On-Deck Interference, A Bunt HBP & Fair-Foul at Home

An on-deck batter interference in Chicago, batter hit by a pitch while attempting a bunt in Cincinnati and catcher pouncing on a fair ball over home plate in New York comprise a trio of umpire Ask CCS questions over the past week.

On-Deck Interference: Cubs batter Patrick Wisdom's foul fly ball near Chicago's third base dugout drew two Pirates, including third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, who collided with Cubs on-deck batter Alexander Canario, who was trying to get out of the catcher's way but accidentally backed into the oncoming third baseman. After consultation, Crew Chief Alan Porter signaled batter Wisdom out for interference of his teammate Canario (who then came up to bat).

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(b), known as Fielder Right of Way, prescribes that, "The players, coaches or any member of a team at bat shall vacate any space (including both dugouts or bullpens) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball." Whether intentional or not, an on-deck batter, dugout coach, etc. who hinders a fielder attempting to field a batted ball is guilty of interference, and the at-bat batter shall be called out for the interference of their teammate.

HBP During Bunt: Reds batter Luke Maile's attempted bunt ended unsuccessfully, as the pitched ball made contact with his hand coiled around the bat, either instead of or (more importantly) before contacting the bat. Play continued and Minnesota retired Maile at first base. Umpires went to Replay Review as the result of a Reds challenge and Replay HQ overturned the call, Crew Chief Marvin Hudson announcing that a dead ball strike would be charged to Maile for the ball hitting his hands first.

Fair or Foul at Home: Yankees batter-runner Gleyber Torres remained in the right-handed batter's box on a chopper at home plate as Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk waited for the batted ball to spin back toward home plate and into fair territory before fielding the ball and tagging Torres out.

OBR's diagram of home plate confirms that the base itself is entirely in fair territory, with the intersection of the two foul lines (which themselves are within fair territory too) located at the point of home plate.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 233 - Lance Barrett (5; Aaron Boone)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone (strike one call to Oswald Peraza; QOCN) in the bottom of the 2nd inning of the #BlueJays-#Yankees game. With one out and one on, Yankees batter Peraza took a first-pitch fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.72, pz 1.28 [sz_bot 1.63 / RAD 1.51 / MOE 1.43]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Lance Barrett (94)'s 5th ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.76 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 233rd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 106th player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 106 Managers, 93 Players, 34 Coaches.

This is New York's 11th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL East (NYY 11; BOS 7; BAL, TB, TOR 6).

This is Aaron Boone's 7th ejection of 2023, 1st since August 7 (Laz Diaz; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Lance Barrett's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st since June 23 (Derek Shomon; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees, 9/20/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 232 - Brian Knight (1; Kris Bryant)

HP Umpire Brian Knight ejected Rockies 1B Kris Bryant (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Rockies-#Padres game. With two out and two on, Bryant took a 1-2 sweeper from Padres pitcher Seth Lugo for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the midpoint (px 0.14, pz 1.65 [sz_bot 1.71 / RAD 1.59]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rockies were leading, 2-1. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Brian Knight (91)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.72 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 232nd ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 93rd player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 105 Managers, 93 Players, 34 Coaches.

This is Colorado's 5th ejection of 2023, 3rd in the NL West (SD 10; ARI 7; COL 5; LAD 4; SF 2).

This is Kris Bryant's 1st ejection since July 25, 2017 (Lance Barksdale; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Brian Knight's 1st ejection since Sept 23, 2022 (Aaron Boone; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs San Diego Padres, 9/20/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 231 - Jansen Visconti (2; Mark Kotsay)

1B Umpire Jansen Visconti ejected A's manager Mark Kotsay (check swing ball one call to Julio Rodriguez) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Mariners-#Athletics game. With two out and none on, Rodriguez attempted to check his swing on a 0-1 slider from A's pitcher Paul Blackburn, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Ron Kulpa and affirmed as no swing on appeal by 1B Umpire Visconti. At the time of the ejection, the Mariners were leading, 2-0. The Mariners ultimately won the contest, 7-2.

This is Jansen Visconti (52)'s 2nd ejection of 2023.

This is the 231st ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 105th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 105 Managers, 92 Players, 34 Coaches.

This is Oakland's 10th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL West (OAK 10; SEA, TEX 8; LAA 7; HOU 5).

This is Mark Kotsay's 6th ejection of 2023, 1st since Aug 27 (David Rackley; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Jansen Visconti's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 5 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers, 9/19/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 230 - Ben May (3; Bruce Bochy)

HP Umpire Ben May ejected Rangers manager Bruce Bochy (ball four call to Luis Urias; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #RedSox-#Rangers game. With one out and one on, Red Sox batter Urias took a 3-2 fastball from Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and above the midpoint (px -0.71, pz 3.18 [sz_top 3.05 / RAD 3.17 / MOE 3.09]), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Rangers were leading, 4-3. The Rangers ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Ben May (97)'s 3rd ejection of 2023.

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

This is the 230th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 104th manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 104 Managers, 92 Players, 34 Coaches.

This is Texas' 8th ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the AL West (OAK 9; SEA, TEX 8; LAA 7; HOU 5).

This is Bruce Bochy's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since June 20 (DJ Reyburn; QOC = N [Replay Review]).

This is Ben May's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since July 26 (Don Mattingly; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers, 9/19/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 229 - Phil Cuzzi (4; Alex Cintron)

HP Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron (strike one call to Jose Abreu; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Orioles-#Astros game. With none out and one on, Abreu took a first-pitch fastball from Orioles pitcher DL Hall for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the midpoint (px 0.24, pz 3.63 [sz_top 3.38 / RAD 3.50 / MOE 3.58]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 7-3. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 9-5.

This is Phil Cuzzi (10)'s 4th ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 0.60 vertical inches from being deemed a correct call.

This is the 229th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 34th coach ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 103 Managers, 92 Players, 34 Coaches.

This is Houston's 5th ejection of 2023, 5th in the AL West (OAK 9; SEA 8; LAA, TEX 7; HOU 5).

This is Alex Cintron's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since May 30 (Jerry Layne; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Phil Cuzzi's 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since June 10 (Phil Nevin; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Baltimore Orioles vs Houston Astros, 9/19/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 228 - Dan Iassogna (5; Ryan Noda)

HP Umpire Dan Iassogna ejected A's 1B Ryan Noda (strike two call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Padres-#Athletics game. With one out and none on, Noda took a 1-1 changeup from Padres pitcher Robert Suarez for a called second strike before grounding out on the next pitch. Replays indicate the pitch ruled strike two was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.08, pz 1.47 [sz_bot 1.66 / RAD 1.54 / MOE 1.46]), the call was correct.^ At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 5-3. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 8-3.

This is Dan Iassogna (58)'s 5th ejection of 2023.*
*This ejection occurred on Sept 15, sequentially as 227, but is reported as 228.

^This pitch was located 0.12 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 228th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 92nd player ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 103 Managers, 92 Players, 33 Coaches.

This is Oakland's 9th ejection of 2023, 1st in the AL West (OAK 9; SEA 8; LAA, TEX 7; HOU 4).

This is Ryan Noda's 2nd ejection of 2023, 1st since July 17 (Emil Jimenez; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Dan Iassogna's 5th ejection of 2023, 1st since July 6 (Brandon Hyde; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Oakland Athletics, 9/15/23 | Video as follows:

Houston's Thrown Glove and the Two-Base Award

Astros pitcher Framber Valdez struggled to field a soft ground ball by Royals batter Logan Porter and threw wildly to first base, Houston 1B Jose Abreu throwing his glove to stop the ball. Although Abreu's thrown glove struck Valdez's thrown ball, keeping it on the infield, HP Umpire Derek Thomas and 3B Umpire John Libka both saw a rules infraction and 2B Umpire James Hoye's crew met after the play to determine base awards.

Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(4) specifies base awards and indicates that each runner (including the batter-runner) may advance without liability to be put out: "(C) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately throws their glove at and touches a fair ball" or "(E) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately throws their glove at and touches a thrown ball."

The rule states that in both situations, "The ball is in play, and the award is made from the position of the runner at the time the ball was touched."

Replays indicate that as Valdez's wild throw approached the vicinity of first base, 1B Umpire Angel Hernandez was concentrating on the potential play at the base and thus wasn't looking at the infraction as it occurred (this is a proper mechanic from the first base umpire), 2B Umpire Hoye was similarly looking at second base for a potential play on R1, and thus 3B Umpire Libka and HP Umpire Thomas had the call.

Libka, however, appeared to signal "Time" while Thomas simply pointed at the thrown glove/ball contact—Thomas' mechanic is correct as the ball is in play on such a violation.

After the play, the crew determined that batter-runner Porter would be placed at second base because he had not yet reached first base at the time of the glove/ball touching while lead runner R1 Nick Loftin would receive third base...which replays indicate was incorrect, as Loftin was in contact with second base at the time of the ball touch occurred.

For what it's worth, the relevant rule for a pitched ball is OBR 5.06(b)(3), which awards runners (but not batters) one base without liability to be put out when "A fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with their cap, mask or any part of their uniform detached from its proper place on their person."

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 227 - Adam Hamari (6; Kevin Cash)

3B Umpire Adam Hamari ejected Rays manager Kevin Cash (check swing ball two call to Aaron Hicks) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Rays-#Orioles game. With two out and one on, Hicks attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 slider from Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Clint Vondrak and affirmed as no swing on appeal by 3B Umpire Hamari. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 5-4, in 11 innings.

This is Adam Hamari (78)'s 6th ejection of 2023.

This is the 227th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 103rd manager ejection of 2023. Ejection Tally: 103 Managers, 91 Players, 33 Coaches.

This is Tampa Bay's 6th ejection of 2023, T-3rd in the AL East (NYY 10; BOS 7; BAL, TB, TOR 6).

This is Kevin Cash's 3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since Sept 2 (CB Bucknor; QOC = N [Pitch Clock]).

This is Adam Hamari's 6th ejection of 2023, 1st since Aug 2 (Pedro Grifol; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles, 9/17/23 | Video as follows: