected by HP Umpire Brian Hertzog and 3B Umpire Hal "Tripp" Gibson III—six Isotopes and four Redbirds; For Memphis:

Pitcher Jorge Rondon (post-warnings throwing at; PU Hertzog);
Manager Ron Warner (post-warnings throwing at; PU Hertzog);
Catcher Rob Johnson (fighting; PU Hertzog);
Bench Player (Pitcher) Mitchell Boggs (fighting; PU Hertzog).

And for Albuquerque:

Shortstop Justin Sellers (fighting; PU Hertzog);
Left Fielder Jeremy Moore (fighting; PU Hertzog);
Second Baseman Dee Gordon (fighting; PU Hertzog);
Bench Player (Pitcher) Aaron Laffey (fighting; PU Hertzog);
Bench Player (First Baseman) Rusty Ryal (fighting; PU Hertzog);
Manager Lorenzo Bundy (arguing ejections or lack thereof; U3 Gibson).

At the time of the ejections, the Isotopes were leading, 8-2. The Isotopes ultimately won the contest, 13-10.
MLB Affiliations: St. Louis Cardinals (Memphis Redbirds) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (Albuquerque Isotopes).

Wrap: Memphis Redbirds vs. Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple-A Pacific Coast League), 6/15/13
Video: Topes and Birds throw punches after Memphis hits two with high-and-tight pitches (ALB)