MLB Ejection 103 - Brennan Miller (3; Pat Murphy)

HP Umpire Brennan Miller ejected Brewers manager Pat Murphy (out of the base path call by 1B Umpire Brian O'Nora; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Brewers-#Rockies game. With one out and none on, Brewers batter Joey Ortiz bunted a first-pitch fastball from Rockies pitcher Austin Gomber to Gomber, who lunged and attempted to tag batter-runner Ortiz as he avoided the tag en route to first base, ruled out of the base path by 1B Umpire O'Nora. Replays indicate batter-runner Ortiz ran more than three feet away from his base path to avoid the tag, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Rockies ultimately won the contest, 8-7, in 10 innings.

This is Brennan Miller (55)'s 3rd ejection of 2024.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(1): "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."

This is the 103rd ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 52nd manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 52 Managers, 14 Coaches, 37 Players.

This is Milwaukee's 5th ejection of 2024, 1st in the NL Central (MIL 5; CHC, PIT, STL 4; CIN 3).

This is Pat Murphy's 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since April 30 (Chris Guccione; QOC = U [Fighting]).

This is Brennan Miller's 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since May 31 (Craig Counsell; QOC = Y [Fair/Foul]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs Colorado Rockies, 7/1/24 | Video as follows:

Fly Ball Hits Batter's Helmet, Caught by Fielder

A fly ball hit a batter's helmet and was caught on the rebound by a fielder, resulting in an eventual out call from the umpires, but not for the catch. Let's look at the interference rule to figure out what happened, and we'll look at both college and professional baseball rules because they are nearly identical for this play, which occured in the Pacific Empire League, a first-year collegiate summer league.

First, we refer to rules like NCAA 6-2-a or OBR 5.06(c)(5) which state the ball becomes dead when "A foul ball is not caught, in which case runners return to their bases."

For the issue of a catch in this situation, see NCAA 2-16: "It is not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball that then hits a member of the offensive team or an umpire and then is caught by that fielder or another defensive player."

Accordingly, an air out for a catch is an incorrect ruling.

Instead, we must consider fair/foul, as in NCAA 7-11-1: "A batter is out when a batted fair ball touches the batter-runner outside of the batter’s legal position in the batter's box before touching a fielder."

But if the ball is foul, we must consult the interference rule for right-of-way going to a fielder on a batted ball, as in OBR 6.01(a)(10): "It is interference by a batter or a runner when they fail to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball."

Accordingly, the most realistic outcome here is the umpire ruled the batter-runner interfered with the catcher by failing to avoid the fielder attempting to play a batted ball. I disagree, but rules-wise, that's the only call that seems to be supported by the book. Absent interference, this is a foul ball.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 102 - James Jean (1; Jose Altuve)

HP Umpire James Jean ejected Astros 2B Jose Altuve (fair ball call; QOCN) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Astros-#Mets game. With two out and two on, Altuve hit a 1-1 sinker from Mets pitcher Luis Severino on the ground to third baseman Mark Vientos, who threw to first baseman Pete Alonso for a groundout, ruled a fair ball by Jean and affirmed as fair upon crew consultation. Replays indicate the batted ball made contact with Altuve's left foot before bounding toward the infield, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 4-2.

This is James Jean (61)'s 1st ejection of 2024.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(8): "If the batter is in a legal position in the batter’s box, see Rule 5.04(b)(5), and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, a batted ball that strikes the batter or their bat shall be ruled a foul ball."

Fair/Foul in the Infield is not presently a reviewable play.

This is the 102nd ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 37th player ejection of 2024. Prior to ejection, Altuve was 2-4 in the contest.

Ejection Tally: 51 Managers, 14 Coaches, 37 Players.

This is Houston's 6th ejection of 2024, T-1st in the AL West (OAK, HOU, SEA 6; TEX 4; LAA 1).

This is Jose Altuve's 1st ejection since August 6, 2016 (Alan Porter; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is James Jean's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Houston Asstros vs New York Mets, 6/30/24 | Video as follows: