MLB Ejections 153-4 - Mike Estabrook (9-10; Cora, Sale)

HP Umpire Mike Estabrook ejected Red Sox Manager Alex Cora and pitcher Chris Sale (balls/strikes; QOCY & QOCN) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Red Sox-Yankees game. With none out and none on, Yankees batter Edwin Encarnacion singled, Gleyber Torres flew out, Gio Urshela singled, Cameron Maybin popped out, Kyle Higashioka singled, and Breyvic Valera singled before Cora was ejected during a mound visit. Replays indicate of the six callable pitches during the half-inning prior to Cora's ejection, Estabrook properly officiated five (5/6 = 83.3%), the call was correct.^ At the time of Cora's ejection, the Yankees were leading, 2-1.

Following Cora's ejection, Yankees batter Brett Gardner singled, DJ LeMahieu hit a home run, and Aaron Judge doubled before Sale was ejected during a pitching change. Replays the penultimate pitch to Judge (prior to his double) was located over the heart of home plate and below the midpoint (px -0.29, pz 3.64 [sz_top 3.93 / MOE 3.85]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of Sale's ejections, the Yankees were leading, 7-1. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 9-2.

These are Mike Estabrook (83)'s ninth and 10th ejections of 2019.
Estabrook now has 28 points in the UEFL Standings (26 Prev + 2*[2 MLB] + 2 QOCY - 4 QOCN = 28).
Crew Chief Alfonso Marquez now has 6 points in Crew Division (5 Previous + 1 QOCY = 6).
^See UEFL Rule 6-5-d-2 pertaining to ejections during a mound visit.
*This pitch was located 2.52 vertical inches from being deemed a correct call.

These are the 153rd and 154th ejection reports of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 74th Manager ejection of 2019.
This is the 72nd player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Sale's line was 3.2 IP, 8 ER, 2 HR.
This is Boston's 4/5th ejection of 2019, 1st in the AL East (BOS 5; BAL, TOR 4; NYY 3; TB 1).
This is Alex Cora's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since June 11 (Vic Carapazza; QOC = Y-c [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Chris Sale's 1st ejection since June 13, 2018 (Brian Knight; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Mike Estabrook's 9/10th ejection of 2019, 1st since June 25 (Don Mattingly; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees (Game 1), 8/3/19 | Video as follows:

Frank Viola Not a Fan of ALPB Rules Changes

Three weeks removed from his ejection for arguing an Automated Ball/Strike System pitch call in the Atlantic League, High Point Rockers Pitching Coach Frank Viola is still dissatisfied. Experimental rule changes adopted by the ALPB in its partnership with MLB have provoked a strong reaction from Viola, who has become somewhat of a de facto leader of the independent league rebellion against some of ALPB/MLB's most daring initiatives.

Viola recently categorized some of the ALPB's second-half rules changes - which include allowing batters to steal first base on all uncaught pitches (passed ball, wild pitch, etc.) and requiring pitchers to disengage the rubber before attempting a pickoff - as "horrendous."
Related Post: Atlantic League Debuts New Rules, E-Zone (7/10/19).

The former big leaguer was the Atlantic League's first electronic pitch caller's ejection, less than one inning into the technology's official debut.
Related Post: History - Baseball's First Ejection Due to TrackMan (7/12/19).

Viola said of ABS, "It’s making a mockery of everything. We played a game night in High Point that at least a dozen pitches were missed, and this is the second week into TrackMan. It’s not just my team, it’s the other team as well...Until they get it right, it’s just potluck guessing.”

And in a similar vein to our chief complaint about PitchCast's propensity for visual error in Major League Baseball, Viola summarized a key part of the problem as a lack of communication and transparency: "It’s like we’re out in the cold, not having a clue what’s going on, and I think that’s the biggest complaint we have. Show us what you’re doing and give us an understanding of how we can work with it instead of having to be against it right now."
Related Post: Podcast - Truth About Baseball's Electronic Strike Zone (6/5/19).

Video Teachable Moment - Ortiz's Patience at 1B

Our inaugural video for Tmac's Teachable Moments analyzes 1B Umpire Roberto Ortiz's patience in calling a close play at first base in San Diego during the Orioles-Padres game. Ortiz contended with a Fair/Foul decision before a bang-bang Out/Safe ruling when SD batter Francisco Mejia arrived at first base as Baltimore P Gabriel Ynoa received the ball from first baseman Chris Davis.

Upon Replay Review as the result of a Manager's Challenge by Baltimore's Brandon Hyde, 1B Umpire Ortiz's safe call stood.

The Teachable portion of this play reminds umpires to slow things down, especially as elements of plays become more complex. For example, Ortiz ruled on the fair ball and jogged into position for the next part of the play, getting set in fair territory to make his safe call, brushing off his initial flinch and instinct to call the batter-runner out. It helps to break each play down into its parts, talk about positioning mechanics, and tmac does just that with the following video analysis:

MLB Ejection 152 - Vic Carapazza (4; Josh Reddick)

HP Umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Astros RF Josh Reddick (strike three/foul ball no-call; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the Astros-Indians game. With two out and two on (R1, R3), Reddick attempted to strike a 1-2 splitter from Indians pitcher Tyler Clippard that bounced in the dirt, ruled a swinging third strike by Carapazza. Whereas Reddick claimed he fouled the pitch, replays do not indicate that Reddick's bat made contact with the pitched ball as it passed home plate, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 2-1. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 7-1.

This is Vic Carapazza (19)'s fourth ejection of 2019.
Vic Carapazza now has 12 points in the UEFL Standings (8 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 12).
Crew Chief Laz Diaz now has 1 point in Crew Division (0 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 1).

This is the 152nd ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 71st player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Reddick was 0-3 (SO) in the contest.
This is Houston's 3rd ejection of 2019, T-3rd in the AL West (OAK 6; TEX 4; HOU, LAA 3; SEA 2).
This is Josh Reddick's 1st ejection since August 6, 2017 (Rob Drake; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Vic Carapazza's 4th ejection of 2019, 1st since June 11 (Alex Cora; QOC= Y-c [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Indians, 8/1/19 | Video as follows:

Case Play 2019-6 - Selling a Fake Tag [Solved]

When Cubs SS Javy Baez saw a baseball sail into center field during Brewers baserunner R1 Ben Gamel's steal of second base in Milwaukee, Baez dissuaded Gamel from taking off for third by applying a phantom tag. Obstruction or legal fake is the question in Case Play 2019-6, "Selling a Fake Tag."

The Play: With two out and one on (R1), Brewers baserunner R1 Gamel attempted to steal second base. The throw to second base, on a bounce, hopped over infielder Baez's glove and into center field as Gamel overslid second base. As Gamel stood to correct his overslide, Baez faked as though he had the ball in his glove, causing Gamel to juke and dive around Baez, who in turn pulled away from Gamel so as not to physically tag him (while still pretending as though he were trying to do so). The play concluded with Gamel safely at second base.

Case Play Question: As 2B Umpire Ryan Additon no-called the sequence, Brewers Manager Craig Counsell exited the dugout to inquire as to Baez's actions. Place yourself in ump Additon's shoes and answer Counsell's questions: Was this obstruction? Why or why not? If this was obstruction, is it Type 1 or 2 (A or B) and what is the penalty? For extra credit, figure out this call for all rulesets: OBR, NCAA, and NFHS.

Hint: In 2017, we wrote an article concerning phantom tags in Major League Baseball. This Case Play's question investigates the gray line between a simple fake tag (legal in OBR/illegal in NFHS) and an action that blocks the runner's view. That's the key.
Related Post: Phantom Tags - Not Obstruction in Pro Ball, OBS in HS (4/16/17).

Case Play Answer: Fake tags are legal in OBR and NCAA, and illegal under the NFHS code. But let's assume that Baez's fake tag was said to have impeded Gamel from attempting to progress around the bases; let's assume obstruction has taken place. Because baserunner Gamel makes no attempt to advance to third base, pursuant to Obstruction Type 2 (Type B, because no play is being made on the runner at the time of obstruction....the ball is loose in center field, by rule, no play is made on the runner stealing a base while the overthrown ball is loose in the outfield), it would most likely be improper to award him third base to "nullify the act" of obstruction as the Type 2 penalty specifies.

As we wrote in 2017, baseball's Obstruction 2 does not guarantee a free base. The remedy for Type 2 is "impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction" under OBR 6.01(h)(2). In this case, there are no penalties the umpire needs to impose to nullify the act. The runner was safe at second whether or not obstruction took place so even if we assume there was obstruction, the proper call is nothing at all. See the following video for an explanation.
Related Post: Obstruction Type 2 Does Not Guarantee Free Base (4/29/17).

Official Baseball Rules Library
Definition of Terms: "OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner."
MLB Umpire Manual: Obstruction occurs when: "The fielder's actions are a deliberate effort to block the runner's view."

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 143-151 - Larry Vanover (1-9; PIT-CIN)

HP Umpire Larry Vanover ejected Reds Manager David Bell (strike one call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th and Cincinnati pitcher Jared Hughes and Bench Coach Freddie Benavides (throwing at Pirates batter Starling Marte after warnings), Pirates P Trevor Williams (Unsportsmanlike-NEC), and Reds P Amir Garrett, RF Yasiel Puig, Pirates P Chris Archer, P Kyle Crick, and C Francisco Cervelli (fighting) in the top of the 9th inning of the Pirates-Reds game. In the 8th, with one out and the bases loaded, Reds batter Yasiel Puig took a 0-0 slider from Pirates pitcher Kyle Crick for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the midpoint (px 0.81, pz 3.46 [sz_top 3.55]), the call was correct.* At the time of Bell's ejection, the Pirates were leading, 8-2.

In the 9th, with none out and none on, Pirates leadoff batter Starling Marte took a first-pitch fastball from Hughes for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and struck Marte on the back of the uniform pants with warnings in effect, the call was irrecusable. At the time of Hughes and Benavides' ejections, the Pirates were leading, 8-3.

After Reds pitcher Garrett surrendered a home run to Pirates batter Jose Osuna and induced a Kevin Newman groundout, Garrett entered into an altercation with the Pirates dugout during a mound visit from acting manager Jeff Pickler that turned physical as the benches cleared, Garrett appeared to throw a punch, previously-ejected manager David Bell came back onto the field to participate in the fight directing his ire at Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle, Puig reignited the melee after it had calmed, the DJ played "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?", and five total participants were ejected for fighting, including Cincinnati's Garrett and Puig, and Pittsburgh's Archer, Crick, and Cervelli. At the time of the fighting ejections, Pittsburgh was leading, 8-3. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 11-4.

These are Larry Vanover (27)'s 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th ejections of 2019.
Larry Vanover now has 24 points in the UEFL Standings (4 Prev + 9[2 MLB] + 2 QOCY + 0 U = 22).
Crew Chief Larry Vanover now has 19 points in Crew Division (10 Previous + 9 QOCY/U = 19).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
This pitch was located 1.25 horizontal and 3.56 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call.
Related Post: Jeff Kellogg presides over first CIN-PIT fight in April 2019 (4/7/19).

These are the 143rd through 151st ejection reports of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 73rd Manager ejection of 2019.
This is the 64th through 70th player ejections of 2019.
This is Cincinnati's 17-21st ejection of 2019, 1st in the NL Central (CIN 21; PIT 10; MIL 6; CHC 5; STL 3).
This is Pittsburgh's 7-10th ejection of 2019, 2nd in the NL Central (CIN 21; PIT 10; MIL 6; CHC 5; STL 3).
This is David Bell's 8th ejection of 2019, 1st since July 19 (Carlos Torres; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Jared Hughes' first career MLB ejection.
This is Freddie Benavides' first career MLB ejection.
This is Trevor Williams' first career MLB ejection.
This is Amir Garrett's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since April 7 (Jeff Kellogg; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Yasiel Puig's 3rd ejection of 2019, 1st since June 25 (Kerwin Danley; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Chris Archer's first career MLB ejection.
This is Kyle Crick's first career MLB ejection.
This is Francisco Cervelli's 1st ejection since Sept 15, 2018 (Tripp Gibson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Larry Vanover's 1st ejection since Sept 15, 2018 (Bob Melvin; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds, 7/30/19 | Video as follows:

Bemused Batter Buzzes ABS Online

It's been a busy week of baseball, so we nearly missed Southern Maryland Blue Crabs CF Cory Vaughn of the Atlantic League taking to social media after the Automated Ball-Strike System called him back to home plate as a 3-1 pitch fooled him and the Lancaster Barnstormers broadcast.

Vaughn made the most of his brush with ABS ("Stu" as the broadcaster calls it) by sharing his experience publicly on Facebook, writing, "In case anyone wants to see how the new automated balls/strikes are going via the trackman system in the Atlantic league... watch me moonwalk back to the plate lol #alpb #robotumpire #milb #mlb #trackman."

#Weknow. Fortunately for Vaughn, his unexpected strike occurred in the top of the 1st inning, a fairly low-leverage time of the ballgame. But at some point, ABS will call such a pitch at a crucial moment, such as the bottom of the 6th inning with the bases loaded and a 3-2 count, otherwise known as the Angel Hernandez/Eloy Jimenez call on Sunday. And with a run on the line, we'll check back in to see how ABS holds up.

In other words, ABS—and its electronic QuesTec, Pitch f/x, and StatCast ancestors and brethren—have made certain unorthodox ball/strike calls the opposite of traditional baseball's expected call, which has turned up the heat on all umpires, both human and computerized.
Related Post: MLB Ejection 142 - Angel Hernandez (2; Rick Renteria) (7/28/19).

Video as follows:

Little League Obstruction - Two Fielders Impede Runner

The Little League Intermediate World Series West vs Central game featured a rundown between third and home plate resembling Thursday's obstruction play in Chicago when 1B Umpire Chris Segal ruled that an infielder without the ball obstructed a runner during a rundown.

Baseball history repeats itself, and quite often when we review one principle—such as obstruction—that same concept has a tendency to manifest across the sport in rather short order.

Accordingly, the Little League West-Central clash (LL uses the same base rules code that MLB does—OBR) featured a similar play of potential obstruction during a rundown. In the top of the 1st inning of the West-Central game, with runners at the corners and two out, the West runner from first attempted to steal second base. Central's catcher threw the ball to the pitcher in order to draw West baserunner R3 off of third base (sometimes called a trap play), setting up a rundown during which two Central fielders blocked R3's base path such that the runner hesitated and stutter stepped while trying to figure out how to progress toward home plate—this is textbook obstruction (Type A / 1), just like the play in Chicago.
Related Post: Obstruction in Chicago - Fielder Must Avoid Runner (7/25/19).

To recap, "obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner." The penalty for OBS A (6.01(h)(1)) is a dead ball and minimum one-base award for the obstructed runner. All other runners are placed according to umpire judgment.

Video as follows:

Dodgers TV Talks Umpire Ejection Fantasy League

After Jeremie Rehak ejected two Nationals Sunday, Los Angeles broadcasters Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser discussed the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League concept—and the former Dodgers pitcher-turned-analyst even correctly surmised that Joe West was the UEFL's most popular draft pick (Crew Chief Division).

The TV exchange took place half-an-inning after HP Umpire Rehak ejected Nationals RF Adam Eaton and Manager Dave Martinez when Davis noted that Rehak's pair of ejections moved him into a tie with Joe West for second-most MLB ejections amongst umpires for 2019.

As the conversation continued through the areas of ejection rankings and pre-season preview/prospectus material for fantasy umpiring (both items we offer here at Close Call Sports), the Dodger duo joked, "We should do it next year."

The UEFL Draft opens in February. | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 142 - Angel Hernandez (2; Rick Renteria)

HP Umpire Angel Hernandez ejected White Sox Manager Rick Renteria (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the Twins-White Sox game. With none out and the bases loaded, White Sox batter Eloy Jimenez took a 3-2 fastball from Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.36, pz 1.33 [sz_bot 1.65 / RAD 1.53 / MOE 1.44] [sz_bot 1.60 / RAD 1.48 / MOE 1.39]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Twins were leading, 9-1. The Twins ultimately won the contest, 11-1.

This is Angel Hernandez (5)'s second ejection of 2019.
Angel Hernandez now has 1 point in the UEFL Standings (3 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = 1).
Crew Chief Angel Hernandez now has 4 points in Crew Division (4 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 4).
*This pitch was located 1.32 0.768 vertical inches from being deemed a correct call.
Postgame processing correction was applied. The call is now incorrect by 0.768 vertical inches.

This is the 142nd ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 72nd Manager ejection of 2019.
This is Chicago's 8th ejection of 2019, 2nd in the AL Central (DET 9; CWS 8; KC 7; MIN 3; CLE 1).
This is Rick Renteria's 6th ejection of 2019, 1st since July 18 (Adam Hamari; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Angel Hernandez's 2nd ejection of 2019, 1st since June 11 (Chris Woodward; QOC = Y [Out/Safe]).

Wrap: Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox, 7/28/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 141 - Bill Miller (1; Nick Senzel)

HP Umpire Bill Miller ejected Reds CF Nick Senzel (strike two call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the Rockies-Reds game. With two out and one on (R3), Senzel took a 0-1 fastball from Rockies pitcher Peter Lambert for a called second strike before striking out swinging seven pitches later. Replays indicate the 0-1 pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px 0.80, pz 1.61 [sz_bot 1.53]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 2-0. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Bill Miller (26)'s first ejection of 2016.
Bill Miller now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (3 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 7).
Crew Chief Mark Wegner now has -5 points in Crew Division (-6 Previous + 1 Correct Call = -5).
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
This pitch was located 1.37 horizontal inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 141st ejection report of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 63rd player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Senzel was 0-3 (SO) in the contest.
This is Cincinnati's 16th ejection of 2019, 1st in the NL Central (CIN 16; MIL, PIT 6; CHC 5; STL 3).
This is Nick Senzel's first career MLB ejection.
This is Bill Miller's 1st ejection since August 10, 2018 (Joe Maddon; QOC = Y [RLI]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs. Washington Nationals, 7/28/19 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 139-140 - Jeremie Rehak (5-6; WAS)

HP Umpire Jeremie Rehak ejected Nationals RF Adam Eaton and Manager Dave Martinez (strike two call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 1st inning of the Dodgers-Nationals game. With one out and none on, Eaton took a 3-1 fastball from Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler for a called second strike before striking out swinging on the subsequent pitch. Replays indicate the 3-1 pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the midpoint (px 0.01, pz 3.20 [sz_top 3.01 / RAD 3.13 / MOE 3.22] [sz_top 3.00 / RAD 3.12 / MOE 3.21]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejections, the game was tied, 0-0. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 11-4.

These are Jeremie Rehak (35)'s fifth and sixth ejections of 2019.
Jeremie Rehak now has 11 points in the UEFL Standings (3 Prev + 2*[2 AAA + 2 Correct Call] = 11).
Crew Chief Brian O'Nora now has 4 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 2 Correct Call = 4).
*This pitch was located 0.24 0.12 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call.
Postgame processing correction was applied. The call is now correct by 0.12 vertical inches.

These are the 139th and 140th ejection reports of the 2019 MLB regular season.
This is the 62nd player ejection of 2019. Prior to ejection, Eaton was 0-1 (SO) in the contest.
This is the 71st Manager ejection of 2019.
This is Washington's 6/7th ejection of 2019, 1st in the NL East (WAS 7; PHI 6; ATL, NYM 5; MIA 3).
This is Adam Eaton's 1st ejection since May 20, 2016 (Hunter Wendelstedt; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Dave Martinez's 3rd ejection of 2019, 1st since May 23 (Bruce Dreckman; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).
This is Jeremie Rehak's 5/6th ejection of 2019, 1st since June 9 (Brad Ausmus; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals, 7/28/19 | Video as follows: