Ejection S-6 - Jordan Baker (Haselman & The 1B Glove)

HP Umpire Jordan Baker ejected Dodgers Coach Bill Haselman over an illegal equipment/glove dispute in the top of the 3rd inning of the Brewers-Dodgers game. With one out and one on (R1) in the top of the 3rd inning of the Brewers-Dodgers game, Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe was prohibited from wearing a first baseman's glove, as in Rule 3.05, during a bunt situation in which first baseman Scott Van Slyke had strategically relocated closer to home plate in order to field a bunt attempt from Brewers batter Matt Garza; Van Slyke retained the first baseman's glove for the duration of the play and inning in question, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Jordan Baker (71)'s first ejection of Spring Training, the 2017 MLB preseason.
Jordan Baker now has 0 points in the UEFL Standings (0 Previous + 0 Spring Training = 0).
Crew Chief Jim Wolf now has 0 points in Crew Division (0 Previous + 0 Spring Training = 0).

*Believe it or not, we've previously encountered and solved a Case Play about this very (or somewhat similar) play.

In 2015, we asked, "Will the Real F3 Please Stand Up?" and posed the question, "if an outfielder stands at first base in a five-man infield, what is his position called and who may wear the first baseman's glove or mitt?"

Let's review the answer.

> Rule 3.05 allows the first baseman to wear a glove or mitt measuring 13"x8" with a web of width no greater than 5", as opposed to a fielding glove, as in Rule 3.06, whose corresponding maximum dimensions are 13"x7.75" with a web no wider than 4.5". There are additional stylistic and material differences between the two categories of gloves.
> The OBR Definition of Terms defines the battery [catcher/pitcher], but not specifically "first baseman."
> Rule 4.03, regarding the lineup cards, states that "each lineup card presented to the umpire-in-chief should list the fielding positions to be played by each player in the batting order."

With that said, the answer lies within the rarely-referenced Rule 9 (formerly Rule 10 in 2014-era OBR) concerning The Official Scorer. Rule 9.03(a) Comment tells the tale: "When a player does not exchange positions with another fielder but is merely placed in a different spot for a particular batter (for example, if a second baseman goes to the outfield to form a four-man outfield, or if a third baseman moves to a position between the shortstop and second baseman), the official scorer should not list this as a new position."

Accordingly, because second baseman Forsythe did not actually exchange positions with first baseman Van Slyke (since Van Slyke did not assume the customary second baseman's position between first and second base), and because the Forsythe/Van Slyke shift was only in place for batter Garza and his expected bunt attempt, Rule 9.03(a) Comment applies and the two players' positions remain unchanged: Jordan Baker was correct, Forsythe was not entitled to wear the first baseman's glove/mitt because Van Slyke remained the first baseman during this play.

This is the sixth ejection report of Spring Training 2017.
This is LA-NL's 2nd ejection of Spring Training, 1st in the Cactus League (LAD 2; CWS 1; Others 0).
This is Bill Haselman's first ejection since May 7, 2002 (Gary Cederstrom; QOC = U [USC-NEC]).
This is Jordan Baker's first ejection since Sept 26, 2016 (Sean Rodriguez; QOC = U [Fighting]).

Wrap: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (Cactus), 3/21/17 | No Video

Ozzie Guillen Key Figure in Cardinals-Marlins Lineup Snafu

A lineup snafu in Florida—and Ozzie Guillen was not ejected? Substitutions might still be tricky for Cardinals rookie manager Mike Matheny, who was forced to take first baseman Allen Craig out of the game due to a miscommunication with plate umpire Bob Davidson.

As Marlins manager Guillen watched Hanley Ramirez rounded first base after singling in the bottom of the ninth inning, something didn't look quite right to the veteran skipper, who immediately exited the third base dugout and waltzed straight toward Davidson and eventually crew chief Jerry Layne, who was making his first appearance since being hit with a broken bat in Cincinnati.

Turns out, Matheny had asked Davidson to double-switch his pitcher into the fifth spot, though the Cardinals internally penciled in the substitution as having occurred in lineup spot No. 7.

In what might as well be a case play straight out of the MLB Rules Book or umpiring manual, a glance at the Marlins Park scoreboard indicated the Cardinals had intended to bat first baseman Craig at No. 5, catcher Yadier Molina at No. 6 and pitcher Victor Marte at the No. 7 spot for third baseman David Freese. With No. 8 hitter Daniel Descalso slated to lead off the eventual 10th inning, colloquial baseball strategy pegged the logical pitcher's slot as seventh, meaning Marte (or his spot) would not have to bat for another nine hitters.

Instead, Matheny incorrectly had placed Marte in Craig's fifth spot, meaning that on appeal from Guillen, Craig had to come out of the ball game (he was replaced defensively by Tony Cruz, who took over Freese's seventh spot in the batting order).

Huh? For the visually inclined, refer to the above table to see what happened in Florida Monday night.

Rules 3.06 and 3.07 govern substitutions, stating that the manager must notify the umpire-in-chief of any substitutions (3.06), who in turn shall notify all personnel of the switch (3.07).

Wily Ozzie Guillen has finally done it, taking the effort he used to expel in getting ejected and turning into real manager know-how. Well done. Nonetheless, Matheny and the Cardinals got the final laugh, winning the ball game in the 10th—with a pitcher producing the game-winning RBI. Too bad Ozzie didn't wait until the 10th before executing a batting-out-of-order appeal (Rule 6.07(a)).

Wrap: Cardinals at Marlins, 6/25/12
Video: Cards forced to remove Allen Craig after Matheny miscommunication with umpire Davidson