Injury Scout - Chris Guccione Leaves Game in Toronto

HP Umpire Chris Guccione exited Saturday's #Orioles-#BlueJays game in Toronto following the top of the 3rd inning. According to the Blue Jays broadcast, Guccione left the field due to an accelerated heart rate.

Guccione approached Blue Jays staff following the final out of Baltimore's 3rd inning and was taken to the home team's clubhouse for further evaluation and treatment. After a delay, 2B Umpire Chris Conroy replaced Guccione behind home plate with 1B Umpire and Crew Chief Mark Wegner staying at first base and 3B Umpire Alan Porter remaining at third base as the crew completed the game with three umpires.

Relevant Injury History: There is no relevant injury history.

Last Game: Oct 2 | Return to Play: 2022 | Time Absent: Rest of Season | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 188 - Phil Cuzzi (4; Jordy Mercer)

HP Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Nationals 2B Jordy Mercer (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #RedSox-#Nationals game. With two out and the bases loaded, Mercer took a 2-2 fastball from Red Sox pitcher Ryan Brasier for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.20, pz 1.71 [sz_bot 1.60 / RAD 1.48]) and that all other pitches were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 1-0. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

This is Phil Cuzzi (10)'s 4th ejection of 2021.

Phil Cuzzi now has 10 points in the UEFL Standings (6 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 10).

Crew Chief Fieldin Culbreth now has 5 points in Crew Division (4 Previous + 1 QOCY = 5).

*This pitch was located 3.79 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 188th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 76th player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Mercer was 0-3 (SO) in the contest.

This is Washington's 8th ejection of 2021, 3rd in the NL East (MIA 10; PHI 9; WAS 8; NYM 7; ATL 1).

This is Jordy Mercer's first career MLB ejection.

This is Phil Cuzzi's 4th ejection of 2021, 1st since Sept 18 (Jayce Tingler; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs. Washington Nationals, 10/2/21 | Video as follows:

Brian Gorman Announces Retirement Prior to Final Game

30-year NL and MLB umpire Brian Gorman officiated his final regular season game in Los Angeles Thursday night vs San Diego. The veteran of more than 3,400 career games will retire at the end of 2021.

Gorman was born in New York and worked his first major league game in the National League on April 24, 1991. After opting out of MLB's modified 2020 season, Gorman returned in 2021 to complete his career. With one Wild Card Game, 10 Division Series, seven League Championship Series, and three World Series, Gorman's postseason experience could still land him a spot on a big league field during the 2021 postseason.

As stated on the Dodgers' broadcast, Gorman traveled to St Louis to watch Gerry Davis work his 5,000th career (regular + post-season) game during Sunday's Cubs-Cardinals 2021 regular season finale. Davis, the league's second senior-most umpire, and Joe West, who has officiated the most games in major league history, were placed on the same crew for the penultimate series of the regular season as they prepare for their own retirements from baseball. After Thursday's Brewers-Cardinals game, West traveled to San Francisco to close out the regular season with Padres-Giants.

Teachable - Hallion Hustle on Sliding Tag Play in Chicago

When Chicago walked off a day after umpire Tom Hallion ejected Cubs interim manager Andy Green in David Ross' absence, it was Hallion at first base who ruled batter-runner Frank Schwindel safe, having eluded Pirates first baseman Colin Moran's tag attempt. The call was upheld following Replay Review.

Tmac turns Hallion's hustle into a teachable moment as the crew chief demonstrates the principles of how getting into position to find the keyhole angle helps make for more accurate calls. In this situation, Hallion runs in toward first base, in fair territory roughly parallel to the right field foul line, and sells the safe call with repeated mechanics for this game-ending play.

Video as follows:

Foul Ball vs HBP vs Swinging (Dead Ball) Strike - Herrera

When Phillies batter Odubel Herrera pulled his bat back from a bunt attempt as Mets pitcher Brad Hand's offering ran in, HP Umpire CB Bucknor faced one of baseball's most difficult calls: deciphering whether the result was a foul ball, hit-by-pitch, or dead ball strike due to the batter's attempt to strike the ball.

Tmac breaks down the play as it occurred, with Herrera dropping the bat as the pitch arrived, and the ball first contacting Herrera's person before then making contact with the discarded bat on its way to the ground, producing a distinct sound of a ball hitting a bat, but as Replay Review would show, the primary point of contact (the first point of contact) was the ball hitting Herrera's hand as Herrera attempted to avoid the pitch (as opposed to failing to check a swing or attempting to bunt it), meaning that Herrera was awarded first base with a hit-by-pitch.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 186-187 - Lance Barrett (5-6; CWS x2)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected White Sox bench coach Miguel Cairo and bench player Tim Anderson (USC-NEC following Jose Abreu's HBP by Alex Lange and preceding a benches-clearing incident) in the top of the 9th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Tigers game. With one out and none on, Tigers batter Abreu took a 0-2 fastball from Tigers pitcher Lange for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located off inside and struck Abreu on the left elbow. Upon arriving at first base, Abreu attempted to steal second on a pitch in the dirt and while being thrown out by Tigers catcher Eric Haase, slid into shortstop Niko Goodrum, resulting in a benches-clearing incident during which 2B Umpire Tim Timmons appeared to restrain Abreu from fighting, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejections, the White Sox were leading, 8-7. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 8-7.

These are is Lance Barrett (16)'s 5th and 6th ejections of 2021.

Lance Barrett now has 22 points in the UEFL Standings (18 Prev + 2*[2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable] = 22).

Crew Chief Alfonso Marquez now has 13 points in Crew Division (11 Previous + 2 QOCU = 13).

These are the 186th and 187th reports of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 75th player ejection of 2021. Prior to ejection, Anderson did not participate in the contest.

This is Chicago's 9/10th ejection of 2021, 1st in the AL Central (CWS 10; KC, MIN 5; CLE, DET 2).

This is Miguel Cairo's 1st ejection since July 16, 2012 (Dan Bellino; QOC = Y [Fair/Foul]).

This is Tim Anderson's 2nd ejection of 2021, 1st since July 23 (John Libka; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Lance Barrett's 5th ejection of 2021, 1st since August 8 (Scott Servais; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers, 9/27/21 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 185 - Bill Miller (4; Mike Shildt)

HP Umpire Bill Miller ejected Cardinals manager Mike Shildt (infield fly rule/changed out/safe/"Time" call by 2B Umpire Doug Eddings; QOCN) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Cardinals-#Cubs game. With one out and two on (R1, R2), Cubs batter Frank Schwindel hit a 1-0 slider from Cardinals pitcher Giovanny Gallegos in the air along the third-base line, dropped in fair territory and ruled an infield fly as Cubs baserunners R2 Austin Romine advanced to third base and R1 Rafael Ortega advanced to second base. Replays indicate the batted ball fit the criteria of an infield fly (less than two out, R1 & R2, fair fly ball that could have been caught by an infielder employing ordinary effort) and that the Cardinals fielders tagged the bases, as in a force play, instead of tagging the runners, but also tagged Cubs runner Ortega after Ortega stepped off second base; although 2B Umpire Eddings called "Time" prior to the tag out (and no runner may be tagged out in this fashion while the ball is dead), the play was not subject to being declared dead in accordance with OBR 5.12 (Calling "Time"), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 4-2. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Bill Miller (26)'s 4th ejection of 2021.

Bill Miller now has 8 points in the UEFL Standings (8 Prev + 2 MLB - 2 Incorrect-Crewmate = 8).

Crew Chief Bill Miller now has 7 points in Crew Division (7 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 7).

This is the 185th ejection report of the 2021 MLB regular season.

This is the 84th manager ejection of 2021.

This is St Louis' 4th ejection of 2021, 4th in the NL Central (MIL 16; CIN 12; CHC 8; STL 4; PIT 3).

This is Mike Shildt's 5th ejection of 2021, 1st since July 25 (Ron Kulpa; QOC = N [Replay Review]).

This is Bill Miller's 4th ejection of 2021, 1st since July 20 (Joe Maddon; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: St Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs, 9/26/21 | Video as follows: