MLB Ejection 066 - Malachi Moore (1; Dave Martinez)

[Lindsay]

HP Umpire Malachi Moore ejected Nationals manager Dave Martinez (check swing dead ball strike three call) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Nationals-#Guardians game. With two out and none on, Nationals batter Jacob Young attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 fastball from Guardians pitcher Ben Lively for a swinging third strike, called by Moore, as the pitch touched the batter's hand.* Although Martinez signaled a "hold" for consideration about whether to challenge the play, the Nationals ran out of time as the 15-second challenge timer expired before Martinez requested a review. Replays indicate the pitched ball touched Young's hand as he struck at the pitch, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Guardians were leading, 2-0. The Guardians ultimately won the contest, 3-2.

This is Malachi Moore (44)'s 1st ejection of 2024.

*Official Baseball Rules Definition of a strike states, "A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which touches the batter as they strike at it."

This is the 66th ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 29th player ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 29 Managers, 10 Coaches, 27 Players.

This is Washington's 3rd ejection of 2024, T-1st in the NL East (MIA, NYM, WAS 3; PHI 1; ATL 0).

This is Dave Martinez's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since April 19 (Cory Blaser; QOC = N-c [Obstruction]).

This is Malachi Moore's 1st ejection since July 18, 2023 (Pete Walker; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Washington Nationals vs Cleveland Guardians, 6/1/24 | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Martinez ejected arguing Moore's dead ball strike 3 after running out time to challenge

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[Velho]

Cleveland again for Malachi?

I thought he handled this well.

[dumbdumb]

i thought if by chance, and notice the, if, the batter would have been ruled to have been hit on the hand only, but the PU said he swung at the pitch, or the 1B on appeal ruled he swung at the pitch, then being hit by the pitch on the hand would not have mattered, it would be just like that swinging strike that then hits the back foot. i did not hear that variable possibility being brought in. just the hit the bat or the hand or not, or i think you could have both at the same time (oh, like a tie at 1b) in which the, hit the hand wins, in a case of both at the same time, or has that changed to just one or the other, like you cannot have a both situation.

[grayhawk]

3 hours ago, dumbdumb said:

i thought if by chance, and notice the, if, the batter would have been ruled to have been hit on the hand only, but the PU said he swung at the pitch, or the 1B on appeal ruled he swung at the pitch, then being hit by the pitch on the hand would not have mattered, it would be just like that swinging strike that then hits the back foot. i did not hear that variable possibility being brought in. just the hit the bat or the hand or not, or i think you could have both at the same time (oh, like a tie at 1b) in which the, hit the hand wins, in a case of both at the same time, or has that changed to just one or the other, like you cannot have a both situation.

On these plays where it may have hit the knob or bat or the hand, after calling time the first thing I do is ask my partner if he went (unless I say he went as Malachi did here). The reason is that if he swung, it's a "Get out of jail free" card for me. If he swung, it doesn't matter if it hit his hand or the bat (unless there were 2 strikes). If my partner says he didn't go, then if the batter claims it hit him I can ask to see where. If there's a mark, then send him to first. If not, then keep him at the plate.

[grayhawk]

Cool story about Malachi. He and I worked together a couple of times when he was still working college before his MiLB season began, and became friends from that. Not close friends, but friends nonetheless.

I sent him a text about when he was going to be local so I could come see him and he was going to be in Anaheim the next day, and I happened to be going with my fiance and some of her family for her son's birthday. He had the 8 of us come down after the game and he took everyone on the field to take pics and join him in the umpire locker room. He's offering food and drinks, answering any and all questions and just having a great time with us. There were some other folks there to see him and I asked them how they knew Malachi and they said they had just met him the week before at the Negro Leagues Baseball HOF in KC. He gave them tix to the Royals the next day and they were going to be in SoCal the next week and he gave them tix to the Angels too. All this for some folks he just struck up a conversation with the previous week.

Malachi is about as nice of a guy as you will ever meet, and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. 

[Velho]

5 hours ago, grayhawk said:

Malachi is about as nice of a guy as you will ever meet, and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. 

Agreed. I've met him twice at one day training outreach he helps with in Stockton. Really nice guy.