MLB Ejection 085: Chris Conroy (2; Mike Scioscia)

1B Umpire Chris Conroy ejected Angels Manager Mike Scioscia for arguing an out call in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Athletics-Angels game. With none out and one on, Angels batter Johnny Giavotella hit a 1-0 changeup from A's pitcher Jesse Chavez on the ground to third baseman Brett Lawrie, who threw to first baseman Stephen Vogt as Giavotella arrived at first base. Replays indicate Giavotella's left foot appeared to make contact with the first base bag prior to the ball entering Vogt's glove, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Angels were leading, 3-2. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Chris Conroy (98)'s second ejection of 2015.
Chris Conroy now has 1 point in the UEFL Standings (3 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 1).
Crew Chief Ted Barrett now has -2 points in Crew Division (-2 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = -2).

This is the 85th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 39th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Angels' 2nd ejection of 2015, T-2nd in the AL West (SEA 4; LAA, OAK, TEX 2; HOU 1).
This is Mike Scioscia's first ejection since August 21, 2014 (Andy Fletcher; QOC = U [DiMuro Rule]).
This is Chris Conroy's first ejection since May 6, 2015 (Joey Votto; QOC = U [Unsportsmanlike-NEC]).

Wrap: Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 6/12/15
Video: Out of challenges due to a failed attempt in the 5th, Scioscia has no recourse and is tossed (LAA)

MLB Ejection 084: Doug Eddings (2; Adrian Gonzalez)

HP Umpire Doug Eddings ejected Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez for arguing a strike one call in the top of the 7th inning of the Dodgers-Padres game. With one out and three on, Gonzalez hit a 0-2 curveball from Padres pitcher Frank Garces on the ground for a double play after taking a called first strike. Replays indicate the strike one pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -1.129, pz 2.270), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 2-0. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Doug Eddings (88)'s second ejection of 2015.
Doug Eddings now has -1 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -1).
Crew Chief Bill Miler now has 4 points in Crew Division (4 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 4).

This is the 84th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 40th player ejection of 2015. Prior to ejection, Gonzalez was 1-4 in the contest.
This is the Dodgers' 6th ejection of 2015, 2nd in the NL West (SD 8; LAD 6; COL 3; ARI, SF 1).
This is Adrian Gonzalez's first ejection since Sept 18, 2013 (Andy Fletcher; QOC = N-C [Safe/Out]).
This is Doug Eddings' first ejection since April 24, 2015 (Jon Niese; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres, 6/12/15
Video: After grounding into a rally-killing double play with the bases juiced, A-Gon is gone (LAD)

Determining The League's Biggest Hothead (It's Big Papi)

Is Torii Hunter an ejections hothead? My friends over at Umpire-Empire posted a fantastic question after Hunter's most recent tantrum on Wednesday (I say "most recent" because when Ron Kulpa ran him in 2010, Hunter went all Milton Bradley and threw a bag of baseballs out onto the field).

David Ortiz, who destroyed a dugout phone during
a 2013 ejection, is MLB's resident veteran hothead.

Who is MLB's active "hothead" player? And, specifically, which veteran is most prone to ejection?

To answer such a question, we consider a metric known as Ejection Rate: It's a fairly simple calculation of Games Played divided by Ejections. For instance, if Player A has 10 career games under his belt and was ejected one time, his Ejection Rate would be 10, or one ejection per 10 games played. If he was ejected twice over the 10-game span, his ejection rate would be five, or one ejection for every five games played.

Taking into account our veteran players, defined by those active with a minimum 2000 games played, we see 13 names from A-Rod to Aramis. They are listed below ranked by games played (G) and with career ejections listed thereafter:

Alex Rodriguez - 2624 G - 5 Ejections
Adrian Beltre - 2476 G - 2 Ejections
Bobby Abreu (still listed as a free agent) - 2425 G - 5 Ejections
Torii Hunter - 2287 G - 9 Ejections
Ichiro Suzuki - 2260 G - 1 Ejection
Carlos Beltran - 2222 G - 4 Ejections
Andruw Jones (still a free agent) - 2196 G - 0 Ejections
Albert Pujols - 2173 G - 6 Ejections
Miguel Tejada (FA) - 2171 G - 0 Ejections
David Ortiz - 2163 G - 11 Ejections
Raul Ibanez (FA) - 2161 G - 1 Ejection
Jimmy Rollins - 2150 G - 2 Ejections
Aramis Ramirez - 2106 G - 5 Ejections

Sorting the players by ejection rate, we can answer the question of which veteran is most prone to ejection:

1. David Ortiz - One ejection per 197 Games Played
2. Torii Hunter - 254 G
3. Albert Pujols - 362 G
4. Aramis Ramirez - 421 G
5. Bobby Abreu - 485 G
6. Alex Rodriguez - 525 G
7. Carlos Beltran - 556 G
8. Jimmy Rollins - 1075 G
9. Adrian Beltre - 1238 G
10. Raul Ibanez - 2161 G
11. Ichiro Suzuki - 2260 G
12. Miguel Tejada - (Null)
12. Andruw Jones - (Null)

The average ejection rate of these players with 2000+ G is 930, or one ejection for every 930 games played. David Ortiz, whose one ejection per 197 games is nearly five times as frequent, is therefore MLB's resident veteran hothead as defined by ejection rate, with Torii Hunter not far behind. And speaking of Milton Bradley, MB was ejected 19 times over 1042 games played, for an ejection rate of once every 55 games played, which is followed by Gary Sheffield's one-per-78 statistic. Bradley, thus, would be baseball's generational hothead player. And since I know you're curious, AJ Pierzynski's nine ejections over 1865 games is a rate of one-per-207, which makes him more ejection prone than Torii Hunter, but less than Big Papi.

The most ejection-prone player in the league today, however, is Bryce Harper, whose five ejections over 416 games played is a one-in-83 rate, albeit with the small sample size ratio of 5/416. Matt Kemp is not far behind with 11 ejections over 1177 games, or one-in-107.

As an aside, umpires have this statistic, too, and since 2005, Marty Foster has ruled this category with 53 ejections from 2005-2014 over 1260 games officiated for a rate of one ejection for every 23.8 (make it 24) games officiated. Joe West also had 53 ejections over this span, but worked 1306 games, for a rate of one ejection for every 24.6 (make it 27) games officiated.

MLB Ejection 083: Jordan Baker (2; Bud Black)

HP Umpire Jordan Baker ejected Padres Manager Bud Black for arguing a fair ball (live ball) call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Padres-Braves game. With one out and two on, Braves batter Jace Peterson hit a 2-2 slider from Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner on the ground to first baseman Yonder Alonso. Replays indicate the batted ball bounced before appearing to strike the held bat a second time in fair territory while Peterson was still in a legal position within his batter's box, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Braves were leading, 3-1. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 6-4, in 11 innings.

This is Jordan Baker (71)'s second ejection of 2015.
Jordan Baker now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (4 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 2).
Crew Chief Jerry Meals now has 9 points in Crew Division (9 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 9).
*Rule 6.05(h) [OBR 2015 Rule 5.09(a)(8)] states, "If the batter is in a legal position in the batter’s box, see Rule 5.04(b)(5) (Rule 6.03), and, in the umpire’s judg- ment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, a batted ball that strikes the batter or his bat shall be ruled a foul ball." For more information, see Rules 6.05(g) & 6.05(h): Batted Ball Batter's Interference.

This is the 83rd ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 38th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Padres' 8th ejection of 2015, 1st in the NL West (SD 8; LAD 5; COL 3; ARI, SF 1).
This is Bud Black's 4th ejection of 2015, first since June 1 (Dan Iassogna; QOC = Y [Ball/Strikes]).
This is Jordan Baker's first ejection since April 17, 2015 (Ubaldo Jimenez; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs. Minnesota Twins, 6/11/15
Video: Ground ball deflects off Peterson's bat during follow through while over fair territory (SD)
Related Video: Benches clear after Teheran's HBP; Baker restrains Matt Kemp from fighting (SD)

MLB Ejections 081-082: Mark Ripperger (2-3; Hunter, Molitor)

HP Umpire Mark Ripperger ejected Twins RF Torii Hunter and Manager Paul Molitor for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Royals-Twins game. With none out and none on, Hunter took a 2-2 fastball from Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 1.035, pz 2.319), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Royals were leading, 7-2. The Royals ultimately won the contest, 7-2.

These are Mark Ripperger (90)'s second and third ejections of 2015.
Mark Ripperger now has -3 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Prev + 2*[2 MLB - 4 Incorrect] = -3).
Crew Chief Jeff Kellogg now has 10 points in Crew Division (10 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 10).

These are the 81st and 82nd ejections of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 39th player ejection of 2015. Prior to ejection, Hunter was 0-3 in the contest (2 SO).
This is the 37th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Twins' 1/2nd ejection of 2015, T-3rd in the AL Central (KC 9; CWS 3; DET, MIN 2; CLE 1).
This is Torii Hunter's first ejection since August 6, 2010 (Ron Kulpa; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Paul Molitor's first ejection since September 30, 2001 (Ron Kulpa; QOC = U [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Mark Ripperger's first ejection since June 6, 2015 (Chip Hale; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins, 6/10/15
Video: After striking out, Hunter confronts Ripperger and throws equipment & uniform on the field (MIN)
Video: Must C compilation shows pitch sequence leading to Hunter's ejection and tantrum (MLBAM)
Video: Postgame interview has Hunter claiming revenge and Molitor oblivious to sideshow antics (MIN)

2015 No-Hitter 1: Rob Drake (2; Chris Heston)

HP Umpire Rob Drake called the first no-hitter of 2015 as Giants pitcher Chris Heston blanked the New York Mets through nine innings as San Francisco cruised to a 5-0 victory. Drake was joined for the Giants-Mets game by crew chief Joe West (1B), MiLB fill-in Chris Segal (2B) and Kerwin Danley (3B). This is Heston's first career no-hitter and Drake's second. Drake previously presided over Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez's perfect game on August 15, 2012.

Tuesday's is the first MLB no-hitter since September 28, 2014 (Alan Porter 1; Jordan Zimmermann). Crewmate Cowboy Joe West has also called a no-hitter (September 1, 2007; Clay Buchholz).

Drake received 63 callable pitches from Hester, a total of 35 balls and 28 called strikes. The look:

Balls: 35 called balls outside of strike zone / 0 called balls within strike zone = 35/35 = 100% Accuracy.
Strikes: 23 called strikes inside strike zone / 5 called strikes outside strike zone = 23/28 = <90.0% Accuracy.
Total Raw Accuracy Score = 58/63 = 92.1% Accuracy (+5 for Heston).

Pitch f/x plot courtesy Brooks Baseball.
NOTICE: This non-normalized plot is presented for illustrative purposes only and is NOT the basis for analysis!

MLB Ejection 080: Adam Hamari (1; Jay Bruce)

HP Umpire Adam Hamari ejected Reds RF Jay Bruce for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the Phillies-Reds game. With none out and none on, Bruce took a 1-1 slider from Phillies pitcher Aaron Harang for a called second strike followed by a fastball for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch ruled strike two was located off the inner edge of home plate and midpoint high (px .950, pz 3.480) while the pitch ruled strike three was located along the inner edge of home plate and midpoint high (px .921, pz 3.621 [sz_top 3.730]), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 6-1. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 11-2.

This is Adam Hamari (78)'s first ejection of 2015.
Adam Hamari now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (4 Prev + 3 AAA - 1 Penalty - 4 Incorrect = 2).
Crew Chief Brian Gorman now has 14 points in Crew Division (14 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 14).

This is the 80th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 38th player ejection of 2015. Prior to ejection, Bruce was 1-2 in the contest (SO).
This is the Reds' 4th ejection of 2015, 1st in the NL Central (CIN 4; MIL 3; CHC, STL 2; PIT 1).
This is Jay Bruce's first ejection since June 19, 2008 (Bob Davidson; QOC = Y [Time Out No-Call]).
This is Adam Hamari's first ejection since April 29, 2014 (Andy Van Slyke; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds, 6/9/15
Video: Bruce takes two Harang pitches for called second and third strikes, and is ultimately tossed (CIN)

MLB Ejection 079: Angel Hernandez (2; John Gibbons)

1B Umpire Angel Hernandez ejected Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons for arguing a strike three (check swing) call in the bottom of the 2nd inning of the Marlins-Blue Jays game. With none on and one out, Blue Jays batter Jose Bautista attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 curveball from Marlins pitcher Andre Rienzo. Play was reviewed and affirmed by the UEFL Appeals Board (7-0-0), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Blue Jays were leading, 7-0. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 11-3.

This is Angel Hernandez (55)'s second ejection of 2015.
Angel Hernandez now has ? points in the UEFL Standings (-2 Previous + 2 MLB + ? = ?).
Crew Chief Ted Barrett now has ? points in Crew Division (-3 Previous + ? Call = ?).
*Points do not display for Check Swing cases.

This is the 79th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 36th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Blue Jays' 1st ejection of 2015, 5th in the AL East (BAL 4; BOS, NYY 3; TB 2; TOR 1).
This is John Gibbons' first ejection since July 2, 2014 (Greg Gibson; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).
This is Angel Hernandez's first ejection since May 29, 2015 (Ryne Sandberg; QOC = N-C [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 6/8/15
Video: After Hernandez rules Bautista out on strikes, Gibbons is tossed from the dugout (TOR)

Case Play 2015-04, The Flying Foul Tip [Solved]

Case Play time! When is a foul tip a foul ball? A catch an out? A dead ball alive? First year MiLB call-up umpire Ryan Blakney witnessed the case of the flying foul tip Sunday during the eighth inning of a tied D'Backs-Brewers game at Miller Park. With none out and none on, Diamondbacks batter Jarrod Saltalamacchia faced a 2-2 fastball from Brewers pitcher Jeremy Jeffress. With the 95-mph heater cruising over the heart of home plate, Saltalamacchia's swing made slight contact with the ball, propelling it directly toward BrewCrew catcher Martin Maldonado's glove.

Replays indicate the ball deflected off Saltalamacchia's bat directly onto the top of Maldonado's glove, popping up into the air behind the right-handed batter's box where it was caught on the fly by the diving catcher and declared a foul tip by plate umpire Blakney.

Case Play Question 2015-04: First, was Blakney's call correct? Was this a caught foul tip for strike three or was this a caught foul ball for an air out? This is an important distinction, for had there been a baserunner attempting to steal during this play, he may have been safe at second on a foul tip, but easily doubled up at first base on a caught foul or fly. Second, what would the call have been had the ball deflected not off Maldonado's glove, but his chest protector or helmet instead (and subsequently been caught on the fly in similar diving fashion) - out or safe? Were the broadcasters correct in their description? What rule(s) covers this?

Case Play Answer 2015-04: 1) Yes, Blakney was correct and the batter was out on three strikes. Rule 5.09(a)(2) [OBR 2015 Rule 6.05(b)] specifies this play was a foul tip out (batter is out when "a third strike is legally caught by the catcher").

Rule 2.00 (Foul Tip) [OBR 2015 Definition of Foul Tip]: "A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher’s glove or hand."

Replays indicate Maldonado's catch was a rebound that first touched F2's glove/hand, meaning this was a foul tip and the batter is out.

2) Had the ball first contacted Maldonado's equipment (e.g., so the sequence would be BAT=>CHEST PROTECTOR=>GLOVE as opposed to BAT=>GLOVE=>GLOVE), the proper ruling would be a foul ball. If first contact was glove or hand, the proper ruling would be foul tip, if caught (foul ball if dropped). The comment for Rule 5.09(a)(2) [6.05(b)] covers this: "If a foul tip first strikes the catcher’s glove and then goes on through and is caught by both hands against his body or protector, before the ball touches the ground, it is a strike, and if third strike, batter is out. If smothered against his body or protector, it is a catch provided the ball struck the catcher’s glove or hand first."

Thanks to all participants in this discussion; two UEFL CP points are headed your way.

Video: Acrobatics behind home plate result in an out and highlight reel catch in Milwaukee (MIL)

MLB Replay Reviews, Week 9 (June 1 - June 7, 2015)

MLB umpires experienced 46 instant replay reviews during the week of June 1 - June 7, 2015 (-1 over prior week). Games played during this period featured the following MLB Replay Review decisions:

MLB Ejection 078: Mark Carlson (1; Alex Wood)

HP Umpire Mark Carlson ejected Braves P Alex Wood for arguing balls and strikes in the top of the 5th inning of the Pirates-Braves game. Following a fly out to end the frame, Wood was ejected. Replays indicate Carlson's accuracy concerning callable pitches adversely affecting the Braves during the top of the 5th inning was 86% (6/7), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 3-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 3-0.

This is Mark Carlson (6)'s first ejection of 2015.
Mark Carlson now has 9 points in the UEFL Standings (5 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 9).
Crew Chief Brian Gorman now has 12 points in Crew Division (11 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 12).

This is the 78th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 37th player ejection of 2015. Prior to ejection, Wood's line was L, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER.
This is the Braves' 3rd ejection of 2015, 2nd in the NL East (WAS 5; ATL 3; NYM 2; MIA, PHI 1).
This is Alex Wood's first ejection since September 18, 2013 (CB Bucknor; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Mark Carlson's first ejection since July 11, 2014 (Ron Roenicke; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves, 6/7/15
Video: Carlson tosses Wood for unsportsmanlike complaining and arguing of balls and strikes (ATL)

MLB Ejections 076-077: Dan Bellino (1-2; Sabathia, Girardi)

HP Umpire Dan Bellino ejected Yankees P CC Sabathia and Manager Joe Girardi for arguing balls and strikes in the top of the 6th inning of the Angels-Yankees game. Following a double play to end the frame, Sabathia and Girardi were ejected. Replays indicate Bellino's accuracy concerning callable pitches during the top of the 6th inning was 89% (8/9), with the one miss occurring during the final at-bat of the inning, which culminated in a double play, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 5-2. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 6-2.

These are Dan Bellino (2)'s first and second ejections of 2015.
Dan Bellino now has 8 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 2 Correct Call] = 8).
Crew Chief Tom Hallion now has 3 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 2 Correct Call = 3).

These are the 76th and 77th ejections of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 36th player ejection of 2015. Prior to ejection, Sabathia's line was W, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER.
This is the 35th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Yankees' 2/3rd ejection of 2015, T-2nd in the AL East (BAL 4; BOS, NYY 3; TB 2; TOR 0).
This is CC Sabathia's first ejection since July 21, 2006 (Chris Guccione; QOC = U [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Joe Girardi's first ejection since September 16, 2014 (Rob Drake; QOC = U [Warnings]).
This is Dan Bellino's first ejection since September 11, 2014 (Casey McGehee; QOC = U [Fighting]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. New York Yankees, 6/7/15
Video: Sabathia contests Bellino's strike zone following his outing, prompting dual ejections (NYY)
Video: Manager Girardi entertains questions concerning Sabathia's performance and heave-ho (NYY)