MLB Ejection 100 - Chris Guccione (1; Gabe Kapler)

HP Umpire Chris Guccione ejected Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler (check swing dead ball strike three call by 1B Umpire Mike Everitt) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Marlins-Phillies game. With one out and none on, Phillies batter Scott Kingery attempted to check his swing on a 0-2 fastball from Marlins pitcher Elieser Hernandez, ruled a dead ball (HBP) by HP Umpire Guccione and a swinging third strike on appeal by 1B Umpire Everitt. Ruling was reviewed and adjudicated by the UEFL Appeals Board (8-0), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 2-1. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

This is Chris Guccione (68)'s first ejection of 2019.
Chris Guccione now has -3 points in the UEFL Standings (-3 Prev + 2 MLB - 2 QOCN-crewmate = -3).
Crew Chief Mike Everitt now has -2 points in Crew Division (-2 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = -2).
*OBR Definition of Terms: "A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which: (e) Touches the batter as he strikes at it."

This is the 100th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 52nd Manager ejection of 2019.
This is Philadelphia's 2nd ejection of 2019, 4th in the NL East (ATL, WAS 5; NYM 3; PHI 2; MIA 1).
This is Gabe Kapler's 1st ejection since March 22, 2018 (Tom Hallion; QOC = U [Throwing At]).
This is Chris Guccione's 1st ejection since June 10, 2016 (Dale Sveum; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 6/22/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 099 - Roberto Ortiz (1; Ron Gardenhire)

HP Umpire Roberto Ortiz ejected Tigers Manager Ron Gardenhire (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 4th inning of the Tigers-Indians game. With one out and none on, Tigers batter Miguel Cabrera took a first-pitch curveball from Indians pitcher Aaron Civale for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and near the hollow of the knee (px 0.04, pz 1.52 [sz_bot 1.71 / RAD 1.59 / MOE 1.47]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Indians were leading, 2-0. The Indians ultimately won the contest, 2-0.

This is Roberto Ortiz (40)'s first ejection of 2019.
Roberto Ortiz now has 4 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 4).
Crew Chief Marvin Hudson now has 1 point in Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 1).
*This pitch was located 0.6 horizontal inches from being deemed an incorrect call.
*The Castellanos pitch referred to in the video was located at px .89, QOCY by .288 inches.

This is the 99th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 51st Manager ejection of 2019.
This is Detroit's 7th ejection of 2019, 1st in the AL Central (DET 7; CWS, KC 6; CLE, MIN 1).
This is Ron Gardenhire's 6th ejection of 2019, 1st since June 15 (Manny Gonzalez; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Roberto Ortiz's 1st ejection since Sept 15, 2018 (John Gibbons; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians, 6/22/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 098 - Chad Fairchild (1; Justin Turner)

HP Umpire Chad Fairchild ejected Dodgers 3B Justin Turner (strike one call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Rockies-Dodgers game. With none out and none on, Turner took two called strikes from Rockies pitcher German Marquez before subsequently grounding out and with one out and none on, Dodgers batter Max Muncy took a first-pitch fastball from Marquez for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch to Muncy was located off the inner edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 1.02, pz 2.49), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 2-1. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Chad Fairchild (4)'s first ejection of 2019.
Chad Fairchild now has -1 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -1).
Crew Chief Paul Emmel now has 9 points in Crew Division (9 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 9).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
*This pitch was located 1.272 horizontal inches from being deemed a correct call.
History: In 2017, Fairchild ejected Turner (reference to having observed a video replay that purportedly contracted the call under dispute), pursuant to the MLBUM Standards for Removal from the Game.
Related Post: MLB Ejection 164 - Chad Fairchild (2; Justin Turner) (9/6/17).

This is the 98th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 42nd player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Turner was 0-2 in the contest.
This is Los Angeles' 2nd ejection of 2019, 4th in the NL West (SD 5; SF 4; COL 3; LAD 2; ARI 1).
This is Justin Turner's 1st ejection since Sept 6, 2017 (Chad Fairchild; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Chad Fairchild's first ejection since August 15, 2018 (Jose Urena; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6/21/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 097 - Chris Conroy (1; Gerardo Parra)

HP Umpire Chris Conroy ejected Nationals PH Gerardo Parra (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Braves-Nationals game. With one out and none on, Parra took a 3-2 fastball from Braves pitcher Jacob Webb for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px -1.01, pz 1.73 [sz_bot 1.54]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 4-3. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Chris Conroy (98)'s first ejection of 2019.
Chris Conroy now has -3 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -3).
Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 8 points in Crew Division (8 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 8).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
*This pitch was located 1.152 horizontal inches from being deemed a correct call.

This is the 97th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 41st player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Parra was 0-1 (SO) in the contest.
This is Washington's 5th ejection of 2019, T-1st in the NL East (ATL, WAS 5; NYM 3; MIA, PHI 1).
This is Gerardo Parra's 1st ejection since April 11, 2018 (Brian Gorman; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Chris Conroy's 1st ejection since August 16, 2017 (Joe Maddon; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals, 6/21/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Suspends Cabrera - Too Harsh or Just Right?

MLB suspended Rangers 3B Asdrubal Cabrera four games for throwing equipment (batting gloves) from the dugout and onto the field that struck Crew Chief Bill Miller in the ankle after HP Umpire Doug Eddings had ejected Cabrera moments earlier for arguing balls and strikes. Was this suspension proper or was it too severe/light?

How does it compare to the MLB-MLBUA Manny Machado one-game suspension kerfuffle—is it related in any way or an entirely separate action? Is there a hidden message from MLB to the union here? And how does it compare to MLB's four-game suspension handed to former Blue Jay Brett Lawrie in 2012 for throwing his batting helmet at the feet of Bill Miller in Toronto, whereupon the helmet bounced up and struck Miller in his side?
Related Post: MLBUA Objects to MLB "Inaction" on Machado (6/18/19).
Related Post: MLB Ejections 092-94 - Welke, Everitt (SD) (6/15/19).

Finally, Josh Donaldson had his suspension for fighting the Pittsburgh Pirates in Atlanta reduced to zero on appeal. The league originally suspended Donaldson for igniting a bench-clearing incident after Donaldson was hit/grazed by a pitch from Joe Musgrove, resulting in both players' ejection from the game.
Related Post: MLB Ejections 078-80 - Brian Gorman (1-3; PIT-ATL) (6/10/19).

The following video analysis presents these incidents for your perusal:

13-Year-Old Umpire Cordova Talks CO Brawl

Deemed the only mature adult on the field during a stands-clearing brawl amongst parents in Lakewood, Colorado, 13-year-old umpire Josh Cordova, spoke to KUSA of Denver about the massive fight and what led to the criminal acts that followed, telling the NBC affiliate that it was only after the game that he heard the teams—the Soldiers and Green Socks—had a contentious past. League brass, similarly, say they didn't know beforehand of any problems between the teams until the on-field brawl occurred.

In MLB, for instance, such intel if it existed would comprise a key part of the league's "Heads-Up" report, which advises major league umpires of previous incidents between the teams that could be of interest during an upcoming game, such as an impending beanball war or incendiary comments between the teams in the media.

Cordova described his journey in baseball—starting with the Bear Creek Junior Sports Association at the age of five, and getting into umpiring for "the love of baseball...hopefully teach the younger generation how to play the game of baseball."

A massive fight broke out in Colorado.

An umpire for two years prior to the viral youth baseball brawl, Cordova described the contentious atmosphere leading up to the fight in the top of the 6th inning: "The coaches were chirping to each-other the entire time, and you could tell the teams didn't like each-other...making sly comments or remarks, like 'you're cheating' and such, comments that should never have been made at a seven-year-old baseball game."

Cordova issued his disciplinary action after an elderly man cursed from the stands: "I issued a warning to both sidelines to watch the language, and one of the teams didn't find satisfaction in that warning or ruling, and the coaches started getting in my face, before I knew it, and they wanted me to change the call [and eject an opposing coach], and then one of the Bear Creek coaches stepped in and told everyone to get out of my face, and it escalated from there."
Related Post: Workplace Violence - Parents Brawl at Youth Game (6/20/19).

Umpires observe a fight from afar.

Said Cordova, "I shouldn't have to tell a grown man how to act around kids...they're teaching the children a bad lesson, they shouldn't be fighting over a game."

As his MLB, NCAA, and NFHS colleagues do during bench-clearing fights at the higher levels, Cordova said he exited the skirmish and went to the outfield with assistance from the Bear Creek coach, whom Cordova credits with helping him: "They were running around fighting all over the field."

Cordova called his father, Josh Cordova, Sr., the Bear Creek Junior Sports Association's minors baseball director: "I was extremely scared for him. He's never been exposed to anything like this before."

Cordova, Sr. spoke to KUSA.

When Cordova, Sr. arrived, his first concern was for the youths' safety and trying to clear the field, especially so the teams arriving for the next game scheduled on the field wouldn't have to witness the fight.

Cordova, Sr. explained why the league assigned a 13-year-old umpire to a 7-year-old game: "This is a league where you can learn and progress and learn to love the game of baseball. So that is what this league is intended for. It's once you get to nine-years-old and above is when you start to introduce the dropped third strike, the stealing bases, that kind of deal. This league is purely for fun and teaching fundamentals. So, us as adults, as parents, we decided he'd be fine at a 7-year-old baseball game...In our 40 years at Bear Creek, we'd never had any type of situation where this has eroded like this before."

Sr. alleges this man "was pushing my son."

As for the man on the ground in the viral video suffering from an apparent head injury? Sr. identified him as the head coach for the Soldiers team: "That's the gentleman who was pushing my son all the way to home plate and yelling in his face."

13-year-old umpire Cordova sees a teachable moment for the seven-year-old players: "They should handle things more maturely, even though they're seven. They shouldn't fight over a game." As for the coaches: "Usually I like to tell them that none of the kids are going to the major leagues, so keep the yelling and comments to a minimum, because it is just a Little League game."

Responding to a final question as to whether he'd like to continue umpiring, Cordova said: "Yeah, I find joy in helping the kids learn the game of baseball."

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 096 - Doug Eddings (1; Asdrubal Cabrera)

HP Umpire Doug Eddings ejected Rangers 3B Asdrubal Cabrera (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Indians-Rangers game. With one out and none on, Cabrera took a 2-2 fastball from Indians pitcher Shane Bieber for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.85, pz 2.21) and all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rangers were leading, 2-1. The Rangers ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Doug Eddings (88)'s first ejection of 2019.
Doug Eddings now has 5 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 5).
Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 8 points in Crew Division (7 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 8).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
*This pitch was located 1.224 horizontal inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 96th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 40th player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Cabrera was 0-3 (3 SO) in the contest.
This is Texas' 2nd ejection of 2019, T-3rd in the AL West (OAK 6; LAA 3; HOU, SEA, TEX 2).
This is Asdrubal Cabrera's first ejection since July 21, 2018 (Hunter Wendelstedt; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is Doug Eddings' first ejection since Sept 7, 2018 (Kevin Seitzer; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Cleveland Indians vs. Texas Rangers, 6/20/19 | Video as follows:

Workplace Violence - Parents Brawl at Youth Game

As MLB distanced itself from MLBUA's workplace violence claim, a violent stands-clearing brawl ignited in Colorado after a youth umpire's warning for bad language led to an argument amongst parents of two 7-year-old baseball teams, who fought on the field as children watched from the stands, leading to police involvement and a league decision to cancel the remainder of the season for the two teams involved.

According to Denver affiliate KUSA's report, parents on both sides of the teams playing in Lakewood, CO were cursing, which drew a warning from the 13-year-old umpire to stop. Someone allegedly questioned why the umpire didn't eject an opposing fan, and the argument escalated from that point.

Parents entered the field of play, a pregnant woman wielded a bat as a weapon, and as a man attempted to take the bat from her, another man appeared to attack him from behind, leading the arguing parents into a full-scale physical brawl. A score of parents wound up fighting on the field, as many of the children ended up watching from the stands.

Glimmers of MLB fights past were in CO.

KUSA reports that the umpire is "really shaken up by what happened...He feels guilty because he couldn't control the game or the parents."

Lakewood Police cited several individuals for disorderly conduct following the brawl, including Ernest Gabriel Vigil, David Anthony Williams, Darren Jearld Garduno, Manuel Miramon Garduno Jr. and Manuel Miramon Garduno.

Lakewood Police Department Public Information Officer John Romero analyzed the video: "It's very sad, at the very beginning of the video, you can see kids running off the field as the adults start fighting and punching each other.

"You think it’s common sense to not do this at any sporting event, especially around kids."

Yet common sense isn't exactly common. Just ask those affiliated with the highest level of baseball.

Manny Machado was ejected in Colorado.

This incident in Lakewood occurs just as the MLB Umpires Association criticized MLB for alleged inaction and a failure to address what MLBUA deemed violence in the workplace involving a Padres player Manny Machado's purported temper tantrum after an umpire's call.

The major league event, coincidentally, also took place in Colorado.

MLB put out a news release in response to MLBUA's claim to decry the umpire union's invocation of the workplace violence motif, writing that MLBUA's use of the term was inappropriate.
Related Post: MLBUA Objects to MLB "Inaction" on Machado (6/18/19).
Related Post: MLB Rejects MLBUA's Workplace Violence Tweet (6/19/19).

MLB vs Youth: The struggle for a bat.

Gil's Call: Would the Lakewood, CO incident qualify as violence in the workplace? Pursuant to the Department of Labor/OSHA standard, it certainly would. It's often said that things trickle down from the higher levels to the lower ones and the following video show a side-by-side view of the Lakewood, Colorado youth baseball fight and an amalgam of bench-clearing fights at the MLB level. Is a deteriorating environment at the youth level a result of an unchecked lack of sportsmanship from above?

The Bear Creek Junior Sports Association's Executive Board announced it had terminated the season for both teams: "BCJSA would like to apologize to our members and community in regards to the events that took place this past weekend. BCJSA has ZERO tolerance for this type of behavior....PERIOD.  We are embarassed [sic], ashamed and angry that this has taken place.  As of now, the Jeffco Co-Op has ended the season for both teams involved and all BC coaches and parents identified participating in the incident are being removed indefinitely."

Video as follows:

Free MLB Umpire Camp on June 22 in Detroit

MLB will host a free one-day Umpire Camp/clinic June 22 at Comerica Park in Detroit, home of the Tigers.

For aspiring professional umpires, the MLB Umpire Camps offer the potential for an invitation to the MLB Professional Mini-Camp in Florida, which in turn offers its highest prospects scholarships to umpire school—either Wendelstedt Umpire School or MiLB Umpire Academy.

To register for the June 22, 2019 clinic in Detroit, click here. Walkups, of course, are always welcome.

MLB Rejects MLBUA's Workplace Violence Tweet

MLB Umpires Association (MLBUA)'s feud with Major League Baseball took a nasty turn as the sides traded barbs over Joe Torre's handling of 6/15's Manny Machado ejection, with MLB admonishing the umpire union for invoking "workplace violence," claiming it was an "inappropriate" comparison.

This video analysis illustrates the recent MLBUA vs MLB episode, why the two sides appear to be placing chess as the umpires' contract with the league is set to expire at the end of 2019, and why MLB might take such strong offense to the union's illusion to "workplace violence," which is a specific federal legal term that itself invokes the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970.

In general, a claim of workplace violence piques US Department of Labor's interest; a 2011 directive, for instance, instructs OSHA on how to enforce the investigation or inspection of workplace violence incidents. If MLB acknowledged Saturday's incident as "workplace violence," it may have resulted in unwanted government interest, which could put MLB's coveted antitrust exemption status on the line—something the league likely would like to avoid.

So what is workplace violence and how does it relate to Saturday's ejection? Video as follows:

Cora Apologizes for Raging at Rehak in Batter's Box Caper

Tuesday's 17-inning Red Sox-Twins game took a drastic turn involving Eddie Rosario and a batter's box that culminated with Boston Manager Alex Cora screaming at HP Umpire Jeremie Rehak and crew as the umpires left the field following Minnesota's walk-off win. Cora was upset at a foul ball call earlier in the 17th inning, with NESN commentators initially blaming the umpires for the loss during Boston's post-game show before Cora apologized over the air to Mark Wegner's crew for his "out of character" outburst. What happened and did the umpires get the call right?

The Play: With one out and one on (R1), Twins batter Eddie Rosario attempted to bunt a first-pitch slider from Red Sox pitcher Brian Johnson for a foul ball. Red Sox Manager Alex Cora contended Rosario had bunted the ball while outside of the batter's box, alleging that Rosario should have been called out for this infraction.

The Rule: Rule 5.05(b)(5) states, "The batter’s legal position shall be with both feet within the batter’s box. APPROVED RULING: The lines defining the box are within the batter's box."

Rule 6.03(a)(1) states that a "batter is out for illegal action when—he hits a ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter's box...If a batter hits a ball fair or foul while out of the batter's box, he should be called out."

Verdict: Legal, Rosario's feet are on the line.

The Call: HP Umpire Rehak officiated this as a legal play, confirming with 3B Umpire and Crew Chief Mark Wegner that batter Rosario did not violate the batter's box illegal action rule. Replays indicate Rosario was legally positioned on or within the lines of the batter's box—for an out under OBR 6.03(a)(1), one or both feet must be on the ground entirely outside the box at the time of the hit, which did not occur; therefore, Rosario was legal and Rehak's ruling was proper: foul ball.

After The Game: Rosario later doubled, followed by an intentional walk to Brian Johnson and walk-off single by Max Kepler, scoring baserunner Luis Arraez from third and ending the 17-inning game. As the umpires exited the field, Cora charged after them and was physically restrained by team personnel as he continued yelling about the perceived slight, appearing to get into a brief shouting match with 1B Umpire Jim Reynolds as Rehak, Wegner, and Stu Scheurwater made their way back to the umpires' room.

Cora yells at the umpires after his team loses.

Gil's Call: This is a tired manager in the 17th inning who saw something unusual in batter Rosario hop-stepping up in the box to bunt the ball, giving the appearance that he may have been out of the batter's box when he made contact with the baseball—the entire dugout pointed at Rosario's feet, which all but assured Cora's initial reaction. We're used to seeing batters at the back of the box, but very rarely do we see batters at the front of the box—this is more of a softball technique, which likely confused the situation even more. The umpires, keeping an eye on things, properly no-called the play.

After the batter doubled, leading to a walk-off winner, Cora vented his frustration at the umpires, feeling that a missed call hurt his team. As for the umpires, they simply didn't appreciate being yelled at.
Related Post: Gil's Call: The Blame Game (Umpire Scapegoating) (8/8/14).

After the game, Cora began his post-game comments thusly: "Before we start, by the way, I want to apologize to the umpires. Obviously emotions take over. I looked at the replay, and Eddie wasn't off the batter's box. They did an outstanding job for how long it was. Just one of those that was tough to swallow, you see it and the emotions take over, but that was out of character. That was my fault...They were right and I was wrong."

Video as follows:

MLBUA Objects to MLB "Inaction" on Machado

The Major League Baseball Umpires Association (Twitter: @MLBUA) announced its objection to MLB's one-game suspension of Padres batter Manny Machado for misconduct following his ejection care of HP Umpire Bill Welke on June 15. The umps' group expressed disappointment at MLB's "inaction" in issuing the one-game ban, which Machado is appealing via the MLB-MLBPA grievance process.

In Tuesday's tweet, MLBUA highlighted what Machado did after he allegedly made contact with Welke—what MLB vaguely deemed "aggressively arguing"—following Welke's correctly officiated third strike during Saturday's Padres-Rockies game.
Related Post: MLB Ejections 092-94 - Welke, Everitt (SD) (6/15/19).

MLBUA's statement is as follows:

Manny Machado received a one game suspension for contact with an umpire over balls and strikes and VIOLENTLY throwing his bat against the backstop with absolutely no regard to anyone's safety. Violence in the workplace is not tolerated, and offenders are dealt with severely and even made examples of for the good of it's [sic] employees, as well as the company itself. Is this truly what MLB wants to teach our youth?

By comparison, Machado received a five-game suspension in 2014 for throwing his bat during an Athletics-Orioles game. Machado similarly appealed that punishment, but an arbiter upheld the league's five-game suspension.

The umpires' union also included a list of a hashtags expressing displeasure with MLB's purportedly lenient punishment: "#Disappointed #LeadByExample #NotAppreciated #Violence #TemperTantrum #Inaction #NotTolerated #MakeanExampleof #OneGameSuspension #RepeatOffender #Nonsense #MLBUA."

For its effort, the MLBUA twitter account received over 1,000 replies, mostly antagonistic, such as the cryptically toxic, "You about to get some violence on your feed," by a user whose very profile picture exemplifies the inaccuracy of MLB's computerized strike zone.

The following video analysis includes footage from the Colorado television broadcast, which more prominently displays the extent of Machado's conduct in "VIOLENTLY throwing his bat against the backstop," an event MLBAM's posted video featuring the San Diego feed failed to portray in its entirety, namely what actually happened to the bat after Machado released it.

In announcing Machado's one-game suspension, MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre cited two reasons for discipline: 1) "aggressively arguing" and 2) "contact" with an umpire, but did not include the thrown bat element as part of Machado's punishment. Yet this is nothing new—see the following 2016 article that chronicles the history of lenience and the reason behind MLB's tendency to allow and encourage misconduct.
Related Post: Psychology & Marketing - Why MLB Discipline is Weak (5/19/16).

The following video analysis discusses this incident:

MLB Ejection 095 - Tripp Gibson (2; Brandon Hyde)

HP Umpire Tripp Gibson ejected Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde (runner's lane interference; QOCY) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Red Sox-Orioles game. With one out and two on (R1, R3), Orioles batter Keon Broxton bunted a 0-1 slider from Red Sox pitcher Colten Brewer on the ground to Brewer, who threw toward first baseman Michael Chavis as Broxton arrived at first base. Replays indicate that although Chavis caught the ball, Broxton ran to first base completely in fair territory and out of the three-foot running lane his entire journey down the line; Gibson's RLI call was made prior to the first baseman's catch of the baseball, meaning the ball was already dead prior to the apparent putout at first base. As such, the interference penalty is enforced because it occurred prior to the apparent out (by rule, the apparent out at first base never officially occurred, since the ball was already dead prior to Chavis' tag of first base) and the batter is declared out, with the runners returning to their bases occupied at the time of the pitch, the call was correct.* Play was reviewed and affirmed by the UEFL Appeals Board (7-0), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 2-1. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 8-6.

This is Tripp Gibson (73)'s second ejection of 2019.
Tripp Gibson now has 9 points in the UEFL Standings (5 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 9).
Crew Chief Mark Carlson now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 4).

*Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(11) states: "A batter is out for interference when—In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead."
Wendelstedt's interpretation states: "A runner that is running the entire distance outside of the running lane will not be protected if he interferes with a play at first base, even if it is in his last stride or step to the base. In order to be protected, this last step must be when he first exits the running lane" (a runner cannot exit a lane that he has never entered.
Related Post: Runner's Lane Interference - 2018 World Series Edition (10/28/18).

Gil's Call: Call the infraction when it occurs and enforce the prescribed penalties. In the Replay Review era, there is no "easy way out" with the play at first base. For instance, take the "let's ignore the call because the first baseman made the catch" philosophy. Suppose Hyde challenges the call and Replay Review overturns 1B Umpire Bruce Dreckman's out call to "safe." Video evidence clearly indicates the batter-runner violated the running lane rule, yet the umpires failed to call it because of the aforementioned lesser of two evils philosophy... Given the batter-runner's illegal run inside the foul line (not within the running lane), there is no rules-correct way here to call the batter-runner out while allowing the runner from third base to score. To be clear, the infraction occurs at the moment at which the batter-runner's illegal act has impeded the fielder taking the throw, often a fraction of a second before the out/safe play at first base. When RLI is enforced, it is a dead ball that wipes out the subsequent out/safe play at first base.
Commentary Critique: Just a friendly tip for broadcasters...just because you don't understand the rule doesn't mean the umpire's call isn't correct.

This is the 95th ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 50th Manager ejection of 2019.
This is Baltimore's 4th ejection of 2019, 1st in the AL East (BAL 4; TOR 3; BOS, NYY 2; TB 0).
This is Brandon Hyde's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since April 15 (Mark Wegner; QOC = N-c [Replay]).
This is Tripp Gibson's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since June 13 (Brian Snitker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles, 6/16/19 | Video as follows:

Injury Scout - O'Nora Exits After Low Foul Ball

HP Umpire Brian O'Nora left Saturday's Cardinals-Mets game in New York shortly after a mid-body foul ball injury during the 3rd inning.

With none out and one on in the top of the 3rd, Cardinals batter Matt Carpenter fouled a 1-2 99-mph sinker from Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard into O'Nora's groin, resulting in an injury delay before the resumption of play, and shortly before O'Nora was seen jogging off the field with a hand covering his mouth during subsequent batter Dexter Fowler's plate appearance.

1B Umpire Chad Whitson moved from first to become the new home plate umpire with 2B Umpire Mark Ripperger sliding to first base and 3B Umpire/Crew Chief Jeff Kellogg remaining on the left field line to complete the contest as a three-umpire crew.

O'Nora was replaced Sunday by minor league call-up umpire Ramon De Jesus.

Relevant Injury History: Tangentially, O'Nora left a 2013 PHI-NYM game due to an intestinal tear.
Related Post: Serious Medical Condition: O'Nora Tears Intestine, West In (5/2/13).

Last Game: June 15 | Return to Play: June 25 | Time Absent: 9 Days | Video as follows: