MLB Ejection 072 - Adam Hamari (3; Jesse Winker)

HP Umpire Adam Hamari ejected Brewers DH Jesse Winker (pitch clock violation—automatic strike call; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Brewers-#Rays game. With two out and one on, Winker was called for a batter's pitch clock violation for failing to be in the batter's box and alert to the pitcher by the eight-second mark on the pitch timer, and was assessed an automatic strike as a result. Replays indicate Winker was not in the batter's box and alert to the pitcher prior to the eight-second mark as required by rule, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 8-4. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

This is Adam Hamari (78)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

This is the 72nd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 32nd player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 33 Managers, 32 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Milwaukee's 4th ejection of 2023, T-1st in the NL Central (MIL, STL 4; PIT 3; CHC, CIN 2).

This is Jesse Winker's 1st ejection since June 26, 2022 (Adrian Johnson; QOC = U [Fighting]).

This is Adam Hamari's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = Y [Pitch Clock]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs Tampa Bay Rays, 5/20/23 | Video as follows:

Two Torontonians Tagged on Third Base - Who is Out?

Trapped in a rundown, Blue Jays baserunner R3 Brandon Belt retreated to third base, only to find following runner R2 Matt Chapman standing on the base. Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman tagged both and 3B Umpire Adam Beck called preceding runner R3 Belt out...was this the correct ruling?

Toronto batter Danny Jansen's infield ground ball-turned-fielder's choice brings up the two runners-one-base discussion and reference to Official Baseball Rule 5.06(a)(2), which states, "Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be out when tagged and the preceding runner is entitled to the base, unless Rule 5.06(b)(2) applies."

OBR 5.06(b)(2), in turn states that in the specific case of a force play, it is the following/trail runner who is entitled to the base and not the preceding/lead runner, since the force play, well, forces, the following runner to advance.

The MLB Umpire Manual makes it even easier to understand: "If two runners are touching a base at the same time, the following runner is out when tagged (unless, of course, the lead runner is forced)."

Thus, when U3 Beck called preceding runner R3 Belt out on the tag, on a non-force play, this was the incorrect runner to call out. After the play, HP Umpire Dan Iassogna and crew met to correct the incorrect ruling and properly declare R2 Chapman out, placing R3 Belt back on third base.

A few innings later, HP Umpire Iassogna had to remind Blue Jays manager John Schneider during a mound visit with pitcher Alek Manoah that his pitching coach, Pete Walker, had already made a mound visit to Manoah earlier that inning, requiring Manoah's removal from the game for Schneider's second trip to the same pitcher during the same inning.

To cover all bases, that rule is OBR 5.10(l)(2): "A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal from the game."

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 070-1 - Hunter Wendelstedt (2-3; MIA x2)

1B Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Marlins catcher Jacob Stallings and manager Skip Schumaker (pitch clock violation by HP Umpire Marvin Hudson; QOCN) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Marlins-#Giants game. With none out and none on, Giants batter JD Davis took a 3-2 fastball from Marlins pitcher Bryan Hoeing for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate HP Umpire Hudson signaled "Time" as Hoeing was in the midst of his delivery to home plate and that, prior to that, batter Davis failed to be alert to the pitcher prior to the eight-second mark on the pitch timer; this should have been a pitch timer violation on the batter, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejections, the Giants were leading, 4-3. The Giants ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

These are Hunter Wendelstedt (21)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2023.

*In postgame comments, Crew Chief Hudson stated, "He [Stallings] stood up and called time with about three seconds left. [He] never mentioned at that point about going to the mound. At that point, it’s a violation on him. It’s Ball 4 for the batter because it was a 3-2 count...When he called time and didn’t tell me right away he was going to the mound, that turned into a violation."

According to Stallings, however, "[1B Umpire Wendelstedt] kept telling me I’m not allowed to call time."

According to Schumaker, "Davis was not engaged for me. Stallings was trying to call timeout to show that he was not engaged and it should be a strike. He’s trying to call timeout. He’s allowed to call timeout to go run out to talk to the pitcher. He wasn’t granted it. And then we saw the umpire call timeout with his hands up. He [Stallings] said he [Hudson] called the timeout. That was the disagreement. It was still Ball 4."

These are the 70th and 71st ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 31st player ejection of 2023.

This is the 33rd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 33 Managers, 31 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Miami's 5/6th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL East (MIA 6; PHI 5; NYM 2; ATL 1; WAS 0).

This is Jacob Stallings' 1st ejection since Sept 18, 2020 (Jeremie Rehak; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Skip Schumaker's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 22 (Dan Merzel; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Hunter Wendelstedt's 2/3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 5 (Kyle Freeland; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs San Francisco Giants, 5/19/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 069 - Brian O'Nora (1; David Bell)

HP Umpire Brian O'Nora ejected Reds manager David Bell (illegal substance check/non-ejection of Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt) in the 5th inning of the #Yankees-#Reds game. Earlier in the contest when inspecting Schmidt's hand, 3B Umpire Nestor Ceja appeared to have detected something, but did not appear to advise the pitcher to perform any corrective action. Prior to the bottom of the 5th inning, the entire crew met with pitcher Schmidt with 1B Umpire Pat Hoberg instructing him, "wash it off" pertaining to something on his hand. When Schmidt then returned to the field, HP Umpire O'Nora conducted an inspection and allowed Schmidt to take the mound to resume the game. At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 1-0. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 6-2.

This is Brian O'Nora (7)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

Related Ejection: MLB Ejection 013 - James Hoye (1; Rocco Baldelli) (4/15/23).

Related Ejection: MLB Ejection 017 - Phil Cuzzi (1; Max Scherzer) (4/19/23).

Related Ejection: MLB Ejection 065 - James Hoye (1; Domingo German) (5/16/23).

This it the 69th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 32nd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 32 Managers, 30 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Cincinnati's 2nd ejection of 2023, T-4th in the NL Central (STL 4; MIL, PIT 3; CHC, CIN 2).

This is David Bell's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (Erich Bacchus; QOC = U [EJ No-Call]).

This is Brian O'Nora's 1st ejection since May 2, 2021 (Chris Woodward; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Cincinnati Reds, 5/19/23 | Video as follows:

CCS Twofer - Bundy's Sticky Ejection & Intentional Drop ?

The third inning of the Syracuse-Norfolk game proved eventful when Triple-A Mets pitcher Dylan Bundy was ejected by 1B Umpire Robert Nunez for failing a foreign substance inspection. Seconds earlier, Syracuse turned a double play on an intentional drop no-call when 3B Umpire Dillon Wilson ruled that Mets second baseman Ronny Mauricio did not intentionally drop a line drive from Tides batter Daz Cameron, resulting in an inning-ending double play with runners on first and second and one out.

Moments later, the entire crew of three umpires met along the third base dugout to inspect Bundy's glove and hand, with Crew Chief Nunez signaling Bundy's ejection seconds later for violating the illegal substance rule.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(12) puts the batter out for a fielder's intentional drop under certain circumstances: "An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases."

The intentional drop rule is related, but distinct from, the infield fly rule, which is the better-known rule. Here's a quick comparison of the intentional drop rule vs the infield fly rule. The primary differences are an intentional drop rule applies to a runner on first (only) as well as runners on first and second or the bases loaded with less than two out (the infield fly rule is R1 & R2 or the bases loaded, but NOT R1 only), an infield fly is called whether or not the fielder touches the ball (the intentional drop rule requires the fielder touch and drop the ball), and an infield fly keeps the ball alive while the intentional drop rule causes it to become dead.

Infield Fly Rule: R1 & R2 or bases loaded with <2 out

Intentional Drop Rule: R1, R1 & R3, R1 & R2, or loaded w <2 out

Infield Fly: Fair fly ball that can be caught w ordinary effort

Intention Drop: Fair fly or line drive intentionally dropped

Infield Fly: Batter out, ball remains live, runners advance at their own risk.

INT Drop: Batter out, ball is dead, runners return.

Video as follows:

Gardenhire Ejected After MiLB Double Play on Liner to 3B

Following his father's footsteps in the Twins organization, St Paul Saints manager Toby Gardenhire was ejected for arguing a double play in Columbus as umpires ruled that a line drive to third base thought to have been caught was really dropped, enabling the Triple-A Clippers to turn two when the batter-runner failed to run to first base.

With none out and one on (R1) in the top of the 5th inning of the Saints-Clippers game, Saints batter Jose Miranda hit a line drive to third base, where Clippers third baseman Jhonkensy Noel dove in an attempt to catch the ball. With 3B Umpire Jacob Metz working inside at second base due to the runner at first base in a crew of three, that left the home plate umpire with calling responsibility along the left field foul line.

HP Umpire Tanner Dobson ruled that the fair ball was not caught on the fly, signaling "fair" then "safe", but only Clippers catcher Zack Collins seemed to pay attention to his call—third baseman Noel, as well as Saints baserunner R1 Andrew Stevenson and batter-runner Miranda, played without regard to the safe call, enabling the Clippers to turn a double play when Miranda simply didn't run to first base until it was too late. After review, the call stood and 3B Umpire Metz ejected Gardenhire for continuing to argue.

To review, this is the proper mechanic for a crew of three with a runner on first base: the third base umpire is in the middle infield, leaving batted balls to third base and down the left field line for the plate umpire to officiate.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 068 - Dan Iassogna (3; Gavin Sheets)

HP Umpire Dan Iassogna ejected White Sox RF Gavin Sheets (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Guardians-#WhiteSox game. With two out and none on, Sheets took a 2-2 fastball from Guardians pitcher Xzavion Curry for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.45, pz 1.32 [sz_bot 1.64 / RAD 1.52 / MOE 1.44]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 7-2. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 7-2.
 
This is Dan Iassogna (58)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.44 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 68th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 30th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 31 Managers, 30 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Chicago's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL Central (CWS 5; MIN 3; KC 2; DET 1; CLE 0).

This is Gavin Sheets' first career MLB ejection.

This is Dan Iassogna's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 6 (Rocco Baldelli; QOC = Y [Out of Base Path]).

Wrap: Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox, 5/17/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 067 - Nic Lentz (2; AJ Hinch)

HP Umpire Nic Lentz ejected Tigers manager AJ Hinch (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #Pirates-#Tigers game. With one out and one on (R1), Tigers batter Eric Haase took 2-0 and 2-2 cutters from Pirates pitcher Rich Hill for called first and third strikes. Replays indicate the 2-0 pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and thigh high while the 2-2 pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the midpoint (strike one: px -0.78, pz 1.97 [sz_bot 1.50]; strike three: px -0.73, pz 2.84 [sz_top 3.22]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 3-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 8-0.

This is Nic Lentz (59)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

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

K1 was located 1.61 horiz and K3 was located 2.21 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 67th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 31st manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 31 Managers, 29 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Detroit's 1st ejection of 2023, 4th in the AL Central (CWS 4; MIN 3; KC 2; DET 1; CLE 0).

This is AJ Hinch's 1st ejection since August 13, 2022 (Jerry Layne; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Nic Lentz's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 5 (Kevin Long; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers, 5/17/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 066 - Paul Emmel (2; Tucupita Marcano)

HP Umpire Paul Emmel ejected Pirates SS Tucupita Marcano after the top of the 9th inning of the #Pirates-#Tigers game. With two out and none on, Marcano took a 2-2 fastball from Tigers pitcher Jose Cisnero for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.57, pz 1.44 [sz_bot 1.56 / RAD 1.44 / MOE 1.36]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Tigers had won the contest, 4-0.

This is Paul Emmel (50)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.00 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 66th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 29th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 30 Managers, 29 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Pittsburgh's 3rd ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the NL Central (STL 4; MIL, PIT 3; CHC 2; CIN 1).

This is Tucupita Marcano's first career MLB ejection.

This is Paul Emmel's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 5 (Brent Rooker; QOC = N [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers, 5/16/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 065 - James Hoye (1; Domingo German)

HP Umpire James Hoye ejected Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán (failed illegal substance check) in the 4th inning of the #Yankees-#BlueJays game. While performing his MLB-mandated foreign substance inspection in the 4th inning, HP Umpire Hoye discovered an illegal substance on German's hands, resulting in ejection for violating the league's illegal substance policy and Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(7), the call was irrecusable.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 2-0.

This is James Hoye (92)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

Related Ejection: MLB Ejection 013 - James Hoye (1; Rocco Baldelli) (4/15/23).

Related Ejection: MLB Ejection 017 - Phil Cuzzi (1; Max Scherzer) (4/19/23).

*OBR 6.02(c)(7): "The pitcher shall not have on their person, or in their possession, any foreign substance."

This is the 65th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 28th player ejection of 2023.

This is the 30th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 30 Managers, 28 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is New York's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL East (NYY 4; BAL, BOS 3; TB 2; TOR 1).

This is Domingo German's first career MLB ejection.

This is James Hoye's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 15 (Rocco Baldelli; QOC = U [Substance]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays, 5/16/23 | Video as follows:

Where in the World is Angel Hernandez - Umpire Scheduling

MLB Umpire Angel Hernandez has not worked a game since April 3 in Chicago, his crew's Opening Day, leading many of you to ask where in the world is he? We discuss how the umpire scheduling process works and sleuth around to discover that a back injury—not anything more nefarious as some of you had posited—is behind this 33-year big league umpire's early season absence.

Many umpires who find themselves on officiating's Injured List for a significant period of time will work rehab games in the minor leagues as they prepare to return; to date, Hernandez has not yet but the general procedure is to hold off until medical clearance and once the doctor says okay, the umpire can begin work to return to the field.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 063-4 - Brock Ballou (2-3; ARI x2)

1B Umpire Brock Ballou ejected Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo and pitcher Merrill Kelly (check swing ball two call) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Dbacks-#Athletics game. With none out and none on, A's batter Jordan Diaz attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 slider from Diamondbacks pitcher Kelly, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt and affirmed on appeal by 1B Umpire Ballou as no swing. At the time of the ejections, the Diamondbacks were leading, 5-2. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

These are Brock Ballou (119)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2023.

These are the 63rd and 64th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 27th player ejection of 2023.

This is the 30th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 30 Managers, 27 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Arizona's 3/4th ejection of 2023, T-1st in the NL West (ARI, COL 4; LAD, SD 2; SF 0).

This is Torey Lovullo's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 12 (Gabe Morales; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Brock Ballou's 2/3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 11 (Bob Melvin; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Oakland Athletics, 5/15/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 062 - Clint Vondrak (1; Aaron Boone)

HP Umpire Clint Vondrak ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone (strike two call to Aaron Judge; QOCN) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Yankees-#BlueJays game. With two out and none on, Yankees batter Judge took a 1-1 slider from Blue Jays pitcher Jay Jackson for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.24, pz 1.41 [sz_bot 1.82 / RAD 1.70 / MOE 1.62]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 6-0. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Clint Vondrak (116)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 2.52 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 62nd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 29th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 29 Managers, 26 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is New York's 3rd ejection of 2023, T-1st in the AL East (BAL, BOS, NYY 3; TB 2; TOR 1).

This is Aaron Boone's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 12 (Larry Vanover; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Clint Vondrak's 1st ejection since Sept 11, 2022 (Derek Shelton; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays, 5/15/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 061 - Dan Bellino (2; Mark Kotsay)

HP Umpire Dan Bellino ejected A's manager Mark Kotsay (ball two call; QOCN) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Rangers-#Athletics game. With one out and one on (R2), Rangers batter Jonah Heim took a 1-1 fastball from A's pitcher Austin Pruitt for a called second ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.73, pz 2.26), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Rangers were leading, 4-3. The Rangers ultimately won the contest, 11-3.

This is Dan Bellino (2)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.22 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 61st ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 28th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 28 Managers, 26 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is Oakland's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL West (OAK 3; HOU, SEA 2; LAA, TEX 1).

This is Mark Kotsay's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (Adam Hamari; QOC = Y [Pitch Clock]).

This is Dan Bellino's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (Robert Van Scoyoc; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs Oakland Athletics, 5/14/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 060 - Mike Muchlinski (1; Matt Blake)

HP Umpire Mike Muchlinski ejected Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake (ball four call; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Rays-#Yankees game. With two out and two on, Rays batter Josh Lowe took a 3-2 knuckle curve from Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt for a called fourth ball before Rays batter Taylor Walls hit a grand slam against Yankees relief pitcher Albert Abreu. Replays indicate the fourth ball to Lowe was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.78, pz 2.63), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 8-4. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 8-7.

This is Mike Muchlinski (76)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.39 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 60th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 7th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 27 Managers, 26 Players, 7 Coaches.

This is New York's 2nd ejection of 2023, T-3rd in the AL East (BAL, BOS 3; NYY, TB 2; TOR 1).

This is Matt Blake's 1st ejection since Aug 7, 2022 (Vic Carapazza; QOC = N-c [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Mike Muchlinski's 1st ejection since June 1, 2022 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees, 5/14/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 057-59 - Ryan Wills (1-3; PHI-COL)

HP Umpire Ryan Wills ejected Phillies manager Rob Thomson (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 6th, and Rockies pitcher Jake Bird and Phillies DH Bryce Harper (fighting) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Phillies-#Rockies game. In the 6th, with one out and two on, Phillies batter Kyle Schwarber took a 3-2 sinker from Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the midpoint (px -0.24, pz 3.44 [sz_top 3.27 / RAD 3.39 / MOE 3.47]), the call was correct.* In the 7th, after Phillies batter Bryson Stott flied out to end the top of the inning, Rockies pitcher Bird taunted the Phillies dugout, resulting in a benches-clearing incident during which Bird and Harper were ejected.At the time of the ejections, the Rockies were leading, 4-0. The Rockies ultimately won the contest, 4-0.

These are Ryan Wills (118)'s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ejections of 2023.

*This pitch was located 0.36 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 57th, 58th, and 59th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

These are the 25th and 26th player ejections of 2023.

This is the 27th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 27 Managers, 26 Players, 6 Coaches.

This is Philadelphia's 4/5th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL East (PHI 5; MIA 4; NYM 2; ATL 1; WAS 0).

This is Colorado's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL West (COL 4; ARI, LAD, SD 2; SF 0).

This is Rob Thomson's 1st ejection since March 22, 2018 (Tom Hallion; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

This is Jake Bird's first career MLB ejection.

This is Bryce Harper's 1st ejection since August 13, 2021 (Ramon De Jesus; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Ryan Wills' 1st ejection since Sept 23, 2022 (Patrick Wisdom; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs Colorado Rockies, 5/14/23 | Video as follows:

Kenley Jansen Called for 3 Pitch Timer Violations in Boston

Red Sox pitcher Kenley Jansen was called for three pitch timer violations by HP Umpire Derek Thomas in Boston en route to a St Louis come-from-behind win...what happened? To investigate the clock issue, we look at baseball's Max Scherzer Rule, and the order of operations regarding Set Position and the batter coming alert in the box.

With the BoSox holding a 3-1 lead in the top of the 9th inning against St Louis, closer Jansen began his final frame by walking Cardinals batter Paul Goldschmidt on four pitches before committing a pitch timer infraction during Willson Contreras' at-bat. HP Umpire Thomas actually warned Jansen the first time he violated, but Jansen went on to violate the rule two more times during Contreras' at-bat, leading to another walk.

Despite Thomas and Crew Chief Vic Carapazza meeting with Jansen and other Red Sox players on the mound to inform them of the rule, Jansen once again violated during Lars Nootbaar's at-bat.

The rule violated was the so-called Max Scherzer rule, a pace of play initiative by MLB that prohibits a pitcher from coming set (in Set Position) prior to the batter taking their position in the batter's box and becoming alert to the pitcher (in an imminent hitting stance).

Scherzer Rule Summarized

1) The batter steps into the box and is alert to the pitcher by the eight-second mark of the pitch clock.

2) The pitcher comes set (unless working in Windup Position) and delivers or disengages prior to zero.

Penalty: A pitcher coming set before the batter is in the box and alert is warned the first time they infract. After this, any subsequent violations will result in an automatic ball added to the count.

Because Jansen appeared to go from stretch to set prior to batter Contreras (and later Nootbaar) fully stepping into the batter's box and becoming alert to the pitcher in an imminent hitting stance, HP Umpire Thomas enforced the rule and its penalty: the first infraction resulted in a warning while each subsequent violation resulted in the penalty of an automatic ball added to the count.

Video as follows:

Umpires No-Call Trout's Inadvertent Kick After Scoring

After Angels outfielder Mike Trout slid safely into home plate during Anaheim Los Angeles' win over Cleveland, he inadvertently kicked the the loose baseball away from Guardians catcher Cam Gallagher, no-called by HP Umpire Manny Gonzalez. With trailing runner Brett Phillips taking third on the play, however, was this interference?

The relevant rule here is Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(5), which states, "It is interference by a batter or a runner when any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of their teammate."

Like many brands of interference, the standard here is "hinders or impedes" and intent is not a requirement: thus, Trout's accidental kick of the baseball can constitute interference if the umpire rules that the kicking hindered or impeded the fielder from a following play.

Also relevant: Catcher Gallagher dropped second baseman Andres Gimenez' throw before Trout arrived and Angels baserunner R1 Phillips was running on the pitch, appearing to stride into third base before F2 Gimenez retrieved the ball.

The no-call enabled Phillips to score on the next play—a sacrifice fly—and the Angels came back with two runs in the 9th inning to beat Cleveland, 5-4.

Video as follows: