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Saturday, June 8, 2024

MLB Ejection 073 - Alan Porter (3; Alex Cora)

HP Umpire Alan Porter ejected Red Sox manager Alex Cora (strike three call to Jamie Westbrook; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #RedSox-#WhiteSox game. With two out and one on, Red Sox batter Westbrook took a 3-2 fastball from White Sox pitcher Tanner Banks 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 -0.16, pz 1.51 [sz_bot 1.45 / RAD 1.33]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 1-0. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Alan Porter (64)'s 3rd ejection of 2024.
This pitch was located 3.12 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 73rd ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 33rd manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 33 Managers, 12 Coaches, 28 Players.
This is Boston's 2nd ejection of 2024, T-4th in the AL East (NYY, TOR 5; TB 3; BAL, BOS 2).
This is Alex Cora's 1st ejection since August 22, 2023 (Pat Hoberg; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Alan Porter's 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since May 12 (Oliver Marmol; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

White Sox Appeal Play Gone Awry - What Happened?

Red Sox batter Jarren Duran reached on White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet's throwing error on an infield ground ball, winding up at third. Sensing that Duran may have failed to touch first base in all the commotion, Chicago prepared for an appeal, but as Crochet threw to first, Duran took off for home plate, trying to distract the White Sox. Officially a stolen base, Crochet's throw once again evaded first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

We review baseball's appeal rules to figure out if Chicago still retained the right to appeal Duran's purported missed base touch at first and if anything else may have been missed here.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(c)(2) states that "any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when with the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, they fail to touch each base in order before they, or a missed base, are tagged."

Appeals can occur at any time prior to the next pitch, play, or attempted play—which can include an appeal made during the live ball associated with the continuous action featuring the alleged base-running infraction (sometimes called a "real time appeal"), or it can be made after the ball has been returned to the pitcher and the pitcher has engaged the rubber (a "standard appeal"). In a standard appeal, the umpire puts the ball in play (if the ball had been declared dead), upon which the pitcher steps off the rubber and throws (or, theoretically, runs) to the base at which the appeal is being made.

Note: NFHS / high school allows live or dead ball appeals; OBR/NCAA require live ball appeals.

The key part to this play is the "any appeal under this rule must be made before the next pitch, or any play or attempted play" part of the rule. So too is that "An appeal is not to be interpreted as a play or an attempted play."

Had Vaughn caught Crochet's throw and instead, distracted by Duran stealing home, threw home, Chicago would have lost its right to appeal at first base and whatever resulted at home plate (safe/out on the catcher's tag) would prevail. In order for this "play or attempted play" to occur, Vaughn would have to actually physically possess the baseball; even though replays indicate he may have motioned as if he were throwing home, he did not possess the baseball and, thus, this was not a play or attempted play.

The MLB Umpire Manual substantiates this: "A play or attempted play is interpreted as a legitimate effort by a defensive player who has possession of the ball to actually retire a runner."

Accordingly, even though Crochet's throw evaded Vaughn's glove, it stayed in play in foul territory near right field, and was retrieved by Vaughn, who (although video doesn't capture this) immediately returned to and tagged first base to appeal. This is important to note as well, because a ball that falls out of play here would close the appeal window: "Once the defensive team “errs” (i.e., throws the ball out of play) in its attempt to appeal at third on the runner originally on second, it loses its right to make an appeal."

1B Umpire Alan Porter called Duran "safe" at first base, ruling that Duran did not miss the base.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol briefly discussed the play with HP Umpire Sean Barber, but ultimately Crochet returned to the mound and threw a pitch, sealing the finality of Duran's stolen base.

There was one thing Chicago failed to do was challenge 1B Umpire Porter's safe/touch call. That's it.

Video as follows:

Friday, June 7, 2024

MLB Ejection 072 - Paul Clemons (1; Derek Shomon)

HP Umpire Paul Clemons ejected Twins assistant hitting coach Derek Shomon (strike two call to Carlos Correa; QOCN) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Twins-#Pirates game. With one out and two on, Twins batter Correa took a 1-1 sinker from Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.19, pz 1.57 [sz_bot 1.77 / RAD 1.65 / MOE 1.58), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 2-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 3-0.

This is Paul Clemons (104)'s 1st ejection of 2024.
This pitch was located 0.12 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 72nd ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 12th coach ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 32 Managers, 12 Coaches, 28 Players.
This is Minnesota's 2nd ejection of 2024, 2nd in the AL Central (CWS 5; MIN 2; CLE, DET, KC 0).
This is Derek Shomon's 1st ejection since June 23, 2023 (Lance Barrett; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Paul Clemons' first career MLB ejection.

Thursday, June 6, 2024

MLB Ejection 071 - Erich Bacchus (2; Mike Shildt)

HP Umpire Erich Bacchus ejected Padres manager Mike Shildt (strike three call to Jake Cronenworth to end the game; QOCN) after the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Padres game. With two out and one on, Padres batter Cronenworth took a 2-2 fastball from Diamondbacks pitcher Paul Sewald for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and at the midpoint (px -1.01, pz 3.43), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks had already won the ballgame, 4-3.

This is Erich Bacchus (12)'s 2nd ejection of 2024.
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
The pitched ruled strike three was located 1.16 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 71st ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 32nd manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 32 Managers, 11 Coaches, 28 Players.
This is San Diego's 3rd ejection of 2024, T-1st in the NL West (SD, SF 3; ARI 2; COL 1; LAD 0).
This is Mike Shildt's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since April 20 (Ramon De Jesus; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Erich Bacchus' 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since May 25 (Andrew Heaney; QOC = N [Fair/Foul]).

Calls of the Month - May 2024

Our Top 5 Calls of the Month for May 2024 include several close calls at both home plate and on the bases, with umpires who stick with the play to get the call right.

5) Cory Blaser gets his nose in there for a call at the plate.

4) Doug Eddings gets knocked down, but gets back up to later in the game nail an awkward out call.

3) Chris Conroy takes a "Reverse Force" (tag-up appeal play) at 1st.

2) Chad Fairchild no call at the plate great calmness.... and call.

1) Adam Hamari "The Hammer" with a confirmed catcher's interference call on a check swing.

Video as follows:

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

MLB Ejection 070 - Vic Carapazza (4; Nico Hoerner)

HP Umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Cubs 2B Nico Hoerner (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Cubs game. With one out and none on, Hoerner took called first, second, and third strikes from White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde. Replays indicate strike one was located over the outer half of home plate and belt-high (px 0.46, pz 2.81), strike two was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.88, pz 2.68), and strike three was located off the outer edge of home plate and belt-high (px 1.03, pz 2.85), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 5-1, however, the Cubs ultimately won the contest, 7-6.

This is Vic Carapazza (19)'s 4th ejection of 2024.
*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.
The pitched ruled strike three was located 1.39 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 70th ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 28th player ejection of 2024. Prior to ejection, Hoerner was 0-2 (SO) in the contest.
Ejection Tally: 31 Managers, 11 Coaches, 28 Players.
This is Chicago's 4th ejection of 2024, T-1st in the NL Central (CHC, MIL, PIT, STL 4; CIN 1).
This is Nico Hoerner's first career MLB ejection.
This is Vic Carapazza's 4th ejection of 2024, 1st since May 29 (Aaron Boone; QOC = Y [Interference]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs, 6/5/24 | Video as follows:

Four MiLB El Paso Ejections Over Tag Plays

Four El Paso Chihuahuas were ejected by MiLB umpires Kelvis Velez and Jen Pawol during a series vs Round Rock after a pair of contested tag plays that, by minor league rule, aren't reviewable because nothing is at that level (typically). What does game management say about all this?

In Velez' case, El Paso catcher Kevin Plawecki, 2B Nate Mondou, and manager Pete Zamora were ejected arguing after an RBI single which itself followed a safe call on a stolen base attempt at second base. Mondou and Zamora, specifically, argued the safe call when it occurred, Zamora returning to the dugout and Mondou to his position. Thus, those two ejections were for continuing to argue a previous play, while Plawecki charged up the third base line to confront the umpire to earn his dismissal.

For Pawol, 3B Eguy Rosario made a beeline toward the crew chief after a safe call at third base, making a finger pointing gesture just feet from Pawol's face.

Video as follows:

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

McCann Called Out for Batter Interference...But Did He?

With a runner on first and one on, HP Umpire Tony Randazzo called Orioles batter James McCann out for interference with Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, thus sending baserunner Colton Cowser back to first, drawing an argument from Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde. What happened here?

Randazzo called McCann out for illegal action, specifically for violation of Official Baseball Rule 6.03(a)(3): "A batter is out for illegal action when they interfere with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base."

With a 1-1 count to McCann before Genesis Cabrera's changeup that resulted in a McCann swing-and-a-miss, the interference call put McCann out immediately (as soon as Toronto catcher Jansen was unable to throw the ball to second base) and returned runner R1 Cowser to first, as no bases may be run as a result of the dead ball caused by an interference call.

Note that this is not an example of unintentional backswing interference, because the proper outcome for that call would be a dead ball, runner returns to first, and a strike added to the count due to McCann's swing, which would make it a 1-2 count. With McCann out immediately, it is apparent that Randazzo's call was interference, not unintentional backswing contact (note: in high school, backswing is called follow-through and is treated as interference).

OBR 6.03(a)(3) and (4) Comment states, "If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard they carry the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hit the catcher or the ball in back of them on the backswing, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play."

Video as follows:

Monday, June 3, 2024

MLB Ejection 069 - Phil Cuzzi (1; Pete Walker)

HP Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (ball one call to Austin Hays; QOCN) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Orioles-#BlueJays game. With two out and one on, Orioles batter Austin Hays took a 0-0 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and at the midpoint (px 0.54, pz 3.32 [sz_top 3.32 / RAD 3.44 / MOE 3.36]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 5-1. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 

This is James Hoye (92)'s 2nd ejection of 2024.
This pitch was located 0.48 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 69th ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 11th coach ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 31 Managers, 11 Coaches, 27 Players.
This is Toronto's 5th ejection of 2024, T-1st in the AL East (NYY, TOR 5; TB 3; BAL 2; BOS 1).
This is Pete Walker's 1st ejection since July 18, 2023 (Malachi Moore; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Phil Cuzzi's 1st ejection since September 29, 2023 (Will Benson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Clemson's Hidden Ball Trick & Rule Requirements

Clemson's hidden ball trick play proved successful during a college playoff game thanks to the Tigers' compliance with baseball's rules, requirements, and restrictions for fielders and pitchers. Umpires should bear in mind balk and pocketed ball regulations vary by level of play. Let's go over them.

The hidden ball trick—wherein the defense confuses the offense about the ball's whereabouts—must comply with several rules, including those pertaining to the pitcher as well as to the fielder holding the ball (and other fielders, too).

This play generally requires the ball-carrying fielder to hide the baseball from the runner. There are legal ways to do this and others that are explicitly legal. While simply placing the ball into your glove to conceal it is legal, at no level of baseball are fielders allowed to deliberately put a ball into their pocket, under their cap, etc., but the rules and penalties vary by level.

Placing Ball in Uniform: Professional baseball is the only level to specifically address a fielder intentionally putting the ball in their clothing, as in Official Baseball Rule 5.06(c)(7) Comment: "If a ball is intentionally placed inside a player’s uniform (e.g., a pants pocket) for the purpose of deceiving a base runner, the umpire shall call “Time.” The umpire will place all runners at least one base (or more if warranted, in the umpire’s judgment, in order to nullify the action of the ball being put out of play), from the base they originally occupied."

The lower levels do not directly address this case, but do discuss balls in uniforms. NCAA 8-3-1 states, "If a fair batted or thrown ball becomes lodged in a player's uniform, the ball shall be declared dead and bases awarded at the umpire's discretion," while NFHS 8-3-3c awards two bases for a thrown ball becoming dead because it is lodged in a player's equipment or uniform.

Pitcher Restrictions and Balks: While no level of baseball allows the pitcher to engage the pitcher's plate without the baseball, the three levels differ as to where a pitcher may stand during a hidden ball play.

NCAA 9-3-f is the most restrictive, prohibiting pitchers from being on the dirt of the mound at all.
NFHS 6-2-5 takes a moderate approach, stating pitchers may not stand within five feet of the rubber.
OBR 6.02(a)(9) is the most lenient, only prohibiting pitchers from standing "on or astride" the rubber.

Pitcher's Fake Throws to a Base: While college and professional baseball restrict fake throws by a pitcher from the rubber to first or third base (NCAA 9-3-a, OBR 6.02(a)(2)), high school restricts the feign to first but allows a fake to third (NFHS 6-2-4a). All codes allow a fake to second and none of them allow a fake to home plate (all from the rubber, of course).

Video as follows:

Sunday, June 2, 2024

Pham's Slide into Contreras - Legal or Collision Violation?

White Sox baserunner Tommy Pham slid into Brewers catcher William Contreras on a play at the plate as Milwaukee cut down Chicago's tying run. In an era when we simply don't see much runner-catcher contact thanks to the home plate collision rule, we review Pham's slide for legality. Had Pham not been tagged out by Contreras, would HP Umpire Edwin Jimenez (or Replay Review) have called Pham out anyway, for a violation of this rule?

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(i)(1), titled Collisions at Home Plate, pertains to the runner's actions at home plate. Although most of these plays end up resulting in discussions concerning OBR 6.02(i)(2), which is the home plate collision rule for catchers/other fielders covering the plate, this is one of the seldom-seen instances where we discuss whether or not the runner was illegal.

OBR 6.01(i)(1) states, "A runner attempting to score may not deviate from their direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher, or otherwise initiate an avoidable collision. If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher in such a manner, the umpire shall declare the runner out (regardless of whether the catcher maintains possession of the ball)."

Ordinarily when adjudicating the catchers' legality in OBR 6.01(i)(2), we cite fair and foul territory, as when the catcher cedes the runner foul territory, the catcher is most likely legal because prior to the ball's arrival, generally speaking, the catcher is entitled to play in fair territory while the runner is entitled to slide in foul territory.

For this play, runner R3 Pham takes a direct route into fair territory—on the infield grass even—before directly sliding into catcher Contreras, and not into home plate, which is freely available to him, including the entirety of the foul line extended as well as foul territory on the left field side.

By rule, this is an illegal slide by Pham and, had Contreras not held onto the baseball, he would be out for a home plate collision rule violation.

Although this was the third out of the inning, had there been fewer outs, the tail end of OBR 6.01(i)(1) would apply to trailing runners: "the umpire shall call the ball dead, and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the collision."

Video as follows: