MLB Ejection 160: Cory Blaser (2; Steve McCatty)

HP Umpire Cory Blaser ejected Nationals Pitching Coach Steve McCatty for arguing ball calls in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the Nationals-Giants game. With none out and one on, Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez walked Giants batters Hector Sanchez and Jake Peavy. Replays indicate all nine pitches ruled 'ball' by Blaser to Sanchez, Peavy and preceding batter Kelby Tomlinson were correctly officiated (100% Accuracy), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 2-0. The Giants ultimately won the contest, 12-6.

This is Cory Blaser (89)'s second ejection of 2015.
Cory Blaser now has -1 points in the UEFL Standings (-5 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = -1).
Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 4).

This is the 160th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the Nationals' 7th ejection of 2015, 1st in the NL East (WAS 7; NYM, PHI 4; ATL 3; MIA 2).
This is Steve McCatty's first ejection since August 3, 1984 (Larry Young; QOC = U [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Cory Blaser's first ejection since June 14, 2015 (Clint Hurdle; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants, 8/15/15
Video: McCatty disagrees with Blaser's zone after a mound visit and gets run for the objection (WAS)

MLB Ejection 159: Fieldin Culbreth (2; Craig Counsell)

2B Umpire Fieldin Culbreth ejected Brewers Manager Craig Counsell for arguing a Replay Review decision that overturned Culbreth's out call in the top of the 7th inning of the Phillies-Brewers game. With two out and two on, Brewers pitcher Will Smith attempted to pick off Phillies baserunner R2 Chase Utley at second base on a throw to Brewers shortstop Jean Segura. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Phillies Manager Pete Mackanin, Culbreth's out call was overturned and Utley was ruled safe, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 2-2. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Fieldin Culbreth (25)'s second ejection of 2015.
Fieldin Culbreth now has 9 points in the UEFL Standings (7 Previous + 2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable = 9).
Crew Chief Fieldin Culbreth now has 7 points in Crew Division (6 Previous + 1 Irrecusable Call = 7).

This is the 159th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 75th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Brewers' 6th ejection of 2015, T-3rd in the NL Central (CIN, PIT 7; CHC, MIL 6; STL 5).
This is Craig Counsell's 2nd ejection of 2015, 1st since July 27 (Gerry Davis; QOC = U [Replay Review]).
This is Fieldin Culbreth's first ejection since June 23, 2015 (Pat Murphy; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 8/15/15
Video: Utley's spike tangles with the fielder's glove and he is ruled safe; Counsell gets tossed (PHI)

MLB Ejection 158: Joe West (7; Robin Ventura)

HP Umpire Joe West ejected White Sox Manager Robin Ventura for arguing ball calls in the top of the 7th inning of the Cubs-White Sox game. With two out and one on, White Sox pitcher Zach Duke walked Cubs batter Kris Bryant and surrendered a single to Anthony Rizzo on a 3-2 fastball. Replays indicate all 10 pitches ruled 'ball' by West to Bryant, Rizzo and preceding batter Kyle Schwarber were correctly officiated (100% Accuracy), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Cubs were leading, 5-2. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

This is Joe West (22)'s seventh ejection of 2015.
Joe West now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (3 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 7).
Crew Chief Joe West now has 15 points in Crew Division (14 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 15).

This is the 158th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 74th Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the White Sox' 6th ejection of 2015, 2nd in the AL Central (KC 10; CWS 6; CLE, DET 5; MIN 3).
This is Robin Ventura's 2nd ejection of 2015, 1st since June 17 (Alfonso Marquez; QOC = Y [Interference]).
This is Joe West's first ejection since August 2, 2015 (Marlon Byrd; QOC = U [Fighting]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox, 8/15/15
Video: Ventura has words for West during a pitching change and is thrown out of the game (CWS)

MLB Ejection 157: Bill Miller (2; AJ Hinch)

HP Umpire Bill Miller ejected Astros Manager AJ Hinch for arguing a Replay Review decision that overturned 3B Umpire Adrian Johnson's out (catch) call in the top of the 5th inning of the Tigers-Astros game. With two out and one on, Tigers batter Ian Kindler hit a 2-1 cutter from Astros pitcher Collin McHugh on a line drive to left field, where left fielder Preston Tucker attempted to catch the ball. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus, Johnson's ruling was overturned and baserunner R2 Anthony Gose was awarded home plate, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Tigers were leading, 1-0. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 4-2, in 11 innings.

This is Bill Miller (26)'s first ejection of 2015.
Bill Miller now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Previous + 2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable-Crewmate = 4).
Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 3 points in Crew Division (8 Previous + 1 Irrecusable Call = 9).

This is the 157th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 73rd Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Astros' 5th ejection of 2015, T-1st in the AL West (HOU, SEA 5; LAA, OAK, TEX 3).
This is AJ Hinch's 2nd ejection of 2015, 1st since June 20 (Mike DiMuro; QOC = U [Replay Review]).
This is Bill Miller's first ejection since May 6, 2015 (Walt Weiss; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros, 8/15/15
Video: Kinsler is credited with an RBI single after a hustling Gose is awarded home (DET)
Video: After the outfield call is overturned, Hinch is ejected arguing its runner placement (HOU)

Tom Hallion Takes Direct Shot to Mask, Remains in Game

Struck by a pitch in the facemask, HP Umpire Tom Hallion was able to remain in Wednesday's Rangers-Twins game. With none out and one on in the top of the 2nd inning, Rangers batter Elvis Andrus took a 1-1 fastball from Twins pitcher Ervin Santana for a ball. Replays indicate the 91 mph pitch struck Hallion on the lower left jaw/ear portion of his traditional-style Wilson mask.

After attention from Twins training staff and discussion with other umpires, Hallion remained in the game.

Video: Hallion stays in the game after taking a direct shot from Santana's fastball to the facemask (MIN)

2015 No-Hitter 4, Jeff Nelson (1; Hisashi Iwakuma)

HP Umpire Jeff Nelson called Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma's no-hitter, the fourth of 2015. Crew Chief Nelson was joined for Wednesday's Orioles-Mariners game by Laz Diaz (1B), Chris Guccione (2B), and Cory Blaser (3B). This is Nelson's first career no-hitter; crewmate Diaz most recently served as first base umpire for Tim Lincecum's no-hitter on July 14, 2013 (Plate Umpire Mark Wegner).

Wednesday's is the first MLB no-hitter since July 25, 2015 (Phil Cuzzi; Cole Hamels).

Nelson received 53 callable pitches from Iwakuma, a total of 39 balls and 14 called strikes. The look:

Balls: 38 called balls outside of strike zone / 1 called balls within strike zone = 38/39 = 97.4% Accuracy.
Strikes: 11 called strikes inside strike zone / 3 called strikes outside strike zone = 11/14 = <90.0% Accuracy.
Total Raw Accuracy Score = 49/53 = 92.5% Accuracy (+2 for Iwakuma).

Pitch f/x plot courtesy Brooks Baseball.
Note: This plot is a graphical approximation of the strike zone and is not the basis for analysis.

MLB Ejection 156: Tony Randazzo (1; Pat Murphy)

HP Umpire Tony Randazzo ejected Padres Interim Manager Pat Murphy for arguing a ball four call in the top of the 4th inning of the Reds-Padres game. With two out and one on, Reds batter Billy Hamilton took a 3-2 fastball from Padres pitcher Ian Kennedy for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px .434, pz 1.505 [sz_bot 1.600]), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 1-0. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

This is Tony Randazzo (11)'s first ejection of 2015.
Tony Randazzo now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (-2 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 2).
Crew Chief Gerry Davis now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).

This is the 156th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 72nd Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Padres' 13th ejection of 2015, 1st in the NL West (SD 13; LAD 7; SF 5; COL 4; ARI 3).
This is Pat Murphy's 2nd ejection of 2015, 1st since June 23 (Fieldin Culbreth; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is Tony Randazzo's first ejection since August 17, 2014 (Lloyd McClendon; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Cincinnati Reds vs. San Diego Padres, 8/10/15
Video: Murphy questions a walk call, argues through a stop sign, and is tossed at the dugout lip (SD)

Case Play 2015-07, Merkle Revisited [Solved]

Arizona walked off with a 4-3 win over Cincinnati on a 10th inning single from the bat of Chris Owings. With the bases loaded and one out, B1 Owings hit a fly ball to deep left-center field, allowing baserunner R3 Paul Goldschmidt with R1 Jake Lamb and R2 David Peralta joining their Diamondbacks teammates in celebrating on the infield.

Noticing that something was afoot, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips ran toward the outfield to retrieve the game-winning ball, which had come to rest along the outfield wall. A Chase Field security guard walking along the warning track in center field retrieved the ball and threw it to Phillips, who threw onto Billy Hamilton, who stepped on and tagged second base before throwing the ball to Joey Votto who tagged first base, and onto Ivan de Jesus Jr. who tagged third base as Manager Bryan Price discussed the play with crew chief Larry Vanover, and umpires Vic Carapazza, Brian Knight and Adam Hamari.

Replays indicate that although B1 and R3 touched first base and home plate, respectively, R1 and R2 failed to touch second and third base, respectively, while several Reds players, led by Phillips, remained on the field in fair territory throughout the entire play.

After the game, Vanover referenced Rule 4.09(b) regarding end-of-game situations (batter touches first base and runner touches home plate), said that Cincinnati was unable to retrieve the ball and tag second and third because "they didn't play the ball [and] were leaving the infield," and that ballpark personnel handling the ball in the outfield "doesn't matter because the game's over when the guy on third touches the plate and the batter runner touches first."

Video: Owings drives in the winning run while Cincinnati's heads up baseball is lost amid the celebration (ARI)

Case Play Question, 2015-07: Was Vanover's explanation correct regarding the Diamondback's winning play or should the score still be tied? If Arizona won the game, was it due to a Chris Owings single or a fielder's choice? What rule(s) govern this scenario and does the ball remain alive throughout this play? If it becomes dead, when does this occur? If a runner or runners are to be declared out, who are they and how should play proceed?

Case Play Answer, 2015-07: MLB interpretation of 4.09(b) is that the game is over when the batter has touched first base and the runner has touched home; both of these events occurred, meaning the game was over.

MLB Ejection 155: Lance Barrett (2; Jeff Banister)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Rangers Manager Jeff Banister for arguing a strike one call in the top of the 8th inning of the Rangers-Mariners game. With one out and one on, Rangers batter Mitch Moreland took a 0-0 fastball from Mariners pitcher Fernando Rodney for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px .008, pz 1.425 [sz_bot 1.73]), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Mariners were leading, 4-2. The Mariners ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Lance Barrett (94)'s second ejection of 2015.
Lance Barrett now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 0).
Crew Chief Dale Scott now has 5 points in Crew Division (5 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 5).

This is the 155th ejection of the 2015 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 71st Manager ejection of 2015.
This is the Rangers' 3rd ejection of 2015, T-3rd in the AL West (SEA 5; HOU; LAA, OAK, TEX 3)
This is Jeff Banister's 3rd ejection of 2015, 1st since May 31 (Todd Tichenor; QOC = N [Safe/Out]).
This is Lance Barrett's first ejection since April 22, 2015 (Dave Hudgens; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners, 8/9/15
Video: Banister takes offense to a low strike call and is ejected arguing through Barrett's warning (TEX)