MLB Ejection 130 - Alan Porter (1; Brant Brown)

HP Umpire Alan Porter ejected Marlins hitting coach Brant Brown (strike two/three calls during Yuli Gurriel's at-bat; QOCN) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Marlins-#Braves game. With two out and the bases loaded, Marlins batter Gurriel took a 2-0 fastball from Braves pitcher Kirby Yates for a called first strike and 3-2 fastball from Yates for a called third strike. Replays indicate the 2-0 pitch ruled strike one was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.97, pz 2.50) while the 3-2 pitch ruled strike three was located over the outer edge of home plate and above the knee (px 0.83, pz 2.14), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Braves were leading, 6-0. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 7-0.

This is Alan Porter (64)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

The 2-0 pitch called strike one was located 0.67 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 130th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 15th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 63 Players, 15 Coaches.

This is Miami's 8th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL East (MIA 8; PHI 7; NYM 6; WAS 3; ATL 1).

This is Brant Brown's first career MLB ejection.

This is Alan Porter's 1st ejection since Sept 28, 2022 (Torey Lovullo; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs Atlanta Braves, 7/1/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 129 - Tripp Gibson (1; Jose Castro)

HP Umpire Tripp Gibson ejected White Sox hitting coach Jose Castro (balls/strikes during Tim Anderson's at-bat an inning prior) in the top of the 5th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Athletics game. In the 4th, with two out and one on, White Sox batter Anderson took a 1-2 curveball from A's pitcher Luis Medina for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.94, pz 1.57 [sz_bot 1.52]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Athletics were leading, 4-1. The Athletics ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Tripp Gibson (73)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.31 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 129th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 14th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 63 Players, 14 Coaches.

This is Chicago's 7th ejection of 2023, 2nd in the AL Central (MIN 8; CWS 7; DET, KC 2; CLE 0).

This is Jose Castro's first career MLB ejection.

This is Tripp Gibson's 1st ejection since July 10, 2022 (Aaron Boone; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs Oakland Athletics, 6/30/23 | Video as follows:

Yes, the Catcher Can Block the Plate with a Drawn-In Infield

After Reds baserunner R3 Elly De La Cruz was confirmed out on a play at home plate that Cincinnati manager David Bell unsuccessfully challenged for both a violation of the home plate collision rule and HP Umpire Jeff Nelson's tag out/safe call after ruling the runner never touched home plate, we were asked if Padres catcher Gary Sanchez's position was, indeed, legal.

Replays indicate that when Reds batter Nick Senzel hit a ground ball to Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, San Diego's infield was drawn in, anticipating a play at the plate. Bogaerts' throw to Sanchez arrived as Reds runner R3 De La Cruz slid headfirst into home, but Sanchez's left foot, positioned in front of home plate, effectively blocked De La Cruz from reaching it, resulting in the tag out.

The question, thus, is whether Sanchez violated baseball's home plate collision rule. Official Baseball Rule 6.01(i)(2) very specifically addresses this situation: "...It shall not be considered a violation of this Rule 6.01(i)(2) if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in a legitimate attempt to field the throw (e.g., in reaction to the direction, trajectory or the hop of the incoming throw, or in reaction to a throw that originates from a pitcher or drawn-in infielder)."

Thus, even though Sanchez may have physically blocked De La Cruz from scoring, this blocking was legal pursuant to the throw that originates from a drawn-in infielder part of the rule.

Video as follows:

MiLB Ejection - Chris Marco Runs Casey Lawrence for Balk Complaints in Both Games of Doubleheader

Minor League scheduling contributed to a Triple-A ejection in Buffalo as umpire Chris Marco ejected Bisons pitcher Casey Lawrence for an extended balk complaint that started in Game 1 when Lawrence was called for a balk, culminating in a complaint that Worcester Red Sox pitcher Chase Shugart was not called for a similar balk in Game 2.

As 1B Umpire in Game 1, Marco called Lawrence for a no step balk during a pickoff play at first base, ruling a violation of Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(3), which states it is a balk when "The pitcher, while touching their plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base."

The MLBUM interpretation of this OBR 6.02(a)(3) called Stepping to a Base states, "If a pitcher turns or spins off their free foot without actually stepping, it is a balk."

The interp further requires the pitcher to "lift their entire non-pivot foot off the ground and bring it down in a location different from where it started and toward the base. The entire non-pivot foot must move in a direction and distance to the base. This will constitute a step. The pitcher is not allowed to lift their non-pivot foot up and bring it back down in the same spot where it started. In stepping, the heel of the pitcher’s free foot may not end up in the same spot it started."

When Marco, now the HP Umpire in Game 2, did not call a balk on Shugart, Lawrence (who had lost the first game and was a bench player for Game 2) was ejected from the dugout.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 127-8 - John Tumpane (2-3; SF x2)

HP Umpire John Tumpane ejected Giants 3B JD Davis and manager Gabe Kapler (strike three call to Davis; QOCY) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Giants-#BlueJays game. With two out and two on, Davis took a 3-2 sinker from Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.26, pz 1.57 [sz_bot 1.68 / RAD 1.56 / MOE 1.48]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

These are John Tumpane (74)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.08 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 127th and 128th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 53rd player ejection of 2023.

This is the 62nd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 63 Players, 13 Coaches.

This is San Francisco's 1/2nd ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL West (ARI, SD 7; COL 4; LAD 3; SF 2).

This is JD Davis' first career MLB ejection.

This is Gabe Kapler's 1st ejection since August 4, 2022 (Phil Cuzzi; QOC = U [Unsportsmanlike-NEC]).

This is John Tumpane's 2/3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 30 (Harold Ramirez; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Francisco Giants vs Toronto Blue Jays, 6/29/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 126 - Ben May (1; Miguel Cabrera)

1B Umpire Ben May ejected Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera (check swing strike three call) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Tigers-#Rangers game. With one out and none on, Cabrera attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 slider from Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Chris Segal and called a swinging third strike on appeal by 1B Umpire May. At the time of the ejection, the Rangers were leading, 6-0. The Rangers ultimately won the contest, 10-2.

This is Ben May (97)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

This is the 126th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 52nd player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 61 Managers, 52 Players, 13 Coaches.

This is Detroit's 2nd ejection of 2023, T-3rd in the AL Central (MIN 8; CWS 6; DET, KC 2; CLE 0).

This is Miguel Cabrera's 1st ejection since August 19, 2019 (Alfonso Marquez; QOC = U [Pace of Play]).

This is Ben May's 1st ejection since July 9, 2022 (Dusty Baker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers, 6/28/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 125 - Ron Kulpa (2; Buck Showalter)

1B Umpire Ron Kulpa ejected Mets manager Buck Showalter (check swing HBP call) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Brewers-#Mets game. With two out and two on, Brewers batter Joey Wiemer attempted to check his swing on a 0-1 sinker from Mets pitcher Adam Ottavino, ruled a hit-by-pitch by HP Umpire Carlos Torres and affirmed as no swing by 1B Umpire Kulpa. At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 5-2. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Ron Kulpa (46)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

This is the 125th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 61st manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 61 Managers, 51 Players, 13 Coaches.

This is New York's 6th ejection of 2023, 3rd in the NL East (MIA, PHI 7; NYM 6; WAS 3; ATL 1).

This is Buck Showalter's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 25 (Erich Bacchus; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

This is Ron Kulpa's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 4 (Manny Machado; QOC = Y [Pitch Clock]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs New York Mets, 6/28/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 122-4 - Chad Fairchild, Nic Lentz (SD x3)

HP Umpire Chad Fairchild ejected Padres manager Bob Melvin and 1B Umpire Nic Lentz ejected pitcher Nick Martinez and bench player/pitcher Steven Wilson (check swing HBP/no bunt attempt call by 1B Umpire Lentz & confirmed Replay Review; QOCY) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Padres-#Pirates game. With none out and two on, Pirates batter Jared Triolo attempted to avoid being touched by a 2-1 sinker from Padres pitcher Nick Martinez after initially showing bunt, ruled a hit-by-pitch by HP Umpire Fairchild and affirmed as no swing/bunt on appeal by 1B Umpire Nic Lentz. The HBP call was furthermore confirmed via Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Padres manager Melvin. At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 2-1. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 7-1.

This is Chad Fairchild (4)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

These are Nic Lentz (59)'s 3rd and 4th ejections of 2023.

These are the 122nd, 123rd, and 124th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 60th manager ejection of 2023. These are the 50th and 51st player ejections of 2023.

Ejection Tally: 60 Managers, 51 Players, 13 Coaches.

This is San Diego's 5/6/7th ejection of 2023, T-1st in the NL West (ARI, SD 7; COL 4; LAD 3; SF 0).

This is Bob Melvin's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since June 21 (Manny Gonzalez; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Nick Martinez's first career MLB ejection.

This is Steven Wilson's first career MLB ejection.

This is Chad Fairchild's 1st ejection since Sept 17, 2022 (Austin Romine; QOC = Y [Interference NC]).

This is Nic Lentz's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 17 (AJ Hinch; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/28/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 121 - Derek Thomas (1; Dave Martinez)

HP Umpire Derek Thomas ejected Nationals manager Dave Martinez (out of the base path call; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Nationals-#Mariners game. With none out and one on, Nats batter Dominic Smith hit a first-pitch fastball from Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert to right fielder Teoscar, who threw to second baseman Jose Caballero to catcher Tom Murphy as Nationals baserunner Keibert Ruiz arrived at home plate, ruled out of the base path by HP Umpire Thomas. Replays indicate Ruiz appeared to deviate by more than three feet from his base path, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Nationals were leading, 3-0. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

This is Derek Thomas ()'s 1st ejection of 2023.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1) states, "Any runner is out when—They run more than three feet away from their base path to avoid being tagged unless their action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base they are attempting to reach safely. 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."

This is the 121st ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 59th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 59 Managers, 49 Players, 13 Coaches.

This is Washington's 3rd ejection of 2023, 4th in the NL East (MIA, PHI 7; NYM 5; WAS 3; ATL 1).

This is Dave Martinez's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 22 (Doug Eddings; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Derek Thomas' first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Washington Nationals vs Seattle Mariners, 6/28/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 120 - Brennan Miller (2; Jim Hickey)

HP Umpire Brennan Miller ejected Nationals pitching coach Jim Hickey (automatic ball four/Scherzer Rule violation call on Nationals pitcher Jordan Weems; QOCY) in the bottom of the 10th inning of the #Nationals-#Mariners game. With none out and none on, following an intentional walk (no pitches thrown) to Mariners batter JP Crawford and prior to ensuing Mariners batter Julio Rodriguez's 1-0 pitch, Miller warned Weems for coming set before Rodriguez was in the batter's box and alert to the pitcher (Scherzer Rule), awarding an automatic ball on a 3-0 count when Weems committed a second violation of this rule, resulting in a walk to Rodriguez. Replays indicate Weems started coming set prior to Rodriguez being alert (look at) the pitcher, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 4-4. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Brennan Miller (55)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

*Under MLB's new-for-2023 pitch clock rules, the batter must be in the batter's box and alert to the pitcher by the eight-second mark on the timer (penalty for batter violation: automatic strike). If the pitcher motions to come set before the batter is in the box and alert (in Set Position, does not apply to Windup Position), the penalty for the first infraction of this "Scherzer Rule" is a warning, only. Any subsequent violation, however, shall result in an automatic ball being added to the count.

This is the 120th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 13th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 58 Managers, 49 Players, 13 Coaches.

This is Washington's 2nd ejection of 2023, 4th in the NL East (MIA, PHI 7; NYM 5; WAS 2; ATL 1).

This is Jim Hickey's 1st ejection since May 8, 2014 (Marty Foster; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

This is Brennan Miller's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 17 (Ramon Laureano; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Washington Nationals vs Seattle Mariners, 6/27/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 119 - Jeremie Rehak (1; Ji Hwan Bae)

HP Umpire Jeremie Rehak ejected Pirates 2B Ji Hwan Bae (strike one call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Padres-#Pirates game. With two out and one on, Bae took a 1-0 fastball from Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and knee-high (px 0.86, pz 2.04), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 8-4. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 9-4.

This is Jeremie Rehak (35)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.65 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 119th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 49th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 58 Managers, 49 Players, 12 Coaches.

This is Pittsburgh's 4th ejection of 2023, 4th in the NL Central (STL 6; CIN, MIL 5; PIT 4; CHC 3).

This is Ji Hwan Bae's first career MLB ejection.

This is Jeremie Rehak's 1st ejection since May 1, 2022 (Bob Melvin; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/27/23 | Video as follows:

Time Play Teachable - Valentine Lines Up the Tag & Touch

In this Tmac's Teachable Moment, we spot HP Umpire Junior Valentine lining up Guardians baserunner Steven Kwan's touch of home plate as the Angels tagged baserunner Amed Rosario at third base for the final out of the inning. This is a time play and this video is all about time play techniques for the umpire-in-chief.

This example is also a reminder that Time Plays can occur when play begins with less than two out (the precise formula is that if the number of outs added to the number of runners on base equals or is greater than three, you've got yourself a potential time play situation).

Video as follows:

Umpire Hit By Batted Ball - It's Not INT So Why "Time"?

2B Umpire Jeff Head took a line drive off the ribs during LSU's dominating College World Series win Monday, but some of you asked whether his "Time" call after being struck by the batted ball was proper, given that it is not interference when an umpire gets hit by a fair ball after it has already passed an infielder.

Although the citation regarding umpire's interference is correct—the only two types of umpire interference (plate umpire interferes with catcher's throw/play after a pitched ball or base umpire hit by a fair batted ball before it passes an infielder [not including the pitcher, provided that it is not interference if it DOES touch the pitcher before the umpire]) do not apply here as the umpire was working outside the infielders—the "Time" question is fairly technical.

And the answer to this question is to look at the play holistically: the game situation when this occurs is none out and none on, meaning that the only runner to pay attention to is the batter-runner, who, on this play, safely advances to, and remains on, first base.

NCAA Rule 6-5-d pertains to calling time when a potential injury occurs (umpire getting struck by a line drive may or not may not be an actual injury, but it could be a potential one), and states, "Time shall be called by the umpire and play is suspended when an umpire or player is injured, except that if injury occurs during a live ball, time shall not be called until no further advance or putout is possible; If a player is injured and cannot proceed to the awarded base(s), a substitute runner may be used to complete the play."

Thus, from a technical rulebook standpoint, the "Time" call is covered under NCAA 6-5-d, though from a more holistic point of view, it hardly matters whether or not "Time" is called—the result of either calling or not calling time is that the batter-runner advances safely to, and remains on, first base.

Video as follows:

Replay Upholds Call that Fielder & Runner Missed 1B

An extra inning Replay Review in Minnesota upheld 1B Umpire Chris Guccione's call that Twins batter-runner Michael A Taylor and Red Sox pitcher Kaleb Ort both missed first base on their initial touch attempts, but that Ort successfully tagged Taylor's hand before Taylor eventually touched the base.

We review the two primary potential out contact points on plays at first base like this—namely, the fielder's touch of the base and the fielder's touch of the runner (both must be before the runner touches the base)—and how Replay Review may have come back with a "call stands" determination on a play that at first glance looked anything but inconclusive.

Then we watch Guccione find a path off the field, safely avoiding the celebrating Twins team on Minnesota's walk off base hit later that inning.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 118 - Erich Bacchus (3; Buck Showalter)

HP Umpire Erich Bacchus ejected Mets manager Buck Showalter (check swing strike three call) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Mets-#Phillies game. With none out and one on, Mets batter Mark Canha attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 knuckle curve from Phillies pitcher Craig Kimbrel, ruled a swinging strike by HP Umpire Bacchus. At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 7-6. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 7-6.

This is Erich Bacchus (12)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

This is the 118th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 58th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 58 Managers, 48 Players, 12 Coaches.

This is New York's 5th ejection of 2023, 3rd in the NL East (MIA, PHI 7; NYM 5; ATL, WAS 1).

This is Buck Showalter's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 9 (Mark Wegner; QOC = N-c [Interference]).

This is Erich Bacchus' 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since April 19 (David Bell; QOC = U [Non-Ejection]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Philadelphia Phillies, 6/25/23 | Video as follows: