MLB Ejection 086 - Charlie Ramos (1; John Schneider)

HP Umpire Charlie Ramos ejected Blue Jays manager John Schneider (strike one call to Vlad Guerrero; QOCN) in the top of the 9th inning of the #BlueJays-#Mets game. With two out and one on (R2), Guerrero took a first-pitch cutter from Mets pitcher David Robertson for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -1.18, pz 1.45 [sz_bot 1.68 / RAD 1.56 / MOE 1.48]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 1-1. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

This is Charlie Ramos (111)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 3.19 horizontal and 0.36 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 86th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 40th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 40 Managers, 37 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Toronto's 2nd ejection of 2023, T-4th in the AL East (NYY 6; BAL, BOS 3; TOR, TB 2).

This is John Schneider's 1st ejection since Sept 6, 2022 (Jeff Nelson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Charlie Ramos' first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Mets, 6/3/23 | Video as follows:

Chicago Walks Off After Wild Pitch Hits Cory Blaser in Head

Chicago defeated Detroit on an extra-inning walk off wild pitch after Tigers pitcher Jose Cisnero’s fastball to Tim Anderson hit HP Umpire Cory Blaser directly and caromed away, allowing White Sox baserunner Yoan Moncada to score from third base. Let’s talk bonus runner, interference, and humanity.

As for a game-ending injury a la a pitch to the mask, there is fortuitously no debate of stay in vs come out: with the game over, there is no doubt the umpire will get immediate medical attention.

Video as follows:

Umpires Forget Count - How To Recover a Lost Number

Baseball is primarily a sport of counting: four balls, three strikes, three outs, and whoever's score is greater than the other team's usually wins. HP Umpire Ryan Additon momentarily lost track of the count in Minnesota after calling a strike and forgot to add it on, Twins batter Royce Lewis remaining at home plate Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee held up three fingers. After crew consultation, the count was fixed and batter Lewis properly declared out on three strikes.

Umpires behind the plate generally use an indicator (sometimes incorrectly termed a "clicker" on TV) to keep track of balls and strikes, but sometimes during the course of a long game or season, it's easy to lose focus. At the MLB (and MiLB) level, and for those NCAA with video replay capability, fortunately, checking the count is a reviewable play—it is a Crew Chief review so no manager has to challenge it.

How do you to count to three? You just Add it on | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 085 - DJ Reyburn (2; Corbin Burnes)

HP Umpire DJ Reyburn ejected Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes (strike one call to Victor Caratini; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Brewers-#Reds game. With none out and none on, Caratini took a first-pitch curveball from Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the midpoint (px 0.87, pz 3.05 [sz_top 3.28]), the call was correct.*

This is DJ Reyburn (17)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.53 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 85th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 37th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 37 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Milwaukee's 5th ejection of 2023, 2nd in the NL Central (STL 6; MIL 5; CIN, PIT 3; CHC 2).

This is Corbin Burnes' first career MLB ejection.

This is DJ Reyburn's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 5 (Tim Anderson; QOC = U [Unsporting]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds, 6/2/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 084 - Marvin Hudson (3; Jeff Banister)

HP Umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Diamondbacks bench coach Jeff Banister (strike three call to Pavin Smith; QOCY) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the #Rockies-#Dbacks game. With two out and none on, Diamondbacks batter Smith took a 2-2 fastball from Rockies pitcher Connor Seabold for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.60, pz 2.65), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rockies were leading, 1-0. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Marvin Hudson (51)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 18.17 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 84th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 9th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 36 Players, 9 Coaches.

This is Arizona's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL West (ARI 5; COL 4; LAD 3; SD 2; SF 0).

This is Jeff Banister's 1st ejection since August 16, 2022 (Cory Blaser; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Marvin Hudson's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 28 (Pedro Grifol; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs Arizona Diamondbacks, 6/1/23| Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 083 - Stu Scheurwater (1; Phil Nevin)

HP Umpire Stu Scheurwater ejected Angels manager Phil Nevin (strike three call; QOCN) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Angels-#Astros game. With one out and the bases loaded, Angels batter Taylor Ward took a 3-2 sinker from Astros pitcher Hector Neris for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.69, pz 1.45 [sz_bot 1.69 / RAD 1.57 / MOE 1.49]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 4-2. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Stu Scheurwater (85)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located -0.48 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 83rd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 39th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 36 Players, 8 Coaches.

This is LA's 2nd ejection of 2023, 4th in the AL West (SEA 4; HOU, OAK 3; LAA 2; TEX 1).

This is Phil Nevin's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (Will Little; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

This is Stu Scheurwater's 1st ejection since August 23, 2022 (Brandon Drury; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Angels vs Houston Astros, 6/1/23 | Video as follows:

Call of the Month - May 2023

Umpires Jansen Visconti and Pat Hoberg combine for May 2023's Calls of the Month as tmac takes us through a fan interference play in Seattle, called by 1B Umpire Visconti, and a tag play in Washington, called by HP Umpire Hoberg.

Both plays feature touches nearly imperceptible in real time (and not necessarily on replay either) and that's why Visconti and Hoberg are our May 2023 co-calls of the month.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 082 - Jordan Baker (1; Dylan Floro)

HP Umpire Jordan Baker ejected Marlins pitcher Dylan Floro (balls/strikes; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Padres-#Marlins game. With none out and none on, Padres batter Fernando Tatis walked, stole second and advanced to third base on a throwing error, Juan Soto walked, Xander Bogaerts singled, Rougned Odor reached on a fielder's choice with a throwing error, and Matt Carpenter doubled. Replays indicate all callable pitches during Floro's appearance in the game were properly officiated, including ball four to Tatis to start the inning, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 8-4. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 9-4.

This is Jordan Baker (71)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

This is the 82nd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 36th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 38 Managers, 36 Players, 8 Coaches.

This is Miami's 7th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL East (MIA 7; PHI 5; NYM 2; ATL 1; WAS 0).

This is Dylan Floro's first career MLB ejection.

This is Jordan Baker's 1st ejection since August 26, 2021 (John Schneider; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Miami Marlins, 5/30/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 080-1 - Brian Walsh (1, 2; SEA x2)

HP Umpire Brian Walsh ejected Mariners catcher Tom Murphy and manager Scott Servais (check swing call by 1B Umpire CB Bucknor) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Yankees-#Mariners game. With none out and none on, Mariners batter Murphy attempted to check his swing on a 1-1 sweeper from Yankees pitcher Michael King, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Walsh and a swinging strike on appeal by 1B Umpire Bucknor. At the time of the ejections, the Yankees were leading, 7-2. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 10-2.

These are Brian Walsh (120)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2023.

These are the 80th and 81st ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 35th player ejection of 2023.

This is the 38th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 38 Managers, 35 Players, 8 Coaches.

This is Seattle's 3/4th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL West (SEA 4; HOU, OAK 3; LAA, TEX 1).

This is Tom Murphy's first career MLB ejection.

This is Scott Servais' 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 5 (Shane Livensparger; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Brian Walsh's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Seattle Mariners, 5/30/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 079 - Jerry Layne (2; Alex Cintron)

HP Umpire Jerry Layne ejected Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron (strike one call to Jeremy Peña; QOCY) in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the #Twins-Astros game. With one out and none on, Peña took a 1-0 fastball from Twins pitcher Joe Ryan for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and at the knees (px 0.85, pz 1.93 [sz_bot 1.68]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 3-0. The Astors ultimately won the contest, 5-1.

This is Jerry Layne (24)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.77 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 79th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 8th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 37 Managers, 34 Players, 8 Coaches.

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

This is Alex Cintron's 1st ejection since August 18, 2022 (Ramon De Jesus; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Jerry Layne's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 28 (Matt Quartraro; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros, 5/30/23 | Video as follows:

Base Coach Interference Visits Giants Game

The rarely seen interference: base coach assist call made an appearance during the mammoth 7th inning of San Francisco's lopsided victory over Pittsburgh, with 3B Umpire Laz Diaz ruling Giants baserunner R2 Austin Slater out at third base after a crew conference determination that 3B Coach Mark Hallberg illegally assisted him in returning to third base.

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(8) governs this play and states that it is interference by a runner when, "in the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists them in returning to or leaving third base or first base."

Diaz originally ruled Slater safe on a close play at third featuring a collision with Pirates third baseman Rodolfo Castro during which the ball popped out of Castro's glove due to the force of the players coming together. After request from Pirates manager Derek Shelton, the crew convened and Slater was ruled out for the coach assist interference (Giants manager Gabe Kapler did not argue).

Video as follows:

Twofer - RLI and Jeff Nelson's Hot Mic Moment in Anaheim

We begin this CCS Twofer with a runner's lane interference call by HP Umpire Charlie Ramos in Detroit and end with Crew Chief Jeff Nelson's hot mic moment in Anaheim as the umpire had to compete with in-stadium music to speak on a Marlins challenge in extra innings.

The runner's lane interference (RLI) play proved rather run of the mill, as all tend to do when you know what to look for: Rangers batter Bubba Thompson failed to run within the runner's lane in the last half of the distance to first base and was called for RLI by the plate umpire as a result. Replays indicate that Thompson, in at least a few strides, was entirely inside (to the left of) the foul line and on the infield grass.

In Anaheim, HP Umpire CB Bucknor ruled an out at home plate on a double play attempt, but Miami sought to challenge it because LA's catcher failed to touch home plate with his foot. Nelson tried three times to inform the stadium the play was under review, but aborted his first two attempts when the music continued to blare.

After Nelson finally got his announcement in, his still-hot mic captured "they've got their heads up their asses." While most commenters believe he was annoyed with the Marlins for challenging the play, I think it had to do with the level of auditory competition at the stadium.

Video as follows:

Late Challenge? Why Umpires Reviewed HR Long After

After a 7th inning Clemson double vs Miami, the offensive head coach didn't ask umpires to review the play until at least 60 seconds after it concluded, which far exceeds the maximum post-play time limit for challenges. Why then did umpires review and overturn the call to a home run?

NCAA and OBR alike specify in replay rules that teams seeking to challenge an umpire's call must first indicate they are considering challenging within 10 seconds of the contested play's conclusion and then must signal a challenge request within a certain amount of time after that (15 seconds after the hold signal in professional baseball / 30 seconds after the play itself in college).

Clemson's coach waited until well past 30 seconds to put his hands to his ears (the challenge signal), so why did umpires review the play?

The answer is that in both NCAA and OBR, home run boundary issues, including spectator interference on a fair fly ball at the outfield wall, are not subject to team challenge, but to Crew Chief or umpire-initiated review.

In turn, the head coach time limit does not apply to HR/boundary reviews and the umpires had until the next play (eg first pitch to the next batter) to invoke a review, which is what they did.

Video as follows:

Team Loses Championship Celebrating Despite Uncaught Third Strike

The Pal-Mac Red Raiders ran the bases to score the tying and winning runs to earn a walk-off New York V-BI championship win over Hornell after an umpire ruled that Hornell's catcher failed to tag the batter-runner following an uncaught third strike with two outs in the final inning of play.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the 7th inning (NFHS/high school plays seven innings to OBR's nine) and visiting Hornell leading Pal-Mac by a one-run margin, Pal-Mac's batter took a two-strike pitch for a called third strike. Hornell's catcher, however, did not catch the pitch and scooped up the uncaught third strike before attempting to tag the batter-runner, who was sprinting to first base.

As the catcher ventured toward the pitcher's mound to celebrate an apparent championship win with his team, he glanced at the home plate umpire momentarily, but didn't watch long enough to see the umpire give a "safe" sign, signifying that the batter-runner had not been retired.

With no third out recorded, Pal-Mac's runners kept running the bases, scoring the tying and winning runs as Hornell jumped up and down, celebrating a premature non-win in the infield.

Video as follows: