MLB Ejections 099-100 - Laz Diaz & Jeff Nelson (BOS x2)

3B Umpire Laz Diaz ejected Red Sox bench coach Will Venable and HP Umpire Jeff Nelson ejected bench player Kevin Plawecki (check swing strike three call) in the top of the 6th inning of the #RedSox-#Yankees game. With two out and the bases loaded, Red Sox batter Christian Vazquez attempted to check his swing on a 0-2 slider from Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Nelson and a swinging third strike on appeal by 1B Umpire Manny Gonzalez. Play was reviewed and adjudicated by the UEFL Appeals Board (8-0), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 1-1. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 3-1, in 6 innings.

This is Laz Diaz (63)'s 2nd ejection of 2021.

This is Jeff Nelson (45)'s 2nd ejection of 2021.

Laz Diaz now has 6 points in the UEFL Standings (3 Prev + 2 MLB + 1 Call-Crewmate = 6).

Jeff Nelson now has 7 points in the UEFL Standings (4 Prev + 2 MLB + 1 Call-Crewmate = 7).

Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has 3 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 2 Call = 3).

These are the 99th and 100th ejection reports of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 37th player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Plawecki did not appear in the game.

This is Boston's 4/5th ejection of 2021, 2nd in the AL East (NYY 6; BOS 5; TOR 3; BAL 2; TB 0).

This is Will Venable's 1st ejection since April 9, 2015 (Tripp Gibson; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

This is Kevin Plawecki's first career MLB ejection.

This is Laz Diaz's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since April 11 (Scott Servais; QOC = U [Warnings]).

This is Jeff Nelson's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since June 6 (Edgar Valera; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees, 7/17/21 | Video as follows:

Umpires Removed Tribute Patch as FTX Took Its Place

Not too long ago, we were asked why umpires removed the traditional black-and-white memorial patch for deceased colleagues from their left sleeve, and now we have a three letter answer: FTX, MLB's new advertiser and cryptocurrency exchange partner, whose patch as of the 2021 All-Star Game now appears on both the umpire jersey's left chest and left sleeve.

Umpires began the 2021 season with two memorial patches in honor of former major league officials who had passed away during the fall of 2020: 34-year AL and MLB umpire Derryl Cousins, who died in October 2020, and NL/MLB umpire Paul Schrieber, who died in November 2020.

Related Post: Former MLB Umpire Derryl Cousins Dead at 74 (10/20/20).

Related Post: Retired MLB Umpire Paul Schrieber Dies at 54 (11/13/20).

When FTX first appeared on umpire uniforms at the 2021 All-Star Game, it effectively replaced the memorial patches on the umpire's left sleeve. According to MLB's partnership announcement, FTX logo patches will continue to adorn all umpire uniforms for all MLB games.

Related Post: MLB Debuts Umpire Uniform Ads During All-Star Game (7/13/21).

At one point in 2017, the umpiring community was besieged by five concurrent deaths and wound up placing a fifth patch on the opposite sleeve, above the umpires' uniform numbers. Will the memorial patch tradition be afforded the opportunity to continue in that form? Only time will tell.

Related Post: Umpires Add 5th Memorial Patch for Bob Motley (9/30/17).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 098 - Greg Gibson (3; Charlie Montoyo)

HP Umpire Greg Gibson ejected Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo (untimely Replay Review challenge of out call at 1B; QOCY) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the #Rangers-#BlueJays game. With two out and none on, Blue Jays batter Cavan Biggio hit a 1-0 slider from Rangers pitcher Joe Barlow on the ground to second baseman Nick Solak, who threw to Barlow as Biggio arrived at first base, ruled out by 1B Umpire Stu Scheurwater for the inning's third out. Gibson subsequently denied Montoyo's attempt to challenge Scheurwater's out call, ruling that Montoyo had consumed more than 20 seconds from the end of the play until announcing his intent to challenge/request a review of the play in contravention of Replay Review regulations. Replays do not indicate that Montoyo informed Gibson of an intent to challenge the preceding play, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Blue Jays were leading, 6-0. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 10-2.

This is Greg Gibson (53)'s third ejection of 2021.

Greg Gibson now has 6 points in the UEFL Standings (2 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 6).

Crew Chief Greg Gibson now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 3).

Related Ejection: MLB Ejection 018 - Greg Gibson (2; Aaron Boone) (4/26/21).

This is the 98th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 48th manager ejection of 2021.

This is Toronto's 3rd ejection of 2021, T-2nd in the AL East (NYY 6; BOS, TOR 3; BAL 2; TB 0).

This is Charlie Montoyo's 1st ejection since August 16, 2020 (Vic Carapazza; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Greg Gibson's 3rd ejection of 2021, 1st since April 26 (Aaron Boone; QOC = N [Replay Timing]).

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays of Buffalo, 7/16/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Debuts Umpire Uniform Ads During All-Star Game

Major League Baseball unveiled its new partnership with cryptocurrency exchange FTX with ad patches debuting on umpire uniforms during the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, a notable choice for MLB's first-ever umpire uniform sponsor given Joe West's 2018 comment, regarding money and gambling in baseball: "it scares me to death."

MLB announced its partnership with FTX Trading Limited and West Realm Shires Services in June, writing that professional sports' first Official Cryptocurrency Exchange brand partnership would adorn umpire jerseys...which is somewhat of an ironic placement.

While umpires are largely entrusted with enforcing the rules of the game, cryptocurrencies are largely unregulated financial instruments that aren't exactly beholden to existing rules for securities, though recent comments from the SEC indicate a desire to craft new policy. Perhaps regulators could ask the umpires for help.

MLB Ejection 097 - Jansen Visconti (2; Brad Miller)

HP Umpire Jansen Visconti ejected Phillies DH Brad Miller (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Phillies-#RedSox game. With none out and none on, Miller took a 1-2 knuckle curve from Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (px 0.36, pz 1.71 [sz_bot 1.41 / RAD 1.29 / MOE 1.20]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 5-4. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Jansen Visconti (52)'s 2nd ejection of 2021.

Jansen Visconti now has 11 points in the UEFL Standings (7 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 11).

Crew Chief Jerry Meals now has 4 points in Crew Division (3 Previous + 1 QOCY = 4).

*This pitch was located 6.08 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 97th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 36th player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Brad Miller was 0-3 (2 SO) in the contest.

This is Philadelphia's 6th ejection of 2021, 1st in the NL East (PHI 6; MIA 5; NYM 4; WAS 2; ATL 0).

This is Brad Miller's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since May 20 (Dan Iassogna; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Jansen Visconti's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since April 10 (Manny Machado; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Boston Red Sox, 7/11/21 | Video as follows: