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Friday, August 2, 2024

MLB Ejection 135 - Doug Eddings (3; Kyle Snyder)

HP Umpire Doug Eddings ejected Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder (check swing call to Yainer Diaz) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #Rays-#Astros game. With none out and none on, Astros batter Diaz attempted to check his swing on a 1-1 slider from Rays pitcher Shane Baz, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Eddings and affirmed on appeal as no swing by 1B Umpire Ryan Additon. At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 2-0. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Doug Eddings (88)'s 3rd ejection of 2024.
*This pitch was located 1.68 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 135th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 21st coach ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 66 Managers, 21 Coaches, 48 Players.
This is Tampa Bay's 4th ejection of 2024, T-3rd in the AL East (NYY 8; TOR 7; BAL, TB 4; BOS 3).
This is Kyle Snyder's 1st ejection since August 13, 2023 (Adrian Johnson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Doug Eddings' 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since June 19 (Scott Servias; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros, 8/2/24 | Video as follows:

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

MLB Ejection 134 - Nestor Ceja (2; Andy Haines)

HP Umpire Nestor Ceja ejected Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines (strike two call to Andrew McCutchen; QOCY) in the top of the 1st inning of the #Pirates-#Astros game. With none out and none on, McCutchen took a 1-1 sinker from Astros pitcher Framber Valdez for a called second 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 1.58 [sz_bot 1.64 / RAD 1.52]), the call was correct.* At the time of ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Nestor Ceja (33)'s 2nd ejection of 2024.
*This pitch was located 1.68 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 134th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 20th coach ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 66 Managers, 20 Coaches, 48 Players.
This is Pittsburgh's 6th ejection of 2024, T-1st in the NL Central (MIL, PIT 6; CHC, STL 5; CIN 3).
This is Andy Haines' 1st ejection since July 7, 2023 (John Libka; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Nestor Ceja's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since July 13 (Mauricio Dubón; QOC = Y [Replay]).

Boston's Infield Fly Interference Play - Part 3 of Ongoing Saga

After umpires called an inning-ending double play due to runner Tyler O'Neill's interference during Rafael Devers' infield fly in Boston, Red Sox manager Alex Cora argued with 1B Umpire John Bacon and 2B Umpire Andy Fletcher—who both called the infraction–to no avail, now the third time infield fly interference has occurred in baseball this season after remaining largely dormant for the past decade.

With one out and runners at first and second base in the bottom of the 7th inning, Boston batter Devers hit a first-pitch sweeper from Mariners pitcher Tayler Saucedo for a fly ball somewhat near first base. While attempting to field the fly ball, Seattle first baseman Justin Turner collided with Boston baserunner R1 O'Neill, off his base, resulting in an interference call from the two closest umpires as the runner hindered and impeded Turner's ability to make a play.

At the conclusion of play, umpires declared O'Neill out for interference and Devers out on the infield fly rule, thus ending the inning.

Recall baseball's right of way rules relative to baserunning, interference, and obstruction:
On a batted ball, the FIELDER has the right to field the ball.
At any other time, the RUNNER has the right to run the bases.

Accordingly, on Devers' batted ball, the fielding team—Seattle—had right of way privileges. Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(10) puts a runner out for interference when "they fail to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interfere with a thrown ball, provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball."

The tricky part is on baserunner interference, the ball is ordinarily dead at the moment of interference. When interference occurs during an infield fly, however, "the ball remains alive until it is determined whether the ball is fair or foul. If fair, both the runner who interfered with the fielder and the batter are out. If foul, even if caught, the runner is out and the batter returns to bat."

Because the ball in this situation remains alive solely for the purpose of determining fair/foul status, the umpire must decide which fielder to protect—who may ordinarily be expected to try for the fly—while the ball is still in the air and before any fielder is camped under it. For this reason, it does not matter that Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco ultimately caught the ball—it was dead before the catch even happened.

Based on the timing requirement, Turner was deemed the protected fielder and, thus, O'Neill's interference resulted in an infield fly-aided inning-ending double play.

Video as follows:

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

MLB Ejection 133 - Chris Segal (1; Heliot Ramos)

HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Giants CF Heliot Ramos (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Athletics-#Giants game. With none out and none on, Ramos took a 3-2 changeup from A's pitcher JP Sears for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and at the midpoint (px -0.40, pz 3.23 [sz_top 3.09 / RAD 3.21 / MOE 3.29]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the A's were leading, 4-0. The A's ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Chris Segal (96)'s 1st ejection of 2024.
*This pitch was located 0.72 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 133rd ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 48th player ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 66 Managers, 19 Coaches, 48 Players.
This is San Francisco's 7th ejection of 2024, 1st in the NL West (SF 7; ARI, SD 6; COL 3; LAD 0).
This is Heliot Ramos' first career MLB ejection.
This is Chris Segal's 1st ejection since July 2, 2022 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Monday, July 29, 2024

MLB Ejections 131-2 - James Hoye (3-4; CHC x2)

1B Umpire James Hoye ejected Cubs pitcher Nate Pearson and manager Craig Counsell (throwing at Tyler Stephenson) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Cubs-#Reds game. With one out and none on, Reds batter Jeimer Candelario hit a 0-0 fastball from Cubs pitcher Pearson for a home run. Ensuing Reds batter Tyler Stephenson then took a first-pitch sinker from Pearson for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and struck Stephenson in the head. At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 7-0. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 7-1.

These are James Hoye (92)'s 3rd and 4th ejections of 2024.

These are the 131st and 132nd ejection reports of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 47th player ejection of 2024. Prior to ejection, Pearson's line was 1.1 IP, ER, HR.
This is the 66th manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 66 Managers, 19 Coaches, 47 Players.
This is Chicago's 5th ejection of 2024, T-2nd in the NL Central (MIL 6; CHC, PIT, STL 5; CIN 3).
This is Nate Pearson's first career MLB ejection.
This is Craig Counsell's 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since May 31 (Brennan Miller; QOC = Y [Replay]).
This is James Hoye's 3/4th ejection of 2024, 1st since June 1 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds, 7/29/24 | Video as follows:

Sunday, July 28, 2024

MLB Ejection 130 - Alan Porter (4; Brandon Hyde)

1B Umpire Alan Porter ejected Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (Replay Review decision overturning 2B Umpire Sean Barber's slide interference call) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Padres-#Orioles game. With one out and the bases loaded, Padres batter Jurickson Profar hit a 2-2 changeup from Orioles pitcher Yennier Cano on the ground to shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who stepped on second base to force out Padres baserunner R1 Tyler Wade, before colliding with Wade and becoming unable to complete his throw attempt to first base, called slide rule interference by 2B Umpire Barber for a double play. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Padres manager Mike Shildt, the call was overturned to no interference and a force out (only). At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 8-6. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 8-6.

This is Alan Porter (64)'s 4th ejection of 2024.

This is the 130th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.
This is the 65th manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 65 Managers, 19 Coaches, 46 Players.
This is Baltimore's 4th ejection of 2024, 3rd in the AL East (NYY 8; TOR 7; BAL 4; BOS, TB 3).
This is Brandon Hyde's 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since July 12 (Will Little; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Alan Porter's 4th ejection of 2024, 1st since June 8 (Alex Cora; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Laz Diaz Ejects Fan Who Threw Ball Toward Umpire

2B Umpire and Crew Chief Laz Diaz 'ejected' a fan for throwing a baseball onto the playing field, which landed near the umpire, during Saturday's Rockies-Giants game in San Francisco. Although technically an order for stadium personnel to remove the fan rather than a direct ejection, Diaz's ruling involves both the Official Baseball Rules and, locally, the Oracle Park Guest Code of Conduct.

All MLB stadiums have rules for spectators similar to Oracle Park's, which states, "guests entering, or attempting to enter, the playing field, or other areas which they are unauthorized to enter, or who throw (or attempt to throw) objects, with the exception of home run balls, in the stands or onto the field, are subject to ejection and prosecution. Fans interfering while a ball is in play are subject to ejection."

Although umpires are not specifically empowered with the authority to 'eject' fans, Official Baseball Rule 8.01(b) makes clear that umpires can order stadium personnel remove the fan: "Each umpire has authority to order a player, coach, manager or Club officer or employee to do or refrain from doing anything which affects the administering of these rules, and to enforce the prescribed penalties."

Spectators are #1—the most permissive spot—on the tolerance hierarchy for officiating, but getting physically involved with the game crosses that line. 

In 2017, Joe West, umpiring first base, ordered a game temporarily halted after a fan threw a ball from the stands and hit West in the back of his head.

Video as follows: