Australian Baseball Ejection: Paul Hyham (Bench Clearing)

Video of the Australian Baseball League's bench clearing brawl & ejection from late December is now available.

HP Umpire Paul Hyham ejected Brisbane Bandits RF Joshua Roberts for fighting (unsportsmanlike-NEC) in the top of the 4th inning of the Bandits-Blue Sox game. With two out and three on, Bandits batter Steven Greer hit a

Hyham observes the fight at home plate.

0-0 fastball from Blue Sox pitcher Todd Van Steensel on the ground to left fielder Trent Schmutter who threw home to catcher Daniel Arribas as baserunner R2 Patrick Leonard attempted to score, the collision occurring as Arribas attempted to field the throw, knocking the ball loose and allowing Leonard access to home plate. Following the play, Arribas approached Leonard as the benches cleared while Roberts ran out of the first base dugout and appeared to punch Arribas. At the time of the ejection, the Bandits were leading, 5-2. The Bandits ultimately won the contest, 9-2.

Wrap: Brisbane Bandits vs. Sydney Blue Sox (Australian Baseball League), 12/28/13
Video: During confrontation between catcher & baserunner, benches clear as Roberts throws haymaker (SYD)

Winter Baseball Ejection Update, December 2013

Here is baseball's December 2013 Winter Leagues ejections update, includes Caribbean & Australian Leagues:

HP Umpire Fernando Rodriguez: 7 (Pena/Fermin/Rodriguez/Vicente/Lara/Perez/Perez) for fighting (D, 12/30)
HP Umpire Jorge Davilla: Cangrejeros de Santurce Manager Carlos Lezcano; arguing a strike call (RC, 12/28)
HP Umpire Paul Hyham: Brisbane Bandits RF Joshua Roberts for fighting/bench clearing brawl (ABL, 12/28)
HP Umpire Carlos Cotto: Cangrejeros de Santruce pitcher David Harden for arguing a ball call (RC, 12/21)
^HP Umpire Jonathan Bailey^: Tigres del Licey CF Engel Beltre; 14th inning strike three call (D, 12/21)
^HP Umpire Jon Saphire^: Tigres de Aragua catcher Guillermo Rodriguez; strike three call (V, 12/21)
HP Umpire Fernando Rodriguez: Leones del Escogido CF Gregory Polanco; strike three call (D, 12/20)
^HP Umpire Brian de Brauwere^: Toros del Este Manager Orlando Merced; ball call (D, 12/18)
1B Umpire Oscar Marin: Caneros de los Mochis DH Sandy Madera for arguing an out call (M, 12/17)
3B Umpire Paul Hyham: Sydney Blue Sox 1B Joshua Dean for arguing an out/double play call (ABL, 12/16)
1B Umpire Carlos Rey: Criollos de Caguas Manager Pedro Lopez for arguing an out call (RC, 12/14)
^HP Umpire Carlos Torres^: Caribes de Anzoategui SS Luis Nunez for arguing a strike three call (V, 12/13)
^HP Umpire Carlos Torres^: Navagantes del Magallenes Manager Luis Sojo; unsportsmanlike-NEC (V, 12/13)
1B Umpire Domingo Polanco: Tigres del Licey CF Leonys Martin for arguing an out call (D, 12/13)
^HP Umpire Jonathan Bailey^: Tigres del Licey 1B Yamaico Navarro; strike three call (D, 12/13)
HP Umpire Paul Latta: Brisbane Bandits pitcher Alex Kaminsky for arguing a ball call (ABL, 12/12)
1B Umpire Gabrial Alfonzo: Leones del Caracas Manager Dave Hudgens, Ch Yunir Garcia; out call (V, 12/6)
^HP Umpire Brian de Brauwere^: Leones del Escogido P Armando Rodriguez for arguing a ball call (D, 12/6)
HP Umpire Manuel Rivera: Gigantes de Carolina Manager Pat Kelly for arguing a ball call (RC, 12/6)
3B Umpire Greg Kent: Sydney Blue Sox Manager Jason Pospishil for unsportsmanlike-NEC (ABL, 12/5)
HP Umpire Jairo Martinez: Leones del Caracas Manager Dave Hudgens for arguing a ball four call (V, 12/5)
HP Umpire Jorge Davilla: Indios de Mayaguez P Dereck Rodriguez, Mgr Carlos Baerga; intent HBP (RC, 12/4)
HP Umpire Fernando Rodriguez: Estrellas de Oriente CF Felix Pie for arguing a strike three call (D, 12/2)
HP Umpire Carlos Cotto: Criollos de Caguas Manager Pedro Lopez for arguing a ball four/walk call (RC, 12/1)
1B Umpire Roberto La Madrid: Algodoneros de Guasave 1B Mark Hamilton; check swing strike call (M, 12/1)
HP Umpire Vicente Madero: Mayos de Navojoa Manager Lorenzo Bundy for arguing an out call (M, 12/1)

*AFL = Arizona Fall (Finished), ABL = Australian, CS = Caribbean Series (Begins February 2014), D = Dominican, M = Mexicana del Pacifico, RC = Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico), V = Venezuelan*

^Signifies MiLB (Rookie, A [+/-], AA or AAA) umpire.
^2013 Leagues: Bailey (PCL-AAA), de Brauwere (Eastern-AA), Saphire (IL-AAA), Torres (IL-AAA).

Winter League Ejections: Fernando Rodriguez (7 Ejected)

7 Ejections in the Dominican Winter League Baseball postseason tournament: HP Umpire Fernando Rodriguez ejected Aguilas Cibaenas (Eagles) pitcher Ramon Pena and Manager Felix Fermin for throwing at Leones del Escogido (Lions) batter Pedro Ciriaco in the bottom of the 4th inning, Lions pitcher Armando Rodriguez and Manager Audo Vicente for throwing at Eagles batter Juan Perez, Lions pitcher Alexis Lara for throwing at Perez and Eagles center fielder Perez and catcher Audry Perez for fighting in the top of the 9th inning of the Eagles-Lions game. With none out and none on in the bottom of the 4th inning, Pena threw inside to Ciriaco, resulting in the ejection of the pitcher and manager; warnings had previously been issued. At the time of the 4th inning ejections, the Lions were leading, 5-3. With none out and none on in the top of the 9th inning, Rodriguez threw inside to Perez, resulting in the ejection of the pitcher and manager. Subsequent pitcher Lara also violated the rule, preceding a fighting incident and the ejection of the remaining two players. At the time of the 9th inning ejections, the Eagles were leading, 7-5. The Eagles ultimately won the contest, 7-5.

Wrap: Aguilas Cibaenas vs. Leones del Escogido (Dominican Winter Baseball Playoffs), 12/29/13
Umpires (6-man crew [Liga de Beisbol Dominicano postseason tournament]): HP: Fernando Rodriguez. 1B: Tom Honec. 2B: Juan Diaz. 3B: Jonathan Bailey. LF: Vladmir Mojica. RF: Mariano Vizcaino.

Close Call of the Week: NFL Unsporting Contact Ejection

This edition of Close Call of the Week considers unsporting behavior on the part of players that results in inappropriate contact with an official. The rule referred to herein is NFL Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(g).

With 3:50 remaining in the 3rd quarter of the Rams-Seahawks game, Seahawks running back Robert Turbin ran for no gain, followed in short order by a confrontation between the teams, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree. While arguing the call, Rams defensive tackle Kendall Langford made contact with Back Judge Steve Freeman, resulting in an additional unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and disqualification. At the time of the ejection, the Seahawks were leading, 13-3. The Seahawks ultimately won the contest, 27-9.

Animated GIF: Langford's backswing hits Freeman; on second shove, Triplette throws the USC flag

12-3-1(g): "Unnecessary Physical Contact."

Replays indicate that during the course of argument with Line Judge Jeff Bergman and Referee Jeff Triplette, Langford swung his arm and (what appears to be) accidentally made contact with BJ Freeman's hat and face, followed seconds later by Langford (what appears to be) not accidentally pushing Freeman's outstretched left arm down. Unnecessary physical contact with an official => ejection. Ho-hum.

Nonetheless, this didn't deter Fox Sports' social media outlet from questioning the decision, fatuously determining that "an official's head got in the way of [Langford's] hand...Seems like a bit of an overreaction, right?"

Wrong. Especially considering Langford's actions in contacting the official a second time after the initial strike.

Rule 12-3-1(g) states unsportsmanlike conduct specifically includes "unnecessary physical contact with a game official." Note 1 states "under no condition is an official to allow a player to shove, push, or strike him in an offensive, disrespectful or unsportsmanlike manner."

An example of acceptable (e.g., not "unnecessary") physical contact includes incidental contact with the official during a live ball while attempting to complete a football play (run, pass, catch, etc.).

An example of unacceptable (e.g., "unnecessary") physical contact with a game official includes any contact—whether intentional/purposeful or inadvertent—that occurs during the course of argument or confrontation. This could include contact with a game official who might not be party to the initial argument, if this contact is unnecessary as in Rule 12-3-1(g). This most certainly includes conscious contact with this same game official for a second distinct time after an accidental wrist to the head.

Accordingly, Triplette's crew ejection of Langford was proper and the correct call according to a rule that all but requires officials disqualify a player who contacts an official in an unsportsmanlike manner.