MLB Ejection 009 - Jeff Nelson (1; Charlie Montoyo)

HP Umpire Jeff Nelson ejected Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Athletics-#BlueJays game. With none out and none on, Blue Jays batter Lourdes Gurriel Jr took a 3-2 curveball from Athletics pitcher Dany Jimenez for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 1.05, pz 1.89), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 5-5. The A's ultimately won the contest, 7-5.

This is Jeff Nelson (45)'s 1st ejection of 2022.

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

Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has 2 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 2).

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

*This pitch was located 1.63 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the ninth ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 3rd manager ejection of 2022.

This is Toronto's 1st ejection of 2022, T-1st in the AL East (NYY, TB, TOR 1; BAL, BOS 0).

This is Charlie Montoyo's 1st ejection since July 16, 2021 (Greg Gibson; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Jeff Nelson's 1st ejection since September 13, 2021 (Rocco Baldelli; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 4/16/22 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 008 - Junior Valentine (1; Randy Arozarena)

HP Umpire Junior Valentine ejected Rays LF Randy Arozarena (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Rays-#WhiteSox game. With none out and one on, Arozarena took a 3-2 fastball from White Sox pitcher Reynaldo Lopez for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.08, pz 1.39 [sz_bot 1.51 / RAD 1.39]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 2-1. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Junior Valentine (115)'s 1st ejection of 2022.

Junior Valentine now has 4 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2 AAA + 2 Correct Call = 4).

Crew Chief Larry Vanover now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Prev + 1 Correct Call = 3).

This pitch was located 1.03 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the eighth ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 3rd player ejection of 2022. Prior to ejection, Arozarena was 1-3 (SO) in the contest.

This is Tampa Bay's 1st ejection of 2022, T-1st in the AL East (NYY, TB 1; BAL, BOS, TOR 0).

This is Randy Arozarena's first career MLB ejection.

This is Junior Valentine's 1st ejection since May 24, 2021 (Pete Walker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago White Sox, 4/16/22 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 007 - Tom Hallion (1; Aaron Boone)

HP Umpire Tom Hallion ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone (ball four call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 11th inning of the #Yankees-#Orioles game. With two out and the bases loaded, Orioles batter Ramon Urias took a 3-2 slider from Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and above the midpoint (px 0.55, pz 3.53 [sz_top 3.37 / RAD 3.49]) and that all other pitches during the at-bat were properly officiated, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Orioles had won the contest, 2-1.

This is Tom Hallion (20)'s 1st ejection of 2022.

Tom Hallion now has 4 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 4).

Crew Chief Tom Hallion now has 3 points in Crew Division (2 Prev + 1 Correct Call = 3).

*This pitch was located 1.48 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the seventh ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 2nd manager ejection of 2022.

This is New York's 1st ejection of 2022, 1st in the AL East (NYY 1; BAL, BOS, TB, TOR 0).

This is Aaron Boone's 1st ejection since Sept 5, 2021 (Jeff Nelson; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Tom Hallion's 1st ejection since Sept 3, 2021 (Andy Green; QOC = Y [Slide Interference NC]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles, 4/15/22 | Video as follows:

Abandonment Issues During a Home Run

Although Texas Tech batter Sam Hunt batted a ball over the outfield wall, in flight and in fair territory, during a college game against Kansas, he nonetheless was declared out while running the bases. Was abandonment the proper ruling here and why is that?

The Play: Simply put, Hunt hit a deep fly ball to center field that left the ballpark for an apparent home run. Kansas center fielder Sergio Rivera, however, leapt in an effort to catch the ball (failed to catch the ball), and in turn Hunt mistakenly thought Rivera had caught the fly ball for an out, leaving the base path and jogging toward his team's third-base dugout before realizing his error at some point around shallow shortstop, attempting to run back to touch second base.

The Call: If our 2B Umpire had incorrectly ruled Hunt out for the catch (that didn't exist), we would have a situation in which we could correct harm caused by an incorrect call. That's not what happened though. 

The 2B Umpire properly ruled and signaled a home run well before Hunt began to peel off without making an effort to run the bases, meaning our 3B Umpire came in and called Hunt out for abandonment.

The Rule: NCAA rules largely agree with OBR (and NFHS) here that a runner is out for abandonment, defined as, "The act of any runner who leaves the base path, after reaching first base, heading for their dugout or defensive position believing there is no further play" (NCAA 2-1). OBR 5.09(b)(2) elucidates the abandonment out: "After touching first base, they leave the base path, obviously abandoning their effort to touch the next base." NCAA 8-5-c is similar in declaring the runner out.

High school, for what its worth, uses baseline instead of base path but for a dead ball base award (HR) situation like this, it hardly makes a realistic difference: "After at least touching first base, leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning their effort to touch the next base" (NFHS 8-4-2p).

Conclusion: This is abandonment and properly officiated. When the runner leaves the base path under the auspices of the rules above, said runner is immediately out. There is no appeal play, this is an umpire-initiated call. As such, a runner can not be "undeclared" out simply by returning after-the-fact to run the bases for the runner, again, is retired immediately upon the umpire ruling abandonment, which, by virtue of Hunt's actions, appears to have been what occurred.

Video as follows:

Teachable - Missed Base Appeal at First, Tosi's Tally

In this edition of Tmac's Teachable Moments, we follow 1B Umpire Alex Tosi as he rules Giants batter-runner Mike Yastrzemski out for missing first base, but only after appeal by Brewers fielder Rowdy Tellez.

An appeal is defined in the Official Baseball Rules as "the act of a fielder in claiming violation of the rules by the offensive team."

The appeal here is that the offense failed to touch first base, as in OBR 5.06(b)(1), and the rule stating the runner shall be called out on appeal is 5.09(c)(2) ("fails to touch each base in order before they, or a missed base, are tagged").

This Teachable illustrates how to rule on this appeal and how to recognize when the defense is appealing.

Video as follows:

Upon Further Review - The Antoan Richardson Ejection

After Giants 1B Coach Antoan Richardson's Tuesday night ejection after an argument with Padres 3B Coach Mike Shildt, postgame comments referred to racist undertones, spurring widespread social debate both on CCS and around the sports world.

In this video—which is bound to generate controversy and divide our audience because of the nature of some of our YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Discord comments over the past week—Lindsay discusses the importance of words, as well as initiatives such as MLB's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion program.

Video as follows:

Teachable - Rundown Obstruction is No Angel

After Braves runner Guillermo Heredia scored on obstruction by Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, we received an Ask the UEFL about 3B Umpire Angel Hernandez's call: was this really obstruction? Tmac put together a Teachable to help unravel the rundown mystery in Atlanta.

Play & Call: With one out and two on (R1, R2), Braves batter Ozzie Albies hit a ground ball to Nats first baseman Josh Bell, who stepped on first and threw to second base (thus removing the force play), ensnaring trailing baserunner R1 Orlando Arcia in a rundown between first and second. As this was happening, Braves lead runner R2 Heredia broke for home plate, drawing a throw and setting up a rundown between third and home. Heredia ultimately collided with Washington catcher Ruiz, drawing an obstruction call from 3B Umpire Hernandez.

Analysis: This is an example of Obstruction Type 1 (formerly Type A), a runner obstructed while a play is being made on the runner. Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(1) states: "If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before they touch first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire’s judgment, if there had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base they had last legally touched before the obstruction."

By contrast, Type 2 obstruction (OBR 6.01(h)(2)) applies to a situation wherein a runner is obstructed while no play is being made on said runner (e.g., a batted ball is rolling toward the outfield wall while R1 is obstructed rounding second base) and states that runners are awarded bases pursuant to a nullify-the-act-of-obstruction principle. 

On Type 1 obstruction, the ball is immediately dead.

On Type 2 obstruction, the ball is dead at the end of the play.

Thus, R2 Heredia is automatically awarded home plate while R1 Arcia is given the base he would have reached had there been no obstruction. In real-time, this turned out to be an award of third base while on video replay, it looks as if R1 Arcia might more properly have been placed at second base.

OBR vs NCAA vs NFHS: In OBR (and NCAA), Obstruction Type 1 results in an immediate dead ball while Type 2 keeps the ball alive until conclusion of play. NFHS likes to keep things alive for all obstruction cases until the natural conclusion of play.

Sidebar: Regardless, another question we were asked pertains to R2 Heredia's base path and whether any infraction occurred here relative to the baseline. The answer is that R2 ran legally. Remember, "A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely" (OBR 5.09(b)(1)). Thus, Heredia's base path effectively resets each time a new Nats player throws the ball to a teammate and is established anew when the new fielder receives the ball and engages in an attempt to tag (e.g., chase) the runner (a baseline is just a line on the ground that doesn't mean much other than fair/foul and a certain intentional interference by retired runner rule).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 006 - Greg Gibson (1; Antoan Richardson)

3B Umpire Greg Gibson ejected Giants 1B Coach Antoan Richardson (Unsportsmanlike-NEC) at the end of the 2nd inning of the #Padres-#Giants game. With two out and one on (R1) with the Giants leading the Padres 10-1, Giants baserunner R1 Steven Duggar stole second base without a throw. Replays indicate that after the conclusion of the inning, Padres 3B Coach Mike Shildt and Giants 1B Coach Richardson became engaged in an argument, resulting in Gibson's ejection of Richardson for unsporting conduct, the call was irrecusable.* At the time of the ejection, the Giants were leading, 10-1. The Giants ultimately won the contest, 13-2.

This is Greg Gibson (53)'s 1st ejection of 2022.

Greg Gibson now has 3 points in the UEFL Standings (1 Previous + 2 MLB + 0 Irrecusable = 3).

Crew Chief Greg Gibson now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Prev + 1 Irrecusable Call = 2).

*This ejection led to Alyssa Nakken becoming the first woman to appear as an on-field (base) coach in a Major League game. Nakken replaced Richardson as 1B Coach following the ejection.

This is the sixth ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is San Francisco's 1st ejection of 2022, 1st in the NL West (SF 1; ARI, COL, LAD, SD 0).

This is Antoan Richardson's first career MLB ejection.

This is Greg Gibson's 1st ejection since September 22, 2021 (Bob Melvin; QOC = N [Foul/Ball]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants, 4/12/22 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 005 - Alfonso Marquez (1; Jeremy Reed)

HP Umpire Alfonso Marquez ejected Angels hitting coach Jeremy Reed (check swing strike three call by 1B Umpire Lance Barrett) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #Marlins-#Angels game. With two out and one on (R3), Angels batter Matt Duffy attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 curveball from Marlins pitcher Jesus Luzardo, ruled a swinging strike strike on appeal to 1B Umpire Barrett. This play was reviewed and overturned by the UEFL Appeals Board (8-0), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 1-1. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Alfonso Marquez (72)'s 1st ejection of 2022.

Alfonso Marquez now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2 MLB - 2 Incorrect-Crewmate = 0).

Crew Chief Alfonso Marquez now has 2 points in Crew Division (2 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 2).

This is the fifth ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is Los Angeles' 1st ejection of 2022, 1st in the AL West (LAA 1; HOU, OAK, SEA, TEX 0).

This is Jeremy Reed's first career MLB ejection.

This is Alfonso Marquez's 1st ejection since October 25, 2021 (Brian Snitker; QOC = Y [Replay]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs. Los Angeles Angels of Gene Autry Way | Video as follows:

Teachable - Whatcha Talkin' Bout, Wills?

Major League wedge-work continued early in 2022 as HP Umpire Ryan Wills officiated a close play at home plate, upheld via Replay Review, during Sunday's Astros-Angels series finale on a sacrifice fly attempt off the bat of Mike Trout.

With one out and two on (R2, R3), Trout hit a fly ball to Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker, who threw home as Angles baserunner R3 Tyler Wade tagged from third base and attempted to score.

As Tucker's throw arrived into catcher Martin Maldonado's mitt at home plate, Wade slid headfirst in an attempt to avoid the tag while still being able to touch the foul-most corner of the plate.

In this Teachable Moment, tmac works us through Wills' positioning at the dish and how taking a few steps to his right, staying on catcher Maldonado's action-side hip (e.g., the left hip closest to the runner) enabled Wills to gain a keyhole angle to not only see the tag/no tag part of the play, but also to best judge whether runner Wade touched home plate or not as well as any potential plate blocking violation or other home plate collision rule issue that might have arisen.

With Wills ruling that the runner missed the plate touch, Wills patiently signaled nothing, refraining from ruling the runner out until the catcher tagged the runner just beyond the dirt area behind home plate. For the rules aficionados out there, this is an appeal play, as in OBR 5.09(c), for a missed base touch (R3 Wade never made an attempt to go back and touch home plate, believing he had touched it his first time by), for had Maldonado thrown to third base instead (to make a play on trailing runner R2 Shohei Ohtani), assuming Ohtani would have been safe, and the Astros never made a play on R3 Wade (or home plate itself), the run would have scored.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 004 - Nick Mahrley (1; Don Mattingly)

HP Umpire Nick Mahrley ejected Marlins manager Don Mattingly (strike one call; QOCN) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Marlins-#Angels game. With one out and none on, Marlins batter Jesus Aguilar took a 1-0 slider from Angels pitcher Michael Lorenzen for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.27, pz 1.27 [sz_bot 1.60 / RAD 1.48 / MOE 1.39]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Angels were leading, 4-1. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 6-2.

This is Nick Mahrley (48)'s 1st ejection of 2022.
Nick Mahrley now has -2 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Prev + 2 AAA - 4 Incorrect Call = -2).
Crew Chief Alfonso Marquez now has 1 point in Crew Division (1 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = 1).

*This pitch was located 1.49 vertical inches from being deemed a correct call.

This is the fourth ejection report of the 2022 MLB regular season.

This is the 1st manager ejection of 2022.

This is Miami's 1st ejection of 2022, 2nd in the NL East (WAS 2; MIA 1; ATL, NYM, PHI 0).

This is Don Mattingly's 1st ejection since Sept 25, 2021 (Manny Gonzalez; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Nick Mahrley's 1st ejection since Sept 23, 2020 (Chris Woodward; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins of Miami vs Los Angeles Angels, 4/11/22 | Video as follows:

Teachable - Less is Moore for Malachi's Out at Home

Tmac's first Teachable Moment of 2022 spotlights HP Umpire Malachi Moore in a preseason Los Angeles game at Dodger Stadium as Moore's out call on Angels runner Brandon Marsh at home plate was confirmed via Replay Review following an unsuccessful challenge by manager Joe Maddon.

With one out and one on (R3) in the top of the 6th inning of Tuesday's Angels-Dodgers game, R3 Marsh attempted to score on a potential wild pitch from Dodgers pitcher Brusdar Graterol, who recovered to receive catcher Austin Barnes' throw and tag Marsh as he slid toward home plate, ruled an out by HP Umpire Moore.

Replays confirmed Moore's ruling (Marsh's front leg was in the air and never did quite touch home plate) and in this Teachable, we see that Moore first cleared the catcher before working the wedge with patient, measured and controlled movement to find an angle that would allow him to see through the keyhole created in the open space between the pitcher's left hip and runner's leading leg.

Viewing the play from multiple angles helps further substantiate the importance of necessary adjustment before setting oneself to make a call (with a potential read step if last-second adjustment is needed), as this play opened up quite nicely from Moore's position to the left-handed batter's box side of home plate, as opposed to a point-of-plate angle suggested by the broadcast's high home camera.

Video as follows: