With No Umpire at 3rd Base, Toby Gardenhire Ejected Arguing Line Drive-Turned-Double Play

3B Umpire Jacob Metz ejected St Paul Saints manager Toby Gardenhire for arguing HP Umpire Tanner Dobson's safe (no catch) call on a line drive to third base, leading to a Clippers double play when batter Jose Miranda failed to run out the play. Report: www.closecalls...
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In a crew of three umpires, as many minor league games (and college and high school, etc.) operate with, the third base umpire generally will be positioned inside the infield near second base when there is a runner at first base and less than two out. With 3B Umpire Metz thus becoming a second base umpire for this play, that left the left field foul line open for HP Umpire Dobson to officiate, including the batted ball line drive that Clippers third baseman Jhonkensy Noel dove in an attempt to catch on the fly.
HP Umpire Dobson from in front of home plate signaled the fair ball and then "safe" or "no catch"...but only one player on the field-Columbus catcher Zack Collins-seemed to pay attention to Dobson's safe call...resulting in a double play when the Sants batter-runner Miranda failed to run to first base prior to the throw to retire him.

[@rj7411]

Plate ump doesn’t hesitate. He signals fair, no catch for anyone paying attention. Minor leaguers😂

[@ronpeacock9939]

This is piss poor baserunning... if the BR runs this out... they have one out.. either the catch.. or the 5-1-6 at second... but because he ASSUMED... he makes it a DP...

[@tw1nn319]

@@Johnny-Michael nobody can say it was a "clear catch" in person except the umpire, he has the best view of that catch on the field, I am taking his word over anybody in the stands or this pixelated camera

[@billbell2311]

You nailed it: "...for anyone paying attention."

[@closethockeyfan5284]

@@billbell2311 which plenty of MLBers don't either, haha

[@Subangelis]

Yeah, the runners paid attention to 3B instead of the ump.

[@2332Stephen]

So the batting team took the word of the 3rd baseman and not the home plate umpire. 😅😅 the umpire walked out, ruled safe ,no catch and the runners just stopped because of the reaction of the third baseman. Poor coaching by the hitting team. If anything the hitter should've made it to first.

[@billbuffington3037]

This double play is on the batter not running out the play. With that being said the third base coach was arguing that the ball was caught, and he had the best view.

[@catman-du8927]

​@@billbuffington3037 The 3rd base coach has a bias towards the call that would be best for his team so his thoughts on the call are useless

[@amantedelcane420]

Why don't batter-runners run out these types of plays? No excuse for that.

[@anthonygallina8790]

BINGO!

[@Orion-zq8jf]

exactly... either way... man on first with an out on the play

[@pendrew]

Base coaches aren’t paying close enough attention

[@joelwisecup3306]

Especially in minor leagues. One would think that each player is wanting to fulfill his dream of playing MLB, so would do everything they can to be impressive to eventually receive the promotion especially on basic fundamentals of running hard or even running period

[@bernier42]

The only reason I can think of is that the batter thought he saw the 3B catch the ball in the air. Batter and fielder both reacted as if caught. But he should have clued in sooner that the call was safe.

[@lastdance2099]

I don't really see any controversy here, the HP ump made the call clearly and immediately. I can understand the runner on 1st guessing it was caught and heading back to 1st but there's no reason for the batter not to run to 1st. So if the batter had run (or even walked) to 1st, whether the ball had been caught or not there's still be one out.

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

Exactly, all this is is trusting the 3rd baseman over the ump. No different from an outfielder deke-ing a runner and then getting mad about it.

[@pauld7704]

It’s a catch-22 alright… or is it a no catch-22?

[@CCStmac]

An early candidate for comment of the year!🤣

[@raf42]

Ah, one of these situations where I think of the witty comment, only to find some fine person had thought of it before me.

[@bunpeishiratori5849]

The only screw up was the batter not running. If he makes even the slightest effort, it’s a complete non event. An out with a man on first base.

[@TwentyItaliansLS]

This is NOT a blown call. That was the exact right call. The plate ump knew right away what he saw and indicated Fair Ball, No Catch.

[@jtrjtr5393]

And that's a close call....sports!

[@blueeyedraven396]

Just your every day 5-1-4-3 double play.

[@torstenbrandt5628]

Ah the sweet things of the 3-man-system ... will have a double-header on sunday with 2-man-system... and both teams have a lot of rookies. Should be fun :)

[@linollieum3742]

I learned that lesson when I was 11 and made a diving catch in the infield with my glove close to the ground and held the ball up for the umpire. Umpire thought it must have hit the ground, all runners advanced because I knew I caught it and assumed the umpire would know I caught it too and didn't think to continue the play. You'd think these players would have had similar lessons at some point in their baseball careers, but I guess everyone just argues and gets ejected and never learns from these plays instead now.

[@getreal1175]

So the coach chooses to get tossed over that in the 1st, doesn’t seem very smart

[@r.a.contrerasma8578]

Credit the announcers for getting it right.

[@dw-nb2zh]

What was the manager even arguing here?

[@fifiwoof1969]

If running to first and not looking at home plate umpire for call how can batter know the call on the catch? I know he should have run anyway but didn't but is there anything verbal from home plate umpire for batter to hear? PS. another great video Lindsay.

[@Subangelis]

He didn't run. He sauntered. Had plenty of time to see the ump. If he ran, it wouldn't matter, he'd be safe on first. P.S. Ump doesn't say anything. People want him to say "No catch" or "That's not a catch", but players will mistake that for him saying it is a catch. If it was caught, he would say "That's a catch!". In essence, a non verbal indicates not a catch.

[@stephenj9470]

Should yell at your batter for stopping. That's why they got two outs.

[@jacobmeakin6269]

Where is there a list of the triple A umpire crews.

[@roryh2241]

I honestly couldn’t tell but the home plate umpire has a better view than me on these cameras so I’ll defer to him. I train new umpires for intramurals at my college and I tell them, if it’s close, make your call loud and verbally, it becomes a real pain in situations like this because it’s not really fair to call the runner at 1st out because he didn’t go to 2nd because he saw the ball be caught, but that’s the rules.

[@FactsMatter]

Except that “fair ball” is not a call that should ever be made verbally, let alone loudly, because it can easily be confused with “foul ball” which kills a play. The only call that should be vocalized here is “no catch” while making the safe signal.

[@Subangelis]

"it’s not really fair to call the runner at 1st out because he didn’t go to 2nd because he saw the ball be caught" Except it is. He's not the umpire, so he doesn't make the calls. You said you defer to the umpire, why shouldn't players?

[@XXelpollodiabloXX]

@@FactsMatter I don't even know that I'd say that much. On a ball hit like that, I think I would only vocalize a catch or a foul ball. I think the mechanic of just signaling fair and no catch is good enough. This is big boy baseball, and they should be paying attention.

[@FactsMatter]

@@XXelpollodiabloXX Sorry Mike, "this is big boy baseball" is not the issue on a play like this. First of all, the catch/no-catch was on the opposite side of view of all players on both teams on the infield, AND close to the ground, so a trap was definitely possible. So even the player paying the most "attention" (as you say) would have a very hard time seeing this for themselves. If as an umpire, you have no catch, make your no catch signal and vocalize it - so that the big boys know which umpire to look at. It is unreasonable to expect players, even in "big boy baseball" to understand umpire calling responsibilities in a 3-man system (or otherwise). And their reaction time creates good games, so help 'em out by making big calls clearly. Know when to vocalize and when you can let the obvious speak for itself. This play was the farthest thing from obvious, and the umpire's call matters. So make it - and clearly.

[@XXelpollodiabloXX]

@@FactsMatter I'm not sure where the snarkiness is coming from here, but I apologize for any offense. These aren't little kids playing 13U ball. Maybe P should have called "No catch!" but I think signaling it should be enough for guys at this level. Coaches and managers know umpire mechanics, and they should have their eyes on the umpire on a trouble play. Just an opinion.

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

No umpire at 3B ... but the manager is coaching at Third. So he thinks he has a better view.

[@bernier42]

And honestly he may have. But that’s irrelevant of course.

[@SuperBababooey]

Everybody thought he caught it except the ump

[@backupgoalie1007]

I get that the runner was confused but maybe they can have coaches on the field to help the runners. They could put them in foul territory near first and third. /s So many times when there is running errors when you look at the base coaches and they are doing absolutely nothing. Its literally their entire job yet they are looking at butterflies in the outfield. Why didn't the manager get ejected for ripping a new one into his base coaches on this play instead of the umpires?

[@terrencecitywide]

Is there an umpire call- “I didn’t see it. No catch”?

[@Subangelis]

No. Only verbal if it is a catch, I e. "That's a catch!". Players will be confused otherwise.

[@ryanburnham1932]

I don't see a blown call here at all. Neither team fully paid attention to the call though, which caused the confusion.

[@randominternet5586]

It's not a catch 22 - the ump was pretty darn clear. Fair ball, no catch... And my own slow mo look - very likely ball hit ground. The catcher was super clear on what's going on.

[@GregMcNeish]

I get the feeling the manager decided he was going to get tossed, and just waved his arms until it happened. What in the world could you possibly be arguing there? The ump made his call and both teams ignored him, except the catcher. The runners could have easily been first and second on a infield hit, with how oblivious that fielder was. Instead, because the runners were even MORE oblivious, it was a double play. The "argument" was pure theatrics.

[@fifiwoof1969]

3:10 - home plate umpire says otherwise - UNCAUGHT, therefore NOT a "catch 22" as they say here, 😂😂😂.

[@nacoran]

That's why you always run it out. I get why the guy on first is worried, but the batter should have run that out. He could have saved them an out in the confusion, and the worst that would happen is he'd still be out.

[@MedRick14-t9c]

ZERO controversy here. 3 man Mechanics are correct. HP made the call decisively and clearly. Tough call-especially from his position. Whether the call was right or wrong is irrelevant here. Call was made. Your taught first year a little league you always run the ball out …that didn’t happen Gardenhire should’ve been yelling at his players, not the umpires.

[@adamwatkins1150]

Good call or bad call, it's on the batter to run it out. That and only that is the reason this was a double play. Gardenhire should have saved his anger for his batter-runner.

[@tonys4250]

The batter should always run it out.

[@DJTexan]

3:25 Umpire shouldn’t have pushed manager along like that. That’s a quick way to get into a shoving match and sometimes a kicking match at almost any level unless you know the umpire. Luckily it seems like these two knew each other, and have mutual understanding but if that were the case, he shouldn’t have been ejected because usually umpires and managers that know each other won’t get personal. I’m assuming that manager asked to be ejected to get the team going which nowadays happens a lot.

[@ronpeacock9939]

You don't want to get into a shoving match with an umpire... quickest way for an ejection to come with a lengthy suspension... Once you're toss, you are nothing.. you put hands on an ump and even MLB who don't back umps much will not only send you home but keep you there for a while. Nothing pisses me off more than the "Getting their monies worth" because once the idiot is ejected... you can't eject them again. Unlike say hockey, where if you keep arguing they can tack on misconducts or even another minor and/or major against your team for someone else to serve... or the NBA where they just add another technical or NFL another unsportsmanlike for 15 yard... the umps now have to put up with a rulebreaking idiot who can't take a hint... who is now just yelling to hear himself because the umpire has not tuned you out.

[@DJTexan]

@@ronpeacock9939 Years ago we would get shoved and kicked and we would do it back to them. No suspensions. We handled ourselves. But you’re right, now they can’t touch us so we shouldn’t touch them either. Like the first commenter said, only time you should be touching anyone from team is during plate meeting during handshakes. That’s it.

[@ronpeacock9939]

@@DJTexan If the ejected would take the hint they their being here is no longer welcome just leave... it would never be an issue.. but sadly, they just want to escalate the fight... of course, they were wrong to even start one which is why they were ejected in the first place... Personally, I think that the moment you are ejected security should jump on the field and treat the ejected like a fan on the field (which they really are now)... and that would solve all problems.

[@DJTexan]

@@ronpeacock9939 Well as long as it’s not the umpires, because they can’t touch us so we shouldn’t touch them. Security maybe a little overboard unless it’s a crazy fan. Most of the time someone from the bench will go get them.

[@tw1nn319]

theres good touch and theres bad touch, I would put this "push" (more of a guide) in the middle area. I don't disagree this kind of touch seems a little more aggressive than a good touch, but if the manager were to get in a shoving match over something like that, he deserves the suspension he would receive for it

[@HectorHustles]

Thats why they need to have 4 umps i know its minor league but stuff like that wouldn’t happen

[@ronpeacock9939]

AAA it's common for 3 man system in regular season. Really, it comes down to more eyes mean more things are seen.. but it also gets expensive not only in $$$ but in man hours.. mlb and AAA don't have enough umpires to fill all the slots needed if all levels did 4 man mechanics..

[@63076topher]

Still a no catch is a no catch.

[@hendog5396]

As a twins fan, this is just an embarrassing effort

[@chipdayton1625]

It looks like the 3rd baseman caught the ball, but that's not the point. The umps did everything right, the base runners screwed up.

[@straycatttt2766]

Looked like the third baseman showed his glove to the opposing team’s third base coach rather than to the home plate ump, mistaking the coach for a third base ump.

[@savagecombatives2765]

There is no other angle he could take because it is a fair foul situation as well as a catch no catch and fair foul takes precedence over catch no catch. Not criticizing it is obvious to me you are very knowledgeable and you know that but the statement at the end may be misleading to someone who isn't a seasoned umpire.

[@gforce97]

is he Ron Gardenhire’s son?

[@stevebabiak6997]

She mentioned that near the beginning of the video - yes

[@bernier42]

Ron managed a team in Minneapolis, his son manages a team in St. Paul. Seems appropriate.

[@terrencecitywide]

Lin Seinfeld said playing by the rules is what made tv comedy fun. BBF also. mutts

[@HarrySJohnson]

Wouldn’t be a double play if the batter used his legs. He could have walked and got there in time. But he didn’t, hence this is deserved.

[@1969EType]

Plate signaled fair and then safe for no catch...Coach, it doesn't matter what you think you saw from a horrible angle in the dugout! It does not matter! It's a fair ball and it wasn't caught. You shouldn't be mad at the umpire for getting it wrong! You should be mad at your players for not running the play out! Maybe this is why these guys are all coaching and playing at the minor league level and not the MLB level?

[@jaredlash5002]

Hmm... Nobody got their money's worth. That's a bit of a disappointment.

[@billbuffington3037]

This double play is on the batter not running out the play. With that being said the third base coach was arguing that the ball was caught, and he had the best view.

[@joshnaudi]

Read, watch, react. 3b acted like he caught it. Gardenhire sure as shinola argued that he caught it. My gut says he probably caught it. Get the out. That's why we make fair foul first, to buy a little extra time. Now I made this call from a recliner, damn I'm getting good.

[@roberthudson1959]

NO ONE runs out plays like these once the ball has seemingly been caught because you look foolish 99.9% of the time.

[@63076topher]

It was NOT or the umpire would have ruled it a catch.

[@ILOVEUMPS]

While the umpire signaled the no catch, that was weak. It looked almost as though he was guessing. That close, you have to sell that. He did not sell that call at all. That failure to sell it caused all this.

[@bernier42]

This isn’t a video game. If you catch a ball two inches off the ground, you hold your glove up and stare into the umpire’s soul until you see whether he called it safe or out, and then you continue the play accordingly. 3B acted like he caught a pop up or something.

[@tw1nn319]

the umpire isnt responsible for the players knowing the rules/call, they can find that out by using their eyes like the catcher did. For little leagers and 12u, yes, make and emphatic call for just about everything, these are grown men in the minors, I think they can figure out the call themselves.

[@ILOVEUMPS]

@@tw1nn319 If they can figure it out for themselves there would not be umpires at all. This is not a case of "knowing the rules". This is a case of judgement and letting people know what you call is. Having trained umpires, having been an umpire for over 30 years up to and including college ball, I stand by what I said. This is not a "routine" call situation. This should have been "sold" and the umpire did not appear confident in his call. Hence, this is the result of him not selling his call.

[@63076topher]

​@@ILOVEUMPS He DID call SAFE NO CATCH.

[@tw1nn319]

@@ILOVEUMPS he did let him know what the call was... he said no catch didn't he? not his responsibility to tell every player what to do

[@GoProAudi]

Ah the ol' 5-1-6-3 double play. Work on that one a lot in practice.

[@cizzymac]

Blown call by the HP umpire, but the 1B coach has to know what the call is and relay it to the runners.

[@bernier42]

Everyone on the field should have noticed it was called a non-catch. Not just the base coach.

[@tw1nn319]

how do you know this

[@63076topher]

No catch means no catch.