Did Hernández Interfere with Catcher Trevino in New York?

With two on and none out, Dodgers batter Enrique Hernández bunted a cutter from Yankees pitcher Luke Weaver in the air. New York catcher Jose Trevino took off in pursuit of the batted ball and tripped over Hernández, still in the box and looking up at the baseball. HP Umpire Nestor Ceja no-called this play, ruling it a foul ball, bringing Yankees manager Aaron Boone out of the dugout for a brief argument.

Was this interference by the batter or was a no-call due to incidental contact the correct ruling?

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(10) declares any batter or runner out for interference if "they fail to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball." The umpire is obliged to protect one fielder for the purpose of this rule and, as Trevino was the only fielder chasing the ball, he was the protected fielder.

It is important to differentiate this play, which concerns a batted ball, from batter's interference plays concerning pitched balls, e.g., with the catcher's throwing or play to retire a stealing runner when the batter has already swung and missed—OBR 6.03(a)(3), which states "A batter is out for illegal action when they interfere with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base."

Because this is a batted ball, the more restrictive OBR 6.01(a)(10) is the relevant rule.

Accordingly, Hernández has a duty to avoid Trevino and violating this batted ball right of way rule can result in interference. There is one exception, however...

The so-called Armbrister-Fisk tangle/untangle exception to this is found in OBR 6.01(a)(10) Comment: "When a catcher and batter-runner going to first base have contact when the catcher is fielding the ball, there is generally no violation and nothing should be called."

The key to this exception is the phrase "batter-runner going to first base." If Hernández fails to move toward first base on a batted ball—even a foul ball, as the rule states "batted ball" and not "fair ball" or "foul ball"—the Armbrister exception cannot apply and, thus, Hernández should be declared out for interfering with Trevino by virtue of failing to avoid a fielder attempting to field batted ball.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 073 - Alan Porter (3; Alex Cora)

HP Umpire Alan Porter ejected Red Sox manager Alex Cora (strike three call to Jamie Westbrook; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #RedSox-#WhiteSox game. With two out and one on, Red Sox batter Westbrook took a 3-2 fastball from White Sox pitcher Tanner Banks for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px -0.16, pz 1.51 [sz_bot 1.45 / RAD 1.33]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 1-0. The White Sox ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Alan Porter (64)'s 3rd ejection of 2024.

This pitch was located 3.12 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 73rd ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 33rd manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 33 Managers, 12 Coaches, 28 Players.

This is Boston's 2nd ejection of 2024, T-4th in the AL East (NYY, TOR 5; TB 3; BAL, BOS 2).

This is Alex Cora's 1st ejection since August 22, 2023 (Pat Hoberg; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Alan Porter's 3rd ejection of 2024, 1st since May 12 (Oliver Marmol; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox, 6/8/24 | Video as follows:

White Sox Appeal Play Gone Awry - What Happened?

Red Sox batter Jarren Duran reached on White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet's throwing error on an infield ground ball, winding up at third. Sensing that Duran may have failed to touch first base in all the commotion, Chicago prepared for an appeal, but as Crochet threw to first, Duran took off for home plate, trying to distract the White Sox. Officially a stolen base, Crochet's throw once again evaded first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

We review baseball's appeal rules to figure out if Chicago still retained the right to appeal Duran's purported missed base touch at first and if anything else may have been missed here.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(c)(2) states that "any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when with the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, they fail to touch each base in order before they, or a missed base, are tagged."

Appeals can occur at any time prior to the next pitch, play, or attempted play—which can include an appeal made during the live ball associated with the continuous action featuring the alleged base-running infraction (sometimes called a "real time appeal"), or it can be made after the ball has been returned to the pitcher and the pitcher has engaged the rubber (a "standard appeal"). In a standard appeal, the umpire puts the ball in play (if the ball had been declared dead), upon which the pitcher steps off the rubber and throws (or, theoretically, runs) to the base at which the appeal is being made.

Note: NFHS / high school allows live or dead ball appeals; OBR/NCAA require live ball appeals.

The key part to this play is the "any appeal under this rule must be made before the next pitch, or any play or attempted play" part of the rule. So too is that "An appeal is not to be interpreted as a play or an attempted play."

Had Vaughn caught Crochet's throw and instead, distracted by Duran stealing home, threw home, Chicago would have lost its right to appeal at first base and whatever resulted at home plate (safe/out on the catcher's tag) would prevail. In order for this "play or attempted play" to occur, Vaughn would have to actually physically possess the baseball; even though replays indicate he may have motioned as if he were throwing home, he did not possess the baseball and, thus, this was not a play or attempted play.

The MLB Umpire Manual substantiates this: "A play or attempted play is interpreted as a legitimate effort by a defensive player who has possession of the ball to actually retire a runner."

Accordingly, even though Crochet's throw evaded Vaughn's glove, it stayed in play in foul territory near right field, and was retrieved by Vaughn, who (although video doesn't capture this) immediately returned to and tagged first base to appeal. This is important to note as well, because a ball that falls out of play here would close the appeal window: "Once the defensive team “errs” (i.e., throws the ball out of play) in its attempt to appeal at third on the runner originally on second, it loses its right to make an appeal."

1B Umpire Alan Porter called Duran "safe" at first base, ruling that Duran did not miss the base.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol briefly discussed the play with HP Umpire Sean Barber, but ultimately Crochet returned to the mound and threw a pitch, sealing the finality of Duran's stolen base.

There was one thing Chicago failed to do was challenge 1B Umpire Porter's safe/touch call. That's it.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 072 - Paul Clemons (1; Derek Shomon)

HP Umpire Paul Clemons ejected Twins assistant hitting coach Derek Shomon (strike two call to Carlos Correa; QOCN) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Twins-#Pirates game. With one out and two on, Twins batter Correa took a 1-1 sinker from Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.19, pz 1.57 [sz_bot 1.77 / RAD 1.65 / MOE 1.58), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 2-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 3-0.

This is Paul Clemons (104)'s 1st ejection of 2024.

This pitch was located 0.12 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 72nd ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 12th coach ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 32 Managers, 12 Coaches, 28 Players.

This is Minnesota's 2nd ejection of 2024, 2nd in the AL Central (CWS 5; MIN 2; CLE, DET, KC 0).

This is Derek Shomon's 1st ejection since June 23, 2023 (Lance Barrett; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Paul Clemons' first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Minnesota Twins vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/7/24 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 071 - Erich Bacchus (2; Mike Shildt)

HP Umpire Erich Bacchus ejected Padres manager Mike Shildt (strike three call to Jake Cronenworth to end the game; QOCN) after the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Padres game. With two out and one on, Padres batter Cronenworth took a 2-2 fastball from Diamondbacks pitcher Paul Sewald for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and at the midpoint (px -1.01, pz 3.43), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks had already won the ballgame, 4-3.

This is Erich Bacchus (12)'s 2nd ejection of 2024.

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

The pitched ruled strike three was located 1.16 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 71st ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 32nd manager ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 32 Managers, 11 Coaches, 28 Players.

This is San Diego's 3rd ejection of 2024, T-1st in the NL West (SD, SF 3; ARI 2; COL 1; LAD 0).

This is Mike Shildt's 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since April 20 (Ramon De Jesus; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Erich Bacchus' 2nd ejection of 2024, 1st since May 25 (Andrew Heaney; QOC = N [Fair/Foul]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres, 6/6/24 | Video as follows:

Calls of the Month - May 2024

Our Top 5 Calls of the Month for May 2024 include several close calls at both home plate and on the bases, with umpires who stick with the play to get the call right.

5) Cory Blaser gets his nose in there for a call at the plate.

4) Doug Eddings gets knocked down, but gets back up to later in the game nail an awkward out call.

3) Chris Conroy takes a "Reverse Force" (tag-up appeal play) at 1st.

2) Chad Fairchild no call at the plate great calmness.... and call.

1) Adam Hamari "The Hammer" with a confirmed catcher's interference call on a check swing.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 070 - Vic Carapazza (4; Nico Hoerner)

HP Umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Cubs 2B Nico Hoerner (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #WhiteSox-#Cubs game. With one out and none on, Hoerner took called first, second, and third strikes from White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde. Replays indicate strike one was located over the outer half of home plate and belt-high (px 0.46, pz 2.81), strike two was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.88, pz 2.68), and strike three was located off the outer edge of home plate and belt-high (px 1.03, pz 2.85), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the White Sox were leading, 5-1, however, the Cubs ultimately won the contest, 7-6.

This is Vic Carapazza (19)'s 4th ejection of 2024.

*UEFL Rule 6-2-b-1 (Kulpa Rule): |0| < STRIKE < |.748| < BORDERLINE < |.914| < BALL.

The pitched ruled strike three was located 1.39 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 70th ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 28th player ejection of 2024. Prior to ejection, Hoerner was 0-2 (SO) in the contest.

Ejection Tally: 31 Managers, 11 Coaches, 28 Players.

This is Chicago's 4th ejection of 2024, T-1st in the NL Central (CHC, MIL, PIT, STL 4; CIN 1).

This is Nico Hoerner's first career MLB ejection.

This is Vic Carapazza's 4th ejection of 2024, 1st since May 29 (Aaron Boone; QOC = Y [Interference]).

Wrap: Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs, 6/5/24 | Video as follows:

Four MiLB El Paso Ejections Over Tag Plays

Four El Paso Chihuahuas were ejected by MiLB umpires Kelvis Velez and Jen Pawol during a series vs Round Rock after a pair of contested tag plays that, by minor league rule, aren't reviewable because nothing is at that level (typically). What does game management say about all this?

In Velez' case, El Paso catcher Kevin Plawecki, 2B Nate Mondou, and manager Pete Zamora were ejected arguing after an RBI single which itself followed a safe call on a stolen base attempt at second base. Mondou and Zamora, specifically, argued the safe call when it occurred, Zamora returning to the dugout and Mondou to his position. Thus, those two ejections were for continuing to argue a previous play, while Plawecki charged up the third base line to confront the umpire to earn his dismissal.

For Pawol, 3B Eguy Rosario made a beeline toward the crew chief after a safe call at third base, making a finger pointing gesture just feet from Pawol's face.

Video as follows:

McCann Called Out for Batter Interference...But Did He?

With a runner on first and one on, HP Umpire Tony Randazzo called Orioles batter James McCann out for interference with Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, thus sending baserunner Colton Cowser back to first, drawing an argument from Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde. What happened here?

Randazzo called McCann out for illegal action, specifically for violation of Official Baseball Rule 6.03(a)(3): "A batter is out for illegal action when they interfere with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base."

With a 1-1 count to McCann before Genesis Cabrera's changeup that resulted in a McCann swing-and-a-miss, the interference call put McCann out immediately (as soon as Toronto catcher Jansen was unable to throw the ball to second base) and returned runner R1 Cowser to first, as no bases may be run as a result of the dead ball caused by an interference call.

Note that this is not an example of unintentional backswing interference, because the proper outcome for that call would be a dead ball, runner returns to first, and a strike added to the count due to McCann's swing, which would make it a 1-2 count. With McCann out immediately, it is apparent that Randazzo's call was interference, not unintentional backswing contact (note: in high school, backswing is called follow-through and is treated as interference).

OBR 6.03(a)(3) and (4) Comment states, "If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard they carry the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hit the catcher or the ball in back of them on the backswing, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play."

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 069 - Phil Cuzzi (1; Pete Walker)

HP Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (ball one call to Austin Hays; QOCN) in the top of the 4th inning of the #Orioles-#BlueJays game. With two out and one on, Orioles batter Austin Hays took a 0-0 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and at the midpoint (px 0.54, pz 3.32 [sz_top 3.32 / RAD 3.44 / MOE 3.36]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 5-1. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 

This is James Hoye (92)'s 2nd ejection of 2024.

This pitch was located 0.48 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 69th ejection of the 2024 MLB regular season.

This is the 11th coach ejection of 2024. Ejection Tally: 31 Managers, 11 Coaches, 27 Players.

This is Toronto's 5th ejection of 2024, T-1st in the AL East (NYY, TOR 5; TB 3; BAL 2; BOS 1).

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

This is Phil Cuzzi's 1st ejection since September 29, 2023 (Will Benson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Baltimore Orioles vs Toronto Blue Jays, 6/3/24 | Video as follows: