MLB Ejection 072 - Chris Guccione (2; Dale Sveum)

1B Umpire Chris Guccione ejected Royals Hitting Coach Dale Sveum for arguing a check swing (strike three) call in the top of the 7th inning of the Royals-White Sox game. With two out and two on, Royals batter Salvador Perez attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 splitter from White Sox pitcher Chris Sale. Play was reviewed and adjudicated by the UEFL Appeals Board (Check Swing; 5-3-1), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 7-5. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 7-5.

This is Chris Guccione (68)'s second ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Chris Guccione now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (3 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 7).
Crew Chief Jim Joyce now has 5 points in Crew Division (4 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 5).

This is the 72nd ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is Kansas City's 3rd ejection of 2016, T-3rd in the AL Central (MIN 5; CWS 4; DET, KC 3; CLE 1).
This is Dale Sveum's first ejection since August 28, 2013 (Lance Barksdale; QOC = N [Check Swing]).
This is Chris Guccione's first ejection since May 5, 2016 (Joe Girardi; QOC = Y [Balk]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 6/10/16 | Video available via "Read more"

Unringing the Bell - Replay Reversal New Wrinkle for Cards

A reversed catch/trap call turned into a Reds single, leaving Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny shaking his head as Crew Chief Jerry Meals simply listened to the complaint.

With one out and one on (R1) in the bottom of the 8th inning of a 3-2 ballgame, Reds batter Ivan De Jesus hit a fly ball to shallow right field, where Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty dove in an attempt to catch the ball, ruled an out and catch by 1B Umpire Sean Barber as Reds baserunner R1 Tyler Holt retreated back to first base to tag up.

Meals and Barber await New York's decision.

Upon Replay Review as the result of a request by Reds Manager Bryan Price and Crew Chief Review by Jerry Meals, Barber's ruling was overturned: F9 Piscotty was ruled to have trapped the ball on a bounce; De Jesus was credited with a single and awarded first base, and R1 Holt was placed at second base.

What is so unusual about this play, of course, is that F9 Piscotty quickly gathered himself and threw the ball into second base, meaning that had R1 Holt continued his run, there is a chance he would have been forced out, just as there is a chance he would have beaten the play. That judgment (the Replay Official's placement of Holt at second base) is what Mike Matheny called into question.

Matheny argues runner placement with Meals.

As Cardinals Manager Matheny discussed Holt's placement with Meals, we were reminded of the "You can't unring the bell" response that first accompanied expanded video instant replay back in 2014. Even as far back as Tim Welke's ejection of Joe Girardi in 2012, the "you can't unring the bell" argument surfaced.

Succinctly, Welke appeared to have possibly signaled "Time" using the standard arms-up mechanic during a fair/foul ball situation. After Welke subsequently lowered his right arm to point "Fair," Yanks skipper Girardi was ejected arguing that Welke had already called the play dead, only to "unring the bell."

"I thought was pointing that the ball was dead."
- Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.

Even earlier in 2012 (far before expanded replay), tmac foresaw such a problem, writing for the Majority in the UEFL Appeals Board's decision on Dale Scott's misleading mechanics/triple play call at Dodger Stadium, resulting in Bud Black's ejection: "In any case it's my belief that from a mechanical standpoint you can not kill a play like that and change your mind. It's as bad as calling a guy out on a catch in the outfield getting guys to go back to their bases and switching to a no catch call."

When Tim Timmons ejected Chip Hale last season during a pending Replay Review call, a new discussion began, conjecturing that umpires may very well err on the side of "not ringing the bell," knowing that replay can simply correct the call after the fact.

However, as the Welke and Scott plays illustrates, there are several instances in which the bell may be rung in baseball that Replay Review may not be able to satisfactorily fix ex post facto, such as the umpire's call of "Time" or dead ball, and the improper catch/out call in the outfield, such as the present play.

The only difference, of course, is that Replay Review opened up that Pandora's Box such that umpires on the field cannot simply rely on common sense to distribute fairness: Replay will simply call what the video evidence demonstrates, without regard to runners or fielders being put in jeopardy.

GCL Ump Jen Pawol is 1st Female MiLB Umpire in 10 Yrs

Baseball hired Jen Pawol, MiLB's first female umpire in 10 years, assigning her to Florida's Gulf Coast League after a successful run at the MiLB Umpire Training Academy and Advanced Course (formerly PBUC Evaluation). She attended the program alongside another woman, Annie Monachello, who both received scholarships out of the MLB Umpire Camps program. These were the first two scholarships ever awarded to women for MiLB's professional umpire school in Florida.

Jen Pawol will make her debut 6/24.
Photo: FirstGiving/UMPS CARE.

The GCL tacitly and quietly confirmed Pawol's hire when the league updated its information guide for the 2016 season, listing Pawol amongst its staff of 14 umpires. Pawol is a USA Baseball Women's National Team alum, and previously played softball at Hofstra University.

Ria Cortesio (released from Double-A following the 2007 season) was the last female umpire in Minor League Baseball while Pam Postema was the last female umpire to reach AAA. Postema filed a gender discrimination lawsuit after her 1989 firing, which gained class action status after Theresa Fairlady's dismissal from Single-A and was settled out of court.

The complete list of women umpires in the Major/Minor League baseball system includes:
Bernice Gera (1972);
Christine Wren (1975-77);
Pam Postema (1977-89);
Theresa Cox Fairlady (1989-91);
Ria Cortesio (1999-2007);
Shanna Kook (2003-04).
Jen Pawol (2016-).

Other women in independent baseball have included Perry Barber (who herself has appeared on MLB Network) and Kate Sergeant. In 2008, the New York Mets and University of Michigan played a scholastic exhibition game officiated by the all-female umpiring crew of Barber, Fairlady, Mona Osborne, and Ila Valcarcel.

The Binghamton, New York-based Pawol holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Hunter College, working as a freelance photographer for clients including Referee Magazine, and has served as SUNYAC Regional Coordinator of umpires. She began her officiating career in 2006 and umpired at the NCAA Division 1 Level through 2015, with Big 10 Conference credits since 2013.

The Gulf Coast League is a Rookie League in Minor League Baseball whose season begins June 24.

Rules Review - About Cleveland's Quick Pitch in Seattle

Carlos Carrasco's illegal quick pitch in Seattle, umpire John Hirschbeck's crew presiding, prompted a brief delay during Wednesday's Indians-Mariners game as the crew convened and ultimately returned batter Kyle Seager to the plate (Seager had swung at the 1-2 quick pitch and grounded to the first baseman). The following analysis paints a picture of what HP Umpire Mike Muchlinski, 1B Umpire and Crew Chief John Hirschbeck, 2B Umpire DJ Reyburn, and 3B Umpire Bill Welke considered, discussed, and called.

Diagram of F1's disengagement quick pitch.

By standing on the mound with his pivot foot (right foot) in contact with the pitcher's plate and his free foot (left foot) in front of it, holding the ball in both hands, Carrasco used Set Position, one of two legal pitching positions.

Although Rule 5.07(a) states that, when using Set Position, pitchers shall complete to a complete stop before committing to home plate, the one exception is that with no runners on base, as was the case during Seager's at-bat, the complete stop is not required.

However, Rule 5.07(a)(2) Comment portrays a key consideration for the stop exclusion: "If, however, in the umpire’s judgment, a pitcher delivers the ball in a deliberate effort to catch the batter off guard, this delivery shall be deemed a quick pitch, for which the penalty is a ball."

Replays indicate Carrasco not only attempted a quick pitch, he also illegally disengaged the rubber, his pivot foot (right foot) landing behind the pitcher's plate while his free foot (left foot) appeared to stay put in its position in front of the plate.

Thus, after the umpires convened, Seager was returned to home plate, with a second ball added to the count. Carrasco could have been called for either a quick pitch OR an illegal pitch for illegal disengagement from the rubber. Note that a quick pitch is a subset of the greater category that is "illegal pitch" (Rule 6.02(a)(5): "A quick pitch is an illegal pitch").

NOTE: Rule 6.02(b) states, "If the pitcher makes an illegal pitch with the bases unoccupied, it shall be called a ball unless the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter or otherwise." Thus, had Seager reached first base, the achievement would stand. This could explain why play wasn't immediately killed.

MLB Ejection 071 - Alan Porter (2; Matt Joyce)

HP Umpire Alan Porter ejected Pirates RF Matt Joyce for arguing a strike three call in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Mets-Pirates game. With two out and one on, Joyce took a 1-2 slider from Mets pitcher Jim Henderson for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and thigh high (px .605, pz 2.449) and all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 5-3. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 6-5, in 10 innings.

This is Alan Porter (64)'s second ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Alan Porter now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (3 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 7).
Crew Chief Jeff Kellogg now has 5 points in Crew Division (4 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 5).

This is the 71st ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 36th player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Joyce was 0-4 (2 SO) in the contest.
This is Pittsburgh's 6th ejection of 2016, 1st in the NL Central (PIT 6; CIN 3; CHC 2; MIL, STL 0).
This is Matt Joyce's first ejection since September 13, 2014 (Paul Nauert; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Alan Porter's first ejection since May 11, 2016 (Starling Marte; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/8/16 | Video available via "Read more"

MLB Ejection 070 - Mark Ripperger (2; Chip Hale)

HP Umpire Mark Ripperger ejected Diamondbacks Manager Chip Hale for arguing a strike three (no foul ball) call in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Rays-Diamondbacks game. With one out and two on, Diamondbacks batter Brandon Drury attempted to strike a 1-2 knuckle curve from Rays pitcher Matt Moore for a swinging strikeout. Replays indicate Drury's bat did not appear to make contact with the baseball as it bounced into Rays catcher Hank Conger's glove, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 5-0.

This is Mark Ripperger (90)'s first ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Mark Ripperger now has 5 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 5).
Crew Chief Kerwin Danley now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).

This is the 70th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 28th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is Arizona's 2nd ejection of 2016, T-1st in the NL West (ARI, COL, SD 2; LAD 1; SF 0).
This is Chip Hale's 1st ejection since September 1, 2015 (Tim Timmons; QOC = U [Replay Review]).
This is Mark Ripperger's 1st ejection since April 29, 2016 (Kevin Cash; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6/7/16 | Video available via "Read more"

MLB Ejections 068|069 - Culbreth (1|2; Ventura, Machado)

2B Umpire Fieldin Culbreth ejected Royals P Yordano Ventura for throwing at Orioles 3B Manny Machado and Machado for charging the mound (fighting) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the Royals-Orioles game. With one out and none on, batter Machado took a 0-0 fastball for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the 99-mph pitch was located inside and struck Machado in the backside (px -2.975, pz 3.901), and that in the 2nd inning, Ventura and Machado engaged in a verbal disagreement as Machado flew out, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 5-1. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 9-1.

These are Fieldin Culbreth (25)'s first and second ejections of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Fieldin Culbreth now has 9 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Previous + 2*[2 MLB + 0 QOCU] = 9).
Crew Chief Fieldin Culbreth now has 4 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 2 Irrecusable Calls = 4).

This is the 68th, 69th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 34th, 35th player ejection of 2016. Prior to ejection, Ventura's line was 4.1 IP, 6 ER, HBP.
Prior to ejection, Machado was 1-2 in the contest (RBI double in 1st inning).
This is Kansas City's 2nd ejection of 2016, 4th in AL Central (MIN 5; CWS 4; DET 3; KC 2; CLE 1).
This is Baltimore's 2nd ejection of 2016, 3rd in the AL East (TOR 10; BOS 4; BAL 3; NYY, TB 1).
This is Yordano Ventura's 1st ejection since April 23, 2015 (Sam Holbrook; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Manny Macho's 1st ejection since March 30, 2016 (Joey Amaral; QOC = U [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Fieldin Culbreth's 1st ejection since August 15, 2015 (Craig Counsell; QOC = U [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles, 6/7/16 | Video available via "Read more"

Joe West's Blue Cowboy Featured as LAD At Bat Music

Umpire Joe West's Blue Cowboy CD served as at-bat music during Sunday's Braves-Dodgers game in Los Angeles, the home team opting for the country music selections during their time at bat in the bottom of the 1st inning. The idea, which came from perpetually-controversial middle infielder Chase Utley, saw the Dodgers start the frame with a 2-0 deficit to Atlanta, and, after Joe's serenade, end the inning tied at two.

The following players came up to bat during the opening inning, and used the following at-bat music, courtesy Joe West:
1) Chase Utley - Out at Home (Diamond Dreams - Joe West);
2) Corey Seager - Don't It Make You Want to Go Home (Blue Cowboy - Joe West);
3) Trayce Thompson - You Can't Run with the Big Dogs (Blue Cowboy - Joe West);
4) Adrian Gonzalez - Blue Cowboy (Blue Cowboy - Joe West);
5) Howie Kendrick - None (Blur - Song 2 continued playing to celebrate Gonzalez' RBI double);
6) Joc Pederson - Take Me Out to the Ballgame (Blue Cowboy - Joe West);
7) Yasmani Grandal - Out at Home (Diamond Dreams - Joe West [repeated]).

This may be the first time Joe West's CD has been played to introduce batters at a baseball game, but it isn't the first time the Cowboy's music has been heard at a Major League stadium in some form—it's not even the first time Joe West has been played over the speakers at Dodger Stadium.

In 2015, Dodgers guest organist Gil Imber played Joe West's "Blue Cowboy" and "Cole Younger" on the organ during an umpire discussion, albeit amongst Jim Joyce's crew (video of this sequence below, via "read more"). Likewise, Red Sox organist Josh Kantor has previously played West's music in Boston on the Fenway Park organ.

MLB Ejection 067 - Tripp Gibson (1; Joe Maddon)

1B Umpire Tripp Gibson ejected Cubs Manager Joe Maddon for arguing a check swing (ball four) in the top of the 7th inning of the Diamondbacks-Cubs game. With two out and none on, Diamondbacks batter Paul Goldschmidt took a 3-2 changeup from Cubs pitcher Trevor Cahill for a called fourth ball, ruled no swing by HP Umpire Gabe Morales and affirmed as no swing by Gibson. Play was reviewed and adjudicated by the UEFL Appeals Board (Check Swing), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 3-2. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Tripp Gibson (73)'s first ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Tripp Gibson now has -2 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Hunter Wendelstedt now has 1 point in Crew Division (1 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 1).

This is the 67th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is the 27th Manager ejection of 2016.
This is Chicago's 2nd ejection of 2016, 3rd in the NL Central (PIT 5; CIN 3; CHC 2; MIL, STL 0).
This is Joe Maddon's first ejection since September 19, 2015 (Bruce Dreckman; QOC = U [Throwing At]).
This is Tripp Gibson's first ejection since September 8, 2015 (Mike Scioscia; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs, 6/5/16 | Video available via "Read more"

MLB Ejection 066 - Will Little (1; Derek Shelton)

HP Umpire Will Little ejected Rays Hitting Coach Derek Shelton for arguing a strike three and delayed interference call in the top of the 2nd inning of the Rays-Twins game. With one out and one on, Rays batter Steven Souza, Jr took a 3-2 fastball from Twins pitcher Tyler Duffey for a called third strike and baserunner R1 Steve Pearce was caught stealing second base after the just-retired Souza nearly stepped into Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki's throw to second, resulting in an interference call during which Pearce was retired.* Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and waist high (px .585, pz 3.139 [sz_top 3.740]) and that all other pitches during the at bat were properly officiated—since the runner was retired, the question of interference is ignored, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 1-1. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 7-5.

This is Will Little (93)'s first ejection of the 2016 MLB regular season.
Will Little now has 5 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 5).
Crew Chief Ted Barrett now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 4).
*Rule 6.01(a)(5) states that, "Any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate."
*Rule 6.03(a)(3) Comment states, "If, however, the catcher makes a play and the runner attempting to advance is put out, it is to be assumed there was no actual interference and that runner is out—not the batter." (NOTE: This assumes the batter was not previously out for a strike three call [e.g., it occurs when there are less than two strikes on the batter or the ruling is Ball 1, 2, or 3].) However, because the throw retired the runner, the interference ruling is disregarded and thus irrelevant to the play. Technically, however, 6.01(a)(5) supersedes 6.03(a)(3)...

This is the 66th ejection report of the 2016 regular season.
This is Tampa Bay's second ejection of 2016.
This is Derek Shelton's first ejection since May 10, 2015 (Mike Estabrook; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is Will Little's first ejection since June 2, 2015 (Lloyd McClendon; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Minnesota Twins, 6/5/16 | Video available via "Read more"