MLB Ejection 090 - Bill Miller (2; Andy Green)

[Lindsay]

1B Umpire Bill Miller ejected Padres Manager Andy Green for arguing an interference no-call (safe) by HP Umpire Todd Tichenor in the top of the 5th inning of the Orioles-Padres game. With two out and the bases loaded, Orioles batter Chris Davis hit a 1-0 changeup from Padres pitcher Christian...

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[grayhawk]

I think Green had a legitimate beef.  BR was fully in the lane and veered left out of the lane to get in the way.  He stepped out well before his last stride, and being there hindered F3's ability to receive the throw.

[LRZ]

But Green got his money's worth....

[Thunderheads]

11 hours ago, grayhawk said:

I think Green had a legitimate beef.  BR was fully in the lane and veered left out of the lane to get in the way.  He stepped out well before his last stride, and being there hindered F3's ability to receive the throw.

I concur.  I've seen a LOT of RLI called for less than that one ......   I do believe that should have been called RLI

[Kevin_K]

Correct me if I am wrong (like anyone needs my permission to do so), but it does not appear that the BR interfered with either the throw or the ability of F3 to catch the ball. It seems that the throw was simply not caught, and as others indicate frequently, no hindrance = no interference

Interference in this case is in the eye of the beholder.

[maven]

58 minutes ago, Kevin_K said:

Correct me if I am wrong (like anyone needs my permission to do so), but it does not appear that the BR interfered with either the throw or the ability of F3 to catch the ball. It seems that the throw was simply not caught, and as others indicate frequently, no hindrance = no interference

This may indeed be the basis of the no call. Though this part of the call is reviewable (I believe), we'd need clear and convincing evidence of hindrance to overturn.

BR out of the lane + quality throw + hindrance = RLI. All 3 are necessary in OBR.

That said, we usually give the defense the benefit of the doubt if F3 boots the throw, as seemed to happen here, and attribute that to the hindrance. An average F3 catches that throw from F4, say, where the BR isn't an issue. IMHO, RLI would also have been supportable here (and the call would have "stood" if reviewed).

[grayhawk]

1 hour ago, Kevin_K said:

Correct me if I am wrong (like anyone needs my permission to do so), but it does not appear that the BR interfered with either the throw or the ability of F3 to catch the ball. It seems that the throw was simply not caught, and as others indicate frequently, no hindrance = no interference

Interference in this case is in the eye of the beholder.

F1 threw the ball from just barely inside the foul line, and the BR, who was out of the lane, was directly between F1 and F3.  F3 was shielded by the BR being out of the lane.  I think this is textbook interference.

[udbrky]

15 hours ago, LRZ said:

But Green got his money's worth....

I kept listening for the guys to say it! 

I was watching the game live and thought it was RLI too.

I did hear them complain about how the corner of the bag is in the baseline, but then pointed out that the last bit, the BR has to change and come back at it, instead of being like the ESPN guys and say it shouldn't be a rule.

[LRZ]

2 hours ago, grayhawk said:

F1 threw the ball from just barely inside the foul line, and the BR, who was out of the lane, was directly between F1 and F3.  F3 was shielded by the BR being out of the lane.  I think this is textbook interference.

Years ago, when I first began officiating, actual interference was necessary, as I recall. For example, catchers were taught to drill BRs running inside the lane; same thing for runners interfering with fielders--no contact = no interference. In many respects, umpiring has gotten more complex and, as disagreements among forum members demonstrate, subject to judgment, "quality throws," HTBT, etc. Just a remark, although my memory may be faulty.