Lindsay

Fresh into the Padres-Cubs game as a relief pitcher in a mutually disastrous first inning, San Diego pitcher Logan Gillaspie added to the carnage by immediately balking twice, with 3B Umpire Nate Tomlinson calling the crew in for consultation after just two pitches. At issue was pitcher Gillaspie declaring to HP Umpire Mark Wegner his intention to pitch from Windup Position, which ordinarily grants the pitcher one step back before a second step forward, upon which the pitcher releases the ball. Instead, Gillaspie took his first step back, but then brought both feet together, as in Set Position, stopping on the rubber, before restarting the motion and delivering the ball to the batter. Did Gillaspie change his mind about Windup vs Set and just not tell anyone? Chicago's dugout cried foul, leading to Tomlinson's intervention and the crew's determination that Gillaspie had balked by stopping mid-delivery. Official Baseball Rule 5.07(a)(1) defines Windup Position: "The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, their pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the other foot free. From this position any natural movement associated with their delivery of the ball to the batter commits their to the pitch without interruption or alteration. They shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in their actual delivery of the ball to the batter, they may take one step backward, and one step forward with their free foot." Because Gillaspie pitching from Windup interrupted his motion by stopping, this is a start-stop balk, as in OBR 6.01(a)(1), "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while touching their plate, makes any motion naturally associated with their pitch and fails to make such delivery," and (5), "...makes an illegal pitch." Video as follows: Alternate Link: Gillespie's start-stop balk out of Windup was kinda subtle...until you see itView the full article

After slipping on the mound during his delivery, Mets pitcher AJ Minter was called for a balk by HP Umpire Bruce Dreckman, even though he released the ball, resulting in a brief discussion with manager Carlos Mendoza and a broadcast booth debate: balk or ball, what's the call? With one out and a runner on second base in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Mets-Marlins game, New York pitcher Minter slipped during his 0-1 delivery to Marlins batter Otto Lopez, releasing the ball mid-fall, which was ultimately scooped up by the catcher. HP Umpire Dreckman then called a balk pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(11), which states, "If there is a runner, or runners, is a balk when the pitcher, while touching their plate, accidentally or intentionally has the ball slip or fall out of their hand or glove." Although New York argued that it should be deemed a legal pitch, since Minter released the ball toward home plate during his delivery (as opposed to simply dropping the ball from Set Position but before delivery), the MLB Umpire Manual instructs officials to nonetheless call a balk in this situation, because the ball did not make it to the foul line before being picked up by the catcher. MLBUM's interpretation of this balk rule states, "A pitched ball that slips out of the pitcher’s hand and crosses the foul line shall be called a ball; otherwise it will be called no pitch. If the ball does not cross the foul line, this would be a balk with runner(s) on base." Accordingly, this is a balk and as we know, you can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that.Video as follows: Alternate Link: Minter's mid-delivery ball slip is a balk because the baseball didn't go foulView the full article

Hugging Padres 3B Manny Machado turned into an interference-aided double play for Guardians baserunner Gabriel Arias, as 3B Umpire John Bacon ruled that Arias prevented Machado from making a potential play on trailing Cleveland runner Austin Hedges. With none out and runners on first and second base (R1, R2), Guardians runner R2 Arias took off for third base, drawing a throw from Padres pitcher Kyle Hart to Machado, who waited to tag Arias. But instead of giving himself up, Arias wrapped up Machado, who mimed a fake throw to second base where following runner Hedges was advancing. Umpire Bacon, ruling that Arias' actions prevented Machado from making a potential play on another runner, ruled now-retired baserunner Arias guilty of interference pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(5): "Any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of their teammate." Broadcasters also erroneously alleged that pitcher Hart balked in making his initial throw to third base, which was unoccupied to begin the play, and without first disengaging the rubber. While a pitcher is generally prohibited from throwing to an unoccupied base from the rubber, OBR 6.02(a)(4) makes one key exception that is relevant here: "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while touching their plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play." Because R2 Arias was attempting to advance to third base, Hart's throw to third qualifies for the purpose-of-making-a-play exception to the balk rule and is therefore legal. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Arias hugs Machado during pickoff/caught stealing & Bacon calls interferenceView the full article

You asked us if the torpedo bats several Yankees players started using this season are legal, so we turned to Official Baseball Rule 3.02—the bat rule—to figure out the answer. Torpedo bats differ from standard wooden bats in several ways: first, the barrel of the bat, which retains a somewhat similar length to the standard's barrel, is shifted several inches up the bat, toward the knob/handle side. This, in turn, means the end of the barrel on a torpedo bat does not correspond with the end of the bat itself, as is the case on many standard bats. Instead, the barrel ends a few inches from the end, and the bat's thickness thins slightly past the barrel toward the end. In turn, there is no indented cup on a torpedo bat, as there would be on a standard bat (for force dissipation purposes). OBR 3.02 is comprised of three provisions, so we began with part (a), which states, "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood." The torpedo bat changes the standard bat shape by shifting the barrel toward the handle, but does not change the barrel's thickness nor the overall bat's total length. Therefore, provision (a) is satisfied. OBR 3.02(b) states, "Cupped Bats. An indentation in the end of the bat up to 1¼ inches in depth is permitted and may be no wider than two inches and no less than one inch in diameter. The indentation must be curved with no foreign substance added." Due to its shifted barrel design, the torpedo bat general has no indented cup, which, because 3.02(b) permits intendtation, but does not require it, does not apply. OBR 3.02(c) states, "The bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from its end, may be covered or treated with any material or substance to improve the grip. Any such material or substance that extends past the 18-inch limitation shall cause the bat to be removed from the game." Finally, because a torpedo bat does not alter the standard handle length, provision (c) is also satisfied. Accordingly, we find a torpedo bat is indeed legal. | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Are torpedo bats legal? The answer...won't surprise you because they areView the full article

HP Umpire Brennan Miller ejected Brewers associate manager Rickie Weeks (ball one call; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Royals-#Brewers game. With none out and one on, Royals batter Hunter Renfroe took a 0-2 slider from Brewers pitcher Elvis Peguero for a called first ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.82, pz 1.64 [sz_bot 1.65 / RAD 1.53]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Royals were leading, 5-0. The Royals ultimately won the contest, 11-1. This is Brennan Miller (55)'s 1st ejection of 2025. This is the 1st ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.This is the 1st coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 0 Managers, 1 Coach, 0 Players.This is Milwaukee's 1st ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL Central (MIL 1; CHC, CIN, PIT, STL 0).This is Rickie Weeks' 1st ejection since July 4, 2010 (John Hirschbeck; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).This is Brennan Miller's 1st ejection since Sept 17, 2024 (Jose Altuve; QOC = N [Fair/Foul]). Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs Milwaukee Brewers, 3/31/25 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Weeks ejected for continued complaining from dugout after warning to stopView the full article

Umpire Stu Scheurwater's out of the base path call against Seattle batter-runner Donovan Solano ended the A's-Mariners game as Stu ruled that Solano ran more than three feet from his established base path to avoid first baseman Tyler Soderstrom's tag. Did he? Out of the base path calls near first base are one of the only instances in which painted lines on the baseball field are helpful for adjudication. This is because the distance from the foul line to the lane line along the first baseline is exactly three feet, by rule. To review, out of the base path is as follows: "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" (Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1)). While the runner's lane interference rule, as pertains to the physical markings on the ground, states: "The chalk lines marking the threefoot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane" (OBR 5.09(a)(11)). So although the runner's lane rule itself bears no relevance to this tag play at first base, because Solano was positioned on the fair territory side of the runner's lane at the beginning of F3 Soderstrom's tag attempt, and because Solano then ran onto the foul territory side of the runner's lane, we know that Solano must have run more than three feet from his base path to avoid the tag, and, thus, is out of the base path. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Ump ends M's game with out of base path call against Solano near first baseView the full article

Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham got away with an illegal play when he took off and used his hat to field Brewers batter Isaac Collins' fly ball to deep right-center, a rules infraction that should have resulted in a three-base award had the umpires spotted it. Replays indicate that in the 9th inning of New York's 4-2 win over Milwaukee, Grisham deliberately took off his uniform cap and used it to help control a fair ball at the wall, which is against the rules, the penalty for which is a three-base award: "Three bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with their cap, mask or any part of their uniform detached from its proper place on their person. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at their peril" (Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(4)(B)). The violation went uncalled, resulting in a double with Brewers baserunner R1 Joey Ortiz advancing from first to third base. Had the umpires called and enforced the violation and its penalty, Ortiz would have scored and batter-runner Collins would have been placed at third base. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Grisham gets away with uncalled detached hat play deep in outfieldView the full article

Ordinarily, crew-of-three 3B umpires handle check swing appeals for left-handed hitters and 1B umpires take righties...so why did a 3B umpire rule on a check swing for a righty in NCAA's LSU vs Louisiana game? The prevailing wisdom for most umpire manuals in a crew of three is that check (or "checked" in softball parlance) swings for lefties get appealed to U3 and righties get appealed to U1. That's what most umpire manuals will tell you, such as a prior year's NCAA Softball Umpire Manual, which states, "The plate umpire should get help from the first base umpire for right-handed batters and the third base umpire for left-handed batters, regardless of where the base umpires are positioned on the field." Professional baseball, at some levels, did experiment years ago with having the third base umpire take check swings on right-handed batters during situations in which the first base umpire is counter-rotated onto the infield, such as the runners on 1B & 2B situation in LSU-Louisiana...but the experiment didn't seem to work and umpire mechanics returned to the U1/righties and U3/lefties setup. Looks like softball is angling for a new check swing mechanic experiment. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Who takes a RHH check swing appeal: U3 on the line or U1 on the infield?View the full article

A young fan attending a Blue Jays-Cardinals Spring Training game dressed like an MLB umpire called balls and strikes from the stands, stealing the show: "This is all we want," exclaimed the St Louis broadcast. Complete with a pro-style black umpire uniform shirt, facemask, black ball bag (sorry, Cubby!), and heather gray pants, baseball's newest real fake umpire dazzled while calling the game alongside—and, timing-wise, in sync with—HP Umpire Tom Hanahan: "that kid is on point!" The fake ump monicker refers to the original "Fake Umpires" from 2008-10, Tim Williams and Joe Farrell of Toronto, who in 2015 took to Citi Field for a charity fundraiser, after raising over $10,000 during their first round of fake officiating from the stands. Williams and Farrell previously ejected George Washington from the Presidents' Race in Washington, DC, during a 2009 game. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Kid Umpire Calls MLB Game From Stands, Steals ShowView the full article

Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani hit a home run in Game 2 of LA's Tokyo Series sweep over Chicago, but not after umpires reviewed the play for spectator interference. Let's take another look at this call stands decision, made due to lack of clear and convincing evidence. With one out and none on in the top of the 5th inning, Ohtani hit a 2-2 fastball from Cubs pitcher Nate Pearson to deep right-center field, whereupon a fan reached for and touched the baseball, ruled a home run by 2B Umpire John Libka. Crew Chief Bill Miller initiated a review for spectator interference, defined by the Official Baseball Rules as occurring "when a spectator (or an object thrown by the spectator) hinders a player’s attempt to make a play on a live ball, by going onto the playing field, or reaching out of the stands and over the playing field." OBR 6.01(e) specifies what to do when spectator interference occurs: "When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball, the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in their opinion will nullify the act of interference." Replay determined that available camera angles (which themselves suffered from varying degrees of parallax) did not provide clear/convincing evidence to confirm or overturn the call, and thus ruled the original on-field ruling of home run should stand. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Reviewing Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani's HR in Tokyo & the Fan Interference QuestionView the full article

Tigers baserunner Javier Báez jumped into a thrown ball following a diving catch by Rays shortstop Carson Williams, resulting in a double play at Grapefruit League Spring Training. With umpires not ruling this interference, instead signaling Báez out only when Tampa retrieved the loose ball and tagged first base, we review baseball's rules to determine whether the runner interfered with the play or not. Pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(3), "any runner is out when they intentionally interfere with a thrown ball; or hinder a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball." Replays indicate Báez jumped after Williams began his throw toward first base in an attempt to double up Báez for failing to tag up on the air out, which is indeed interference, as long as the umpire deems the runner's actions were an intentional attempt to hinder or impede the defense from making a play (in this case, completing the throw to first base). Replays indicate 2B Umpire Diaz did not signal interference, which by rule, suggests he did not deem Báez's act as intentional in accordance with OBR 5.09(b)(3). The definition of offensive interference is "an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play." Video as follows: Alternate Link: Baez jumps into thrown ball, but interference isn't called...should it have been?View the full article

Seminole St lost to McLennan on a walk-off groundout when the defense celebrated and spiked a live ball, allowing the winning run to score after the catcher missed his base touch on the tying runner. We briefly consider interference rules - both with the team being on the field during play and potential base coach assistance (illegal if physical) and ponder the possibility of an umpire holding the safe mechanic (arms out) a tick longer so everyone can see the call for this atypical play at home plate (e.g., a pulled foot is a close call that merits additional emphasis, especially at this point in the game for the tying runner), after the other play at first base is concluded. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Team loses game after premature celebration during missed base touch playView the full article

Just days after Clemson's incorrectly officiated hidden ball trick against Ole Miss, umpires nearly made another misstep on a similar play in the South Africa vs Nicaragua game in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier by calling a balk and awarding a run on what turned out to be a legal play by the defense. Whereas the Clemson game featured an improperly ruled out call during a dead ball, with the umpire who called Ole Miss' runner out also having clearly previously signaled "Time", the WBC play didn't involve a dead ball whatsoever.Related Post: Clemson's Hidden Ball Trick vs Ole Miss Was Illegal (2/18/24).Related Post: Clemson's Hidden Ball Trick & Rule Requirements (6/3/24). With one out and a runner on second base in the bottom of the 7th inning, Nicaragua's baserunner R2 tagged up and advanced to third on a fly ball to right field. After South Africa threw the ball to third base, the third baseman faked handing the ball back to the pitcher, keeping it for himself in his glove, while the pitcher slowly meandered back toward the mound. While the pitcher stood on the back dirt on the pitcher's mound, Nicaragua's runner at third base took his lead, upon which South Africa's third baseman tagged the runner while off his base. Instead of calling the runner out, however, umpires called a balk on the South Africa pitcher, ruling that he illegally stood on the mound during a hidden ball trick attempt, which is illegal...just not under the ruleset that applied for this game. Pursuant to NCAA Rule 9-3-f, the pitcher is not allowed to be on any part of the mound (dirt) while a hidden ball trick attempt is in progress, the penalty for which is a balk and base award for the runner(s). But the World Baseball Classic doesn't play under college (NCAA) rules, it plays under professional (OBR)'s rulebook, which states that the pitcher's only restriction is that they may not stand "on or astride" the rubber without possession of the ball. In other words, this play would have been illegal (and thus a balk) in college, but in pro, it is a legal play and the runner is therefore out on the tag. After conference, the umpires ultimately did arrive at the correct conclusion, reversing their earlier erroneous balk call and declaring the runner out on the tag. Refer to this summary of the different pitcher restrictions by ruleset (college/high school/pro):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. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Umps initially make mistake on balk call before reversal to correct out callView the full article

Baseball's electronic 'robo ump' Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) debuted in MLB Spring Training and it took only a half inning before Chicago challenged HP Umpire Tony Randazzo's ball call, with ABS overturning it to a strike. Here's how ABS will work during its MLB Spring Training experiment and what that could mean for the future of TV's on-screen strike zone box graphic. MLB brings the formerly Triple-A ABS challenge system to select Spring Training games in 2025, reducing team challenges to two per club (down from three in Triple-A). As is the case in Triple-A, only a batter, catcher, or pitcher may challenge a ball or strike call and the challenge request (indicated by tapping one's head) must be made immediately after the call in question. Teams lose their challenges with an unsuccessful challenge while they retain their challenges if the review results in an overturned call. Taking a 17-inch wide home plate, ABS calculates every batter's strike zone the same way: the bottom of the zone stands at 27% of a batter's height, while the top is 53.5% of their height, regardless of where their actual hollows-beneath-the-knee and midpoint-between-belt-and-shoulders actually line up. ABS also calculates the depth of home plate a little differently than TV. Whereas TV broadcasts display the ball's projected location at the front edge of home plate, ABS uses the middle of the plate's depth (the back edge of the plate's rectangle portion / base of triangle vs. TV's front edge). In other words, ABS does not address the 2D vs 3D strike zone problem nor does it address the issue of fluctuating zone height in real-time, but it appears to serve more as a game management tool than one of absolute accuracy: the hope is that teams will buy in to ABS and if it's successful in that regard, it won't matter if ABS is actually accurate because the players and managers will accept it on its face alone. MLB has indicated it may no longer be a fan of television's graphical strike zone, since TV's methodology conflicts with ABS: the league is concerned discrepancies between TV and ABS might make it harder to sell fans and teams alike on the challenge system. Will ABS spell the end of K-Zone on TV? Will it matter that ABS makes incorrect calls sometimes? Stay tuned... Video as follows: Alternate Link: MLB Debuts Electronic Strike Zone Challenge System in at Spring Training GameView the full article

Clemson pulled off a hidden ball trick against Ole Miss during the 2025 Shriners Children's College Showdown, but while umpires called an "out" when Tigers 3B Josh Paino tagged runner Collin Reuter at third base, the rules state the out should never have happened because the ball was declared dead following the previous play. Clemson is no stranger to hidden ball tricks at third base, having successfully executed the trick play during the 2024 NCAA season. In reviewing that play, we outlined several rules requirements for the defense in securing this kind of an out.Related Post: Clemson's Hidden Ball Trick & Rule Requirements (6/3/24). The difference between that play and the present one, however, is that in the Ole Miss game, "Time" was out while last season, "Time" was very much still in. In other words, Clemson's Paino completed the prior play by attempting a tag on baserunner Reuter at third base, ruled "safe" by the rotating umpire. After the tag attempt, however, the umpire also called "Time" which was mirrored by the returning 3B Umpire on the left field line. College, professional, and high school rule codes all agree: "While the ball is dead, no player may be put out" (NCAA 6-1-a). OBR 5.06(c)(2) continues, "...no bases may be run and no runs may be scored." The exceptions to this include awarded bases that occurred during live ball action (e.g., overthrow into the stands) or a dead-ball appeal (in high school only; appeals are live-ball only in college and pro). Meanwhile, a ball does not become live again until, at the earliest, the pitcher is back on the rubber and the umpire calls "Play": "The plate umpire shall call “Play” as soon as the pitcher takes their place on his plate with the ball in their possession." Because the pitcher in this game remained on the grass throughout the entire sequence (which, had the ball remained live, would have been proper as college requires a pitcher remain off the mound during a hidden ball trick attempt), the dead ball was unable to become live again, meaning this out call at third base during a dead ball should never have happened. In other words, a hidden ball trick generally cannot happen after a "Time" call immediately preceding it. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Clemson benefits from improperly officiated hidden ball trick during dead ballView the full article

Major League Baseball hired umpires Paul Clemons, Emil Jiménez, Alex MacKay, Dan Merzel, and Nate Tomlinson to its full-time staff after Paul Emmel, Jerry Layne, and Larry Vanover joined Angel Hernandez in retirement following the 2024 MLB season. Vic Carapazza, Doug Eddings, and Andy Fletcher were promoted to Crew Chiefs to replace the three retiring chiefs. New HiresPaul Clemons joins MLBU at the age of 34 after 14 years in Minor League Baseball, joining MiLB in 2011, and working 249 major league games on his way to joining the full-time staff. Emil Jiménez earns a full-time slot after 10 years of minor league ball, joining the Gulf Coast League as a rookie in 2015. He brings 246 games of MLB experience with him to the permanent roster. Alex MacKay first joined the minor leagues in 2012 and joins MLB 13 years and 262 major league games as a call-up later. Dan Merzel is the most experienced of the new-hire class, having worked 452 major league games prior to his hiring. He first worked a minor league game in 2011. Nate Tomlinson rounds out the list of hires, with 303 games of major league experience and has been in professional baseball's minor leagues since 2011. RetirementsPaul Emmel retires from MLB after 25 years of service time, having been a crew chief since 2017. Emmel did not work in 2024 due to medical leave. Jerry Layne's 36 years of service time (since 1989) placed him as the senior-most member of the MLB staff over the past few seasons, ever since Joe West retired in 2022. Layne also did not work on the field in 2024, but did work periodically in the replay room last season. He retires as a crew chief. Larry Vanover retires after 32 years of MLB experience, but unlike Emmel and Layne did work on the field in 2024. Vanover's retirement as a crew chief means three chief spots need to be filled, meaning that... Promotions to Crew ChiefVic Carapazza has been promoted to crew chief after 14 years on the full-time MLB staff,Doug Eddings is a new crew chief after 26 years on staff, andAndy Fletcher is a new crew chief after 25.5 years on the MLB staff.View the full article

Who is MLB's most ejected player? As we prepare for baseball's 2025 season, we rank the major league's most ejected active players. Bryce Harper took the Hothead crown in 2019, so how does he stack up six years later heading into Spring 2025? As we did in 2019, we'll use the umpire ejection sabermetric value Games Per Ejection (GPE) to chart the most frequently ejected players in active MLB gameplay. Using our historic benchmark of David Ortiz's 175 GPE (aka "the Papi line"), we crown MLB's leading active hothead position player. At the time of our June 2015 study, Big Papi's one ejection per 197 games played led all players with at least 2,000 games played, a number of minimum games that limited our study's scope to veteran ballplayers. Related Post: Determining The League's Biggest Hothead (It's Big Papi) (6/11/15). By 2016, Bryce Harper had taken the #1 spot and in 2019, we found Harper had kept his top spot.Related Post: Top 10 MLB Hothead Players by Ejection Frequency (2/28/19). Harper is still MLB's #1 Hothead.A few ground rules. We're looking at active position players (no pitchers) with a minimum of 500 games played and at least five career MLB ejections, for the sake of sample size. In the following table listing baseball's biggest hotheads, you can also click each player's name that appears in the accompanying table for their UEFL ejection report history. Definition/Legend GPE: Ejection Rate is measured in Games-Per-Ejection (GPE), with only those GPEs below 200 games per ejection reported. Only five eligible players have been ejected more frequently than the Papi line of 175 GPE. Active MLB Position Players with Highest Ejection Frequency - MLB's Biggest Hotheads #Player NameGames Per Ejection (GPE [GP/EJ])Raw # of Career Ejections1Bryce Harper78.7212Tim Anderson106.793Jesse Winker107.974Willson Contreras117.985Manny Machado157.7116Matt Carpenter1898Newcomer to Watch For: Jazz Chisholm's four ejections over 449 games gives him a GPE of 112.3. *Matt Kemp was #2 after Harper until his retirement (87.5 GPE with 20 career ejections) To summarize: > Bryce Harper remains the league's biggest hothead player and is tied with Gary Sheffield for #2 all-time 78 GPE. MLB's #1 hothead remains Milton Bradley with a 55 GPE.> Jazz Chisholm's GPE is 112.3, but his four ejections over 449 games does not qualify for this list. > Mike Trout retains his crown as Cool & Collected. Trout and most other MLB'ers have never been ejected in their playing careers. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Ranking MLB's most ejected hothead players and #1 is absolutely no surpriseView the full article

Major League Baseball fired umpire Pat Hoberg for violating the league's gambling rules. Perhaps most famous for calling a perfect game with 100% ball/strike accuracy during the 2022 World Series, Hoberg did not work any MLB games during the 2024 season while under investigation by the commissioner's office for alleged gambling violations. Hoberg's on-field MLB career thus spanned a decade (2014-23), with Hoberg getting the call to the full-time staff in 2017. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement no earlier than 2026. The Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA) filed an appeal on Hoberg's behalf following the 2024 suspension, but MLB's conclusion that Hoberg violated the sport's gambling rules was upheld after review. Although MLB's investigation revealed no evidence that Hoberg actually bet on baseball or manipulated games, the league nonetheless banned Hoberg for violation of MLB Rule 21 because an account Hoberg held jointly with a friend did place bets on baseball, including several games Hoberg officiated. Hoberg himself reportedly bet on football, basketball, hockey, and golf, and Hoberg has consistently denied ever betting on baseball. MLB umpires are allowed to bet on sports other than baseball. According to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, "Hoberg's extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline. Therefore, there is just cause to uphold Mr. Hoberg’s termination for failing to conform to high standards of personal conduct and to maintain the integrity of the game of baseball." MLB Rule 21(d) restricts gambling on baseball: betting on any baseball game the bettor is not involved in nets a one-year suspension while betting on any game in which the bettor participates or has a duty to perform results in a permanent ban from the sport. Specifically, "Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform, shall be declared ineligible for one year" (21(d)(1)), and "Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible" (21(d)(2)). Additionally, placing bet with an illegal book maker or agents thereof are subject to a ban at the discretion of the commissioner. Although Hoberg was not found to have bet illegally in this way (MLB's findings make specific reference to legal betting), he nonetheless received severe discipline for betting in an account that was also associated with betting on baseball and for deleting messages/his Telegram account during the investigative process. Video as follows: Alternate Link: Pat Hoberg fired for gambling violation - here's why Manfred gave him a perma-banView the full article

We review a first-inning spectator interference play in New York during Game 4 of #Dodgers-#Yankees World Series when a fan was ejected for prying open Mookie Betts' glove during a catch and Alex Verdugo's catch and carry play during Game 1 in Los Angeles. First, in the 10th inning of Game 1, with one out and runners on first and second base, Yankees outfielder Verdugo ran to catch Dodgers batter Shohei Ohtani's fly ball in foul territory along the left field warning track, catching the baseball before falling into the stands and attempting to throw the ball back to the field to hold the runners. LF Umpire Chad Fairchild ruled Ohtani out on the catch and awarded runners R1 and R2 one base each pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(3)(C) pertaining to catch-and-carry situations, which states, "If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should step or fall into any out-of-play area, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from their last legally touched base at the time the fielder entered such out-of-play area." Finally, in Game 4 in New York, RF Umpire Mark Carlson called spectator interference when a front-row fan reached over the foul fence as Dodgers outfielder Betts was attempting to catch Gleyber Torres' fly ball. For this play, the relevant rules are found in the definitions: "Spectator interference occurs when a spectator (or an object thrown by the spectator) hinders a player’s attempt to make a play on a live ball, by going onto the playing field, or reaching out of the stands and over the playing field," and OBR 6.01(e): "When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball, the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in their opinion will nullify the act of interference." Thus, to nullify the act, Torres was declared out and the fans ultimately ejected not by the umpires, but by Yankee Stadium security. Video as follows: Alternate Link: World Series boundary call reviews include catch/carry and fan interferenceView the full article

Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman's throw hit Padres baserunner Manny Machado's back during San Diego's NLDS Game 3 win over LA, but was the runner legal or did Manny commit interference? Umpires ruled the play legal, but analysts were more divided on the play's legality. Let's get into the rulebook and figure out what happened and what the correct call was. Padres batter Jackson Merrill hit a ground ball to Dodgers first baseman Freeman, whose throw to second base struck Machado in the upper back before caroming into left field, allowing Machado to advance to third base during a six-run rally in the bottom of the 2nd inning. 1B Umpire Dan Bellino and 2B Umpire Tripp Gibson, the two relevant umpires for this play, no-called the sequence, ruling Machado's baserunning legal. To determine whether Machado interfered or not, we first must cite the relevant rule, which is Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(10), which states, "It is interference by a batter or runner when they fail to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interfere with a thrown ball." Note that we are looking not solely for interference, but intentional interference with a thrown ball. The standard of intentional refers to deliberate action, such as waving of arms, hip check, or looking back after the throw is made and adjusting one's body position into the throw as a result of the look-back. Note that under the intentional standard, non-deliberate interference (e.g., being struck by the ball without any of the aforementioned intentionality indicators) is legal. Replays indicate Machado began veering to his left prior to Freeman's release of the baseball. With no throw, there can be no OBR 6.01(a)(10) interference, and thus Machado's steps to his left prior to the throw mitigate potential intentional interference. Two additional considerations from broadcasters and fans are runner's lane interference and out of the base path. We first discuss the out of the base path issue, noting that the runner shall only be called for running out of the base path when they run more than three feet away from their established base path to avoid a fielder's tag. Since there was no tag attempt, and thus no base path to consider (OBR 5.09(b)(1): "A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs"), there can be no out of the base path call. Finally, runner's lane interference, referred to by analyst Alex Rodriguez, does not apply to this play, since OBR 5.09(a)(11) states, in part, "...in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base." The throw was not being made to first base and, furthermore, the runner's lane only exists between home plate and first base. There is no runner's lane between 1B and 2B, thus no RLI call to make. A similar play occurred in September 2022, when HP Umpire Chad Fairchild no-called Nick Senzel's throw hitting Andrew Knizner in the back during a Reds-Cardinals game. In conclusion, this is a legal play. | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Machado hit by Freeman's throw early in NLDS Game 3, but did Manny interfere?View the full article

Did a Brewers fan commit interference by pushing the protective netting as Mets first baseman Pete Alonso attempted to catch William Contreras' fly ball along the fence-line? With two out and two in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Mets-Brewers Wild Card deciding Game 3, the spectator displaced the protective netting MLB mandated be installed along the infield at all stadiums for fan safety by pushing it toward the playing field, on and over the warning track. Alonso, tracking the foul fly, failed to catch it as it landed near the fan in question, on the warning track, as 1B Umpire Alan Porter signaled "safe": no catch and no interference. Does this constitute interference? The definition of spectator interference states, "Spectator interference occurs when a spectator (or an object thrown by the spectator) hinders a player’s attempt to make a play on a live ball, by going onto the playing field, or reaching out of the stands and over the playing field." Even though the rule does not specifically address the case of a fan pushing a loose infield net over the field but not themself reaching out of the stands, yes, this play is eligible for spectator interference, which is also a reviewable play (it wasn't challenged). Furthermore, pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 6.01(e), the batter may be called out for the actions of the interfering fan. With that in mind, what's your call? Video as follows: Alternate Link: Spectator interference question visits Milwaukee in final WC game vs New YorkView the full article

HP Umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Tigers manager AJ Hinch (Replay Review decision that upheld 2B Umpire Nick Mahrley's catch [out] call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Tigers game. With none out and none on, Tigers batter Zach McKinstry hit a 2-2 fastball from White Sox pitcher Enyel De Los Santos on a fly ball to right fielder Dominic Fletcher, who attempted to catch the baseball near the outfield wall, ruled a catch (out) by 2B Umpire Mahrley. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Tigers manager Hinch, the out call stood. Replays indicate the fly ball appeared to touch the outfield wall before being caught by Fletcher, the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 9-5. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 9-5. This is Marvin Hudson (51)'s 2nd ejection of 2024. This is the 186th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.This is the 93rd manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 93 Managers, 32 Coaches, 61 Players.This is Detroit's 2nd ejection of 2024, T-4th in the AL Central (CWS 10; CLE, KC 3; DET, MIN 2).This is AJ Hinch's 1st ejection since August 25, 2023 (Laz Diaz; QOC = U [Pitch Clock]).This is Marvin Hudson's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since Aug 21 (Ryan O'Hearn; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]). Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs Detroit Tigers, 9/29/24 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Replay's call stands decision riles Hinch, who's tossed by Hudson in the 9th inningView the full article

HP Umpire Jacob Metz ejected Cardinals DH Matt Carpenter (strike three call; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Cardinals-#Giants game. With two out and one on, Cardinals batter Carpenter took a 0-2 fastball from Giants pitcher Austin Warren for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner edge of home plate and below the midpoint (px 0.73, pz 3.31 [sz_top 3.65]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 6-3. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 6-3. This is Jacob Metz (94)'s 1st ejection of 2024.*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.*This pitch was located 2.16 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect. This is the 185th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.This is the 61st player ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 92 Managers, 32 Coaches, 61 Players.This is St Louis' 11th ejection of 2024, 1st in the NL Central (STL 11; MIL 9; PIT 7; CHC 6; CIN 5).This is Matt Carpenter's 1st ejection since Sept 12, 2021 (Doug Eddings; QOC = U [Check Swing]).This is Jacob Metz's first career MLB ejection. Wrap: St Louis Cardinals vs San Francisco Giants, 9/27/24 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Carpenter tossed after pointed displeasure upon striking out for the 3rd timeView the full article

HP Umpire Ramon De Jesus ejected Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (strike three call to Francisco Alvarez; QOCY) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Mets-#Brewers game. With two out and two on, Mets batter Alvarez took a 3-2 slider from Brewers pitcher Frankie Montas for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.43, pz 1.38 [sz_bot 1.43 / RAD 1.31]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 5-2. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 8-4. This is Ramon De Jesus (18)'s 2nd ejection of 2024.*This pitch was located 1.80 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect. This is the 184th ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.This is the 92nd manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 92 Managers, 31 Coaches, 60 Players.This is New York's 7th ejection of 2024, 1st in the NL East (NYM 7; MIA 6; WAS 5; PHI 4; ATL 1).This is Carlos Mendoza's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since July 12 (Jeremie Rehak; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).This is Ramon De Jesus' 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since May 29 (Jorge López; QOC = U [Check Swing]). Wrap: New York Mets vs Milwaukee Brewers, 9/27/24 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Mendoza exits dugout to get run in place of Alvarez who slammed his helmetView the full article

HP Umpire Mark Wegner ejected Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (ball calls; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Astros-#Guardians game. With none out and none on, Guardians batter Will Brennan walked, Bo Naylor struck out, Daniel Schneemann walked, and Steven Kwan walked. Replays indicate that of the 15 callable pitches thrown during the half inning prior to ejection, all 14 were properly officiated (15/15 = 100% accuracy), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Astros were leading, 5-0. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 5-2. This is Mark Wegner (14)'s 4th ejection of 2024. This is the 183rd ejection report of the 2024 MLB regular season.This is the 60th player ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 91 Managers, 31 Coaches, 60 Players.This is Houston's 14th ejection of 2024, 1st in the AL West (HOU 14; OAK 8; LAA, SEA 7; TEX 6).This is Spencer Arrighetti's first career MLB ejection.This is Mark Wegner's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since July 22 (Alex Cora; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]). Wrap: Houston Asstros vs Cleveland Guardians of the Galaxy, 9/27/24 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Arrighetti blames everyone but himself for walking the bases loaded, gets tossedView the full article