MLB Ejection 016 - Cory Blaser (1; David Ross)

HP Umpire Cory Blaser ejected Cubs Manager David Ross (strike one call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Brewers-#Cubs game. With none out and one on (R1), Cubs batter Jake Marisnick took a first-pitch fastball from Brewers pitcher Josh Hader for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the midpoint between the pants-top and shoulders (px 0.01, pz 3.89 [sz_top 3.29 / RAD 3.41 / MOE 3.50]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 4-3. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Cory Blaser (89)'s 1st ejection of 2021.
Cory Blaser now has -2 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2 MLB - 4 Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Tom Hallion now has 3 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 0 Incorrect = 3).

*This pitch was located 4.68 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 16th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the ninth manager ejection of 2021.

This is Chicago's 2nd ejection of 2021, T-1st in the NL Central (CHC, CIN 2; MIL, PIT, STL 0).

This is David Ross' 1st ejection since August 29, 2020 (Nic Lentz; QOC = U [Warnings]).

This is Cory Blaser's 1st ejection since Sept 15, 2018 (Gene Glynn; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs, 4/24/21 | Video as follows:

Real Time Call - Marquez's Juggling Out at First Base

In this real-time call, we watch along with 1B Umpire Alfonso Marquez as Giants batter-runner Mauricio Dubon attempted to leg out an infield single as Marlins first baseman Jesus Aguilar used his bare hand to secure shortstop Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s throw.

Tmac takes us through umpiring a play at first base where one of the two expected bang-bang sounds never quite materializes, as the fielder grabs for a baseball out of mid-air.

Marquez sticks with the play and renders a decisive out call, which is confirmed via Replay Review as a result of a San Francisco challenge with clear and convincing evidence that the runner was out.

Video as follows:

The Strict Scrutiny of Runner's Lane Interference in LA

Los Angeles lost a potential baserunner Thursday night when Dodgers batter-runner Luke Raley failed to run within the runner's lane, HP Umpire Tony Randazzo's interference call awarding the San Diego Padres an out in the 5th inning of a one-run ballgame as 1B Umpire Todd Tichenor explained to a confused Raley what his crew mate had called.

As we have discussed with runner's lane interference (RLI) Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(11)—"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"—the interpretation of this rule is fairly strict.

As long as the batter-runner is not within the runner's lane at the moment of hindering the fielder taking the throw (which includes getting hit by the baseball), the call must be interference as long as the otherwise-fully compliant batter-runner has not exited the lane in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching the base, and as long as the throw could still reasonably retire the runner if not for the batter-runner's illegal act.

Thus, Randazzo, having observed Raley running to the left of the foul line well in advance of the "immediate vicinity" of first base, ruled the play runner's lane interference, the consequence for which is a dead ball, out, and any runners on base (had there been any) forced to return. San Diego ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

For more in-depth analysis of runner's lane interference, including a history of the RLI rule and potential flaws therein, see the following article.

Related Post: World Series Interference - Blame the Rule, not the Umpire (10/30/19).

Video as follows:

Officiating on the Big Screen - Yes Dear

Tmac comments on Jimmy Hughes (Mike O'Malley)'s role as home plate umpire on an episode of Yes Dear in this edition of Officiating on the Big Screen. 

Jimmy enters his first career baseball game as an umpire with a mix-and-match uniform, a few exaggerated mechanics, interesting positioning, and an on-field demonstration of how to not trust your officiating partner.

Takes some guts. | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 015 - Tom Hallion (1; Jayce Tingler)

HP Umpire Tom Hallion ejected Padres manager Jayce Tingler (strike one call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Brewers-#Padres game. With none out and two on (R1, R3), Padres batter Jurickson Profar took a 1-0 slider from Brewers pitcher Brad Boxberger for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.57, pz 1.53 [sz_bot 1.53 / RAD 1.41]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 4-2. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Tom Hallion (20)'s 1st ejection of 2021.
Tom Hallion now has 5 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 5).
Crew Chief Tom Hallion now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).

*This pitch was located 2.47 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 15th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the eighth manager ejection of 2021.

This is San Diego's 2nd ejection of 2021, T-1st in the NL West (COL, SD 2; ARI, LAD, SF 0).

This is Jayce Tingler's 1st ejection since October 6, 2020 (Lance Barrett; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Tom Hallion's 1st ejection since August 6, 2019 (Jarrod Dyson; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Diego Padres, 4/21/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 013-14 - John Libka (NYM x2; 1-2)

HP Umpire John Libka ejected Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker in the bottom of the 4th and Mets manager Luis Rojas in the top of the 6th inning of the #Mets-#Cubs game. In the 4th, with two out, Cubs batter Jason Heyward singled, Eric Sogard singled (RBI), Jake Arrieta walked, Ian Happ walked, and Willson Contreras walked (RBI). Replays indicate of Libka's 20 callable pitches during the fractional inning prior to Walker's pitching change ejection, Libka properly officiated 20 (20/20 = 100% Accuracy), the call was correct. At the time of Walker's ejection, the Cubs were leading, 3-0.

In the 6th, with one out and none on, Mets batter Michael Conforto took a 2-1 fastball from Cubs pitcher Rex Brothers for a called second strike and 3-2 fastball for a called third strike. Replays indicate the 2-1 pitch ruled strike two was located over the inner edge of home plate and belt-high (px 0.69, pz 2.66) and the 3-2 pitch ruled strike three was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.15, pz 1.51 [sz_bot 1.56 / RAD 1.44]), the call was correct.* At the time of Rojas' ejection, the Cubs were leading, 3-1. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 3-1.

These are John Libka (84)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2021.
John Libka now has 8 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2*[2 AAA + 2 Correct Call] = 8).
Crew Chief Joe West now has 2 points in Crew Division (0 Previous + 2 Correct Calls = 2).

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

The 2-1 pitch was located 2.69 horizontal and 3-2 pitch located 1.84 vertical inches from being incorrect.

These are the 13th and 14th ejection reports of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the sixth player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Walker's line was

This is the seventh manager ejection of 2021.

This is Mets' 1st/2nd ejection of 2021, 1st in the NL East (NYM 2; MIA 1; ATL, PHI, WAS 0).

This is Taijuan Walker's first career MLB ejection.

This is Luis Rojas' first career MLB ejection.

This is John Libka's 1st ejection since Sept 8, 2020 (Scott Servais; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs. Chicago Cubs, 4/20/21 | Video as follows:

Kershaw & Profar's Catcher Interference Dispute

After HP Umpire Tom Hallion called "strike three" on Padres batter Jurickson Profar's 3-2 check swing to seemingly end San Diego's 4th inning, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Profar shouted at each other, SD convinced catcher's interference had occurred as Los Angeles accused the Padres of playing dirty.

Situation Handling Side Note: As Kershaw and Profar shouted across the diamond, the umpiring crew went into game management mode, with Hallion attending to Kershaw, Umpire Phil Cuzzi taking Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts and 1B Umpire Cory Blaser standing in front of Profar.

As for the catcher's interference play itself, which Padres Manager Jayce Tingler challenged and was overturned from strike three to catcher's interference as a result of Replay Review, tmac just days earlier had assembled an analysis regarding a check swing catcher's interference call in Seattle, with the moral of the story being that, yes, catcher's interference is possible on a check swing.

Related Post: Teachable - Catcher's Interference on a Check Swing (4/13/21).

Kershaw-Profar takes it a step farther, as replays did clearly and convincingly indicate that Profar's bat indeed made contact with Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes' mitt...but the question is whether Barnes had actually interfered with Profar's opportunity to strike the pitch (the Official Baseball Rule's definition is as follows: "defensive interference is an act by a fielder that hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch").

Over the years, it has become clear that a batter need not actually swing for a catcher's interference call to occur, but at what point of the ball traversing through the hitting zone does catcher's interference cease to be a liability to the defense? Must the batter have a realistic chance of actually hitting the ball (either fair or foul) or has this become a black-and-white did the bat make contact with the glove kind of a play?

Regardless, Profar would not have been awarded first base for catcher's interference had umpires ruled that Profar intentionally swung at Barnes, in order to draw the call, instead of legitimately attempting to strike at or check his swing at Kershaw's pitch.

Video as follows:

Ground Rule Double - Batted Ball In Flight Deflects Off Wall

In this Rules Review, tmac visits with the Official Baseball Rules' definition of IN FLIGHT when Brewers batter Daniel Robertson's fly ball to left field in St. Louis hit below the top of the wall and bounced out of the playing field, ruled not a home run but a two-base award by 3B Umpire Roberto Ortiz, a call confirmed via Replay Review.

To decipher this play, we find that IN FLIGHT is defined as "a batted, thrown, or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object other than a fielder." Combining this definition with rule 5.06(b)(4)(a)'s requirement that a home run "goes out of the playing field in flight," we find this play does not qualify for a home run. NCAA rule 2-27 and NFHS 2.5.1g regarding batted balls leaving the playing field in flight agree.

The MLB Umpire Manual's interpretation for 5.05(a) [Fly ball striking top of outfield wall] ("A fair ball passes over a fence or into the stands at a distance from home base of 250 feet or more") shares the sentiment: If a fair fly ball strikes the top of the outfield wall and rebounds onto the playing field, it is considered in play, but if it falls out of play, it shall be ruled a home run.

Because the St. Louis play featured a fair fly ball striking below the top of the wall and bouncing out of play, it is considered a two-base award, or, colloquially, a ground rule double (MLB's ground rules sometimes explicitly specify this, e.g., "Ball in flight strikes fence or scoreboard and goes over higher portion of outfield fence: Two bases," making this a true ground rule double). For the purposes of Brewers-Cardinals, the MLBUM top-of-wall interp would not apply.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 012 - Bill Welke (1; Wade Miley)

1B Umpire Bill Welke ejected Reds pitcher Wade Miley (strike three/foul ball/foul tip no-call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Indians-#Reds game. With one out and none on, Reds batter Jesse Winker swung at a 1-2 knuckle curve from Indians pitcher Shane Bieber, ruled a third strike by HP Umpire Ben May. Replays indicate Winker's bat appeared to make contact with the pitched baseball, which in turn was not caught by Indians catcher Roberto Perez, the call was incorrect. Play was reviewed and affirmed by the UEFL Appeals Board (6-2), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Indians were leading, 6-2. The Indians ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

This is Bill Welke (3)'s 1st ejection of 2021.
Bill Welke now has 2 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Prev + 2 MLB - 2 Incorrect-Crewmate = 2).
Crew Chief Bill Welke now has 1 point in Crew Division (1 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 1).

This is the 12th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the fifth player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Miley's line was 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 2 HR.

This is Cincinnati's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st in the NL Central (CIN 2; CHC 1; MIL, PIT, STL 0).

This is Wade Miley's 1st ejection since Sept 9, 2018 (Tom Hallion; QOC = U [Warnings]).

This is Bill Welke's 1st ejection since August 30, 2020 (Joe Girardi; QOC = N-c [Fair/Foul]).

Wrap: Cleveland Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds, 4/18/21 | Video as follows: