Umpire Ejections

Currently Playing: E135 - José Caballero Ejected in Dispute Over 3rd Disengagement, Replay Call on Roberto Ortiz's Out

HP Umpire Roberto Ortiz ejected Yankees RF José Caballero for arguing a Replay Review caught stealing out call following a third disengagement balk reversal on Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks because umpires called "Time" prior to the third pickoff attempt. Report: https://www.closecallsports.com/2025/08/mlb-ejection-135-roberto-ortiz-5-jose.html Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/closecallsports Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Lindsay715 Discord: https://discord.gg/eFXWr7yHWM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CloseCallSports Twitter: https://twitter.com/CloseCallSports Prior to the caught stealing, Caballero appeared to be awarded second base on a disengagement balk as a result of pitcher Pete Fairbanks throwing over to first base three times unsuccessfully during the same at-bat. However, replays indicate that after the second disengagement and pickoff attempt, 1B Umpire Ben May called "Time" to replace the baseball. As Fairbanks never re-engaged the pitcher's plate/rubber and thus HP Umpire Chad Fairchild never put the ball back into play, the ball never became live, the third "throw" did not legally occur, and, therefore there was no third "disengagement." Had R1 Caballero been "out" during the dead ball pickoff attempt, the out call would not have stood either. Official Baseball Rule 5.12: "When an umpire suspends play, they shall call “Time.” At the umpire-in-chief’s call of “Play,” the suspension is lifted and play resumes. Between the call of “Time” and the call of “Play” the ball is dead." OBR 5.12 continued: "After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes their place on the pitcher’s plate with a new ball or the same ball in their possession and the plate umpire calls 'Play.'"