July 2023 Top 5 Calls of the Month

July 2023's Top 5 Calls of the Month highlights five MLB umpires whose efficient use of mechanics, positioning, and patience enables them to correctly officiate some difficult plays.

Top 5 Calls of the Month - July 2023

5. Nate Tomlinson's out call at third in Detroit.

4. James Hoye's fan interference vs home run call.

3. Roberto Ortiz's stolen base overslide in Colorado.

2. Clint Vondrak's safe call at second in San Diego.

1. Vic Carapazza's stolen base out call in New York.

Video as follows:

ABS Stops Calling Strikes, Manager Ejected in 20-4 Romp

HP Umpire Takahito Matsuda ejected Charlotte Knights manager Justin Jirschele in the 9th inning of a 20-4 blowout game designed as a full Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) affair, meaning that computers rather than the umpire called all balls and strikes for the game...except that in the 9th, ABS seemed to stop calling strikes and Gwinnett tacked on four more runs thanks to six walks (there was also a hit-by-pitch).

Indeed, even the Gameday computer readout seemed to be missing a few pitches during multiple at-bats in the 9th inning as catcher-turned-position player pitching Xavier Fernández threw 33 pitches (just five of them strikes) as the three-plus hour game slowly trudged to a lopsided conclusion.

The final score was Gwinnett Stripers 20, Charlotte Knights 4.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 190-1 - Jeremie Rehak (2-3; TOR x2)

HP Umpire Jeremie Rehak ejected Blue Jays RF George Springer and manager John Schneider (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #BlueJays-#Guardians game. With none out and two on, Blue Jays batter Springer took a 2-2 fastball from Guardians pitcher Trevor Stephan 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 -0.15, pz 1.52 [sz_bot 1.64 / RAD 1.52]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejections, the Guardians were leading, 4-3. The Guardians ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

These are Jeremie Rehak (35)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2023.

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

These are the 190th and 191st ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 79th player ejection of 2023. This is the 87th manager ejection of 2023.

This is Toronto's 5/6th ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the AL East (NYY 8; BAL, TOR 6; BOS 4; TB 3).

This is George Springer's first career MLB ejection.

This is John Schneider's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 3 (Charlie Ramos; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Jeremie Rehak's 2/3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 27 (Ji Hwan Bae; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs Cleveland Guardians, 8/10/23 | Video as follows:

Little League Runner Knocks Fielder's Glove Off on Tag

A batter-runner knocked a first baseman's glove off his hand during a tag attempt at first base during the North Dakota-Iowa Midwest Region Little League World Series game. We review and answer your question as to whether the proper call here is "safe" due to the fielder's glove falling off or "out" due to the fielder's prior tag of first base.

The Official Baseball Rules definitions provides us with two tagging scenarios: "A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with their body while holding the ball securely and firmly in their hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with their hand or glove holding the ball."

A fielder may thus tag 1) a base or 2) a runner. In this LLWS play, the fielder attempts to tag the base. Breaking this play down into phases, we see that the fielder received the throw, possessed the ball, and touched first base prior to the runner's arrival. The runner then stepped (assumedly unintentionally) on the fielder's glove, causing the glove to come off the fielder's hand.

The on-field umpire ruled the batter-runner safe, but Replay Review overturned this call based on the type of tag this was — a base tag, not a runner tag — and that the base tag had been satisfactorily completed prior to the runner, an outside influence at this point, coming and disrupting the attempted play with a foot to the glove.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 188-9 - Bill Miller (3-4; MIA x2)

HP Umpire Bill Miller ejected Reds DH Jorge Soler and manager Skip Schumaker (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Marlins-#Reds game. With one out and one on, Soler took a 0-2 fastball from Reds pitcher Ian Gibaut for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.59, pz 2.66), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 4-1. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

These are Bill Miller (26)'s 3rd and 4th ejections of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 3.89 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 188th and 189th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 78th player ejection of 2023. This is the 86th manager ejection of 2023.

This is Miami's 13/14th ejections of 2023, 1st in the NL East (MIA 14; PHI 8; NYM 6; WAS 3; ATL 2).

This is Jorge Soler's 1st ejection since July 16, 2019 (Tom Hallion; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Skip Schumaker's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since Aug 7 (Roberto Ortiz; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Bill Miller's 3/4th ejections of 2023, 1st since June 13 (Drew Smith; QOC = U [Illegal Substance]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs Cincinnati Reds, 8/9/23 | Video as follows:

What if Runner's Lane Interference was Reviewable - CPBL

What if runner's lane interference was a reviewable play? It might not be in MLB, but it is in the Chinese Professional Baseball League and we take a look at one such CPBL review that resulted in ejection of the offensive team manager when RLI, which was not called on the field, was awarded by the Replay Official.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(11) states, "The batter is out when in running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, they run outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interfere with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead."

Given this language, do you believe this was RLI? Could the throw have reasonable retired the runner, given the runner's foot was already on first base as the thrown ball was still well in front of first base?

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 187 - Edwin Moscoso (3; Brandon Hyde)

1B Umpire Edwin Moscoso ejected Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (safe call on Jeremy Peña's single; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Astros-#Orioles game. With two out and none on, Peña hit a 1-2 slider from Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez on the ground to shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who threw to first baseman Ryan Mountcastle as Peña arrived at first base. Baltimore was out of challenges, having lost a manager's challenge earlier in the game. Replays indicate the batter-runner's foot contacted first base prior to the ball contacting the fielder's glove, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 6-2. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 7-6.

This is Edwin Moscoso (32)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

This is the 187th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 85th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 85 Managers, 77 Players, 25 Coaches.

This is Baltimore's 6th ejection of 2023, 2nd in the AL East (NYY 8; BAL 6; BOS, TOR 4; TB 3).

This is Brandon Hyde's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since July 6 (Dan Iassogna; QOC = U [Warnings]).

This is Edwin Moscoso's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since August 4 (Pat Murphy; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Houston Astros vs Baltimore Orioles, 8/8/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 186 - Ramon De Jesus (5; Christopher Morel)

HP Umpire Ramon De Jesus ejected Cubs DH Christopher Morel (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Cubs-#Mets game. With two out and one on, Morel took a 2-2 fastball from Cubs pitcher Drew Smith for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and waist-high (px 0.89, pz 3.22), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Mets were leading, 10-2. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 10-2.

This is Ramon De Jesus (18)'s 5th ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 0.29 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 186th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 77th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 84 Managers, 77 Players, 25 Coaches.

This is Chicago's 7th ejection of 2023, T-3rd in the NL Central (STL 10; MIL 8; CHC, CIN, PIT 7).

This is Christopher Morel's first career MLB ejection.

This is Ramon De Jesus' 5th ejection of 2023, 1st since June 16 (Bruce Bochy; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets, 8/7/23| Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 185 - Vic Carapazza (5; Matt Quatraro)

1B Umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Royals manager Matt Quatraro (check swing ball four call) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Royals-#RedSox game. With two out and two on, Red Sox batter Luis Urias attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 fastball from Royals pitcher Carlos Hernandez, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Nick Mahrley and affirmed as no swing on appeal by 1B Umpire Carapazza. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 2-2. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 6-2.

This is Vic Carapazza (19)'s 5th ejection of 2023.

This is the 185th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 84th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 84 Managers, 76 Players, 25 Coaches.

This is Kansas City's 6th ejection of 2023, T-3rd in the AL Central (CWS 11; MIN 9; CLE, KC 6; DET 3).

This is Avisail Garcia's 1st ejection since July 5, 2022 (Lance Barrett; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Matt Quatraro's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since August 5 (Ben May; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Vic Carapazza's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st since July 22 (Jarret DeHart; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs Boston Red Sox, 8/7/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 183-4 - Roberto Ortiz (1-2; MIA x2)

HP Umpire Roberto Ortiz ejected Marlins LF Avisail Garcia (strike two call; QOCY) in the top of the 5th and manager Skip Schumaker (balls/strikes; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Marlins-#Reds game. With none out in the 5th, Garcia took called first and second strikes from Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson for called first and second strikes. Replays indicate the pitches were located over the inner edge of home plate and above the hollow of the knee (strike one: px -0.77, pz 1.93 [sz_bot 1.65]; strike two: px -0.72, pz 2.26), the call was correct.* At the time of Garcia's ejection, the Reds were leading, 4-1. In the 8th, Schumaker was ejected during an injury mound visit with Marlins pitcher Tanner Scott. All pitches during the inning were properly officiated, the call was correct. At the time of Schumaker's ejection, the Reds were leading, 5-2. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

These are Roberto Ortiz (40)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2023.

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

Strike one to Garcia (greatest px value) was located 1.73 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 183rd and 184th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 76th player ejection of 2023. This is the 83rd manager ejection of 2023.

Ejection Tally: 83 Managers, 76 Players, 25 Coaches.

This is Miami's 11/12th ejection of 2023, 1st in the NL East (MIA 12; PHI 8; NYM 6; WAS 3; ATL 2).

This is Avisail Garcia's 1st ejection since July 5, 2022 (Lance Barrett; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Skip Schumaker's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 19 (H Wendelstedt; QOC = N [Pitch Clock]).

This is Roberto Ortiz's 1st ejection since August 16, 2022 (Bryan Reynolds; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Miami Marlins vs Cincinnati Reds, 8/7/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 182 - Laz Diaz (1; Aaron Boone)

HP Umpire Laz Diaz ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Yankees-#WhiteSox game. With none out and none on, Yankees batter Anthony Volpe took a 0-2 sinker from White Sox pitcher Bryan Shaw for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.55, pz 2.08), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 2-1. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 5-1.

This is Laz Diaz (63)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

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

This pitch was located 4.37 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 182nd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 82nd coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 82 Managers, 75 Players, 25 Coaches.

This is New York's 8th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL East (NYY 8; BAL 5; BOS, TOR 4; TB 3).

This is Aaron Boone's 6th ejection of 2023, 1st since July 2 (Dan Merzel; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Laz Diaz's 1st ejection since July 17, 2021 (Will Venable; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Chicago White Sox, 8/7/23 | Video as follows:

Angel Hernandez's Balk in NY & Plate Blocking in SD

Angel Hernandez called a balk on Yankees pitcher while Replay Review awarded Los Angeles a run thanks to Padres catcher Gary Sanchez's plate blocking violation in San Diego. We answer your questions about each play.

Yankees Balk

In the 6th inning of Sunday's Astros-Yankees game, HP Umpire Angel Hernandez called a balk on Yankees pitcher Wandy Peralta for failing to step directly to first base on a pickoff throw with baserunner Chas McCormick at first. Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(3) regarding balks states, "It is a balk when the pitcher, while touching their plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base."

Replays indicate a balk did occur as Peralta appeared to step toward home plate more than toward first base, but complicating perception was that Hernandez was the only umpire to call it. Even so, although 1B Umpire Todd Tichenor or 3B Umpire Alex Tosi called the balk, it still was a step balk.

Padres Block

With runners at the corners and one out in the top of the 2nd inning of Sunday's Dodgers-Padres game, Dodgers batter Austin Barnes bunted the ball to Padres first baseman Ji Man Choi, who charged in and flipped the ball to catcher Sanchez as Dodgers baserunner R3 Enrique Hernandez slid head-first into Sanchez's knee, ruled out by HP Umpire Gabe Morales.

After Dodgers manager Dave Roberts challenged the play, Replay Review overturned Morales' out call, deeming that catcher Sanchez did block the runner, despite the throw originating from a drawn in infielder.

Although plate blocking rule OBR 6.01(i)(2) states, "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)," a throw from a drawn-in infielder doesn't give a catcher carte blanche to block access to home plate. The difference is whether the catcher's blocking was intentional or unintentional.

For outfield throws, for instance, we know that catchers may be called for blocking (without the ball) whether they did it intentionally or unintentionally, but for the drawn-in infielder exception, this ruling indicates that while unintentional blocking is permitted for a drawn-in infielder throw, intentionally blocking the plate by sticking a knee out unecessarily is still illegal.

Video as follows: