Perfect Game 23: 3rd in 2012, 2nd at Safeco Field

With Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez hurling a perfect game, striking out the last batter he faced (looking), the baseball community has now seen the 23rd perfect game in MLB history, 1st in Mariners franchise history, third of the 2012 season and second at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington.

In April, the Mariners were victimized by White Sox pitcher Phil Humber's first career no-no and perfect game.

As Hernandez's perfecto marks the sixth no-hitter of the 2012 season, MLB remains on pace to break the all-time record dating back to George Bradley's no-hitter in 1876; since that time, baseball has never seen more than seven no-hitters during any single season.

Discussed after the Matt Cain no-hitter, several 2012 no-nos have had at least one close call or other controversy that has resulted in nearly one third of voters in this poll liken an incorrect call in favor of the defense during a no-hitter to the Jim Joyce-Armando Galarraga saga—in reverse.

This is pertinent information, as for the first time this season, a manager was ejected from the no-hitter in progress for arguing a potential missed call: Rays skipper Joe Maddon was run by home plate umpire Rob Drake for arguing a strike call replays indicate was the wrong one.
Related Post: Ejection 119: Rob Drake (2).

So, does Maddon have merit? Was Drake's strike zone lopsided in favor of King Felix? As is UEFL tradition for perfect games and no-hitters, here is the statistical breakdown of Hernandez's effort as called by Drake:

Record Breaker: Another Perfecto, Umpiring History Made

Yet again, for the fifth time this season the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League and Major League Baseball witnessed a no-hitter (the 277th in MLB history) and perfect game for the second time this season and 22nd in MLB history today, June 13, when Ted Barrett (65) umpired the plate for San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain's first career no-hitter and perfect game (and the Giants franchise's first perfect game) against the Houston Astros. Tonight's no-hitter becomes the third such contest in less than two weeks. Cain struck out 14 Astros and threw 125 pitches, though only 68 were callable, with 39 balls and 29 called strikes.

MLB is on pace for a record 11 no-hitters in 2012

Brian Runge, who called the most recent both the most recent no-hitter and the most recent perfect game (and the last to work the plate for a Giants no-hitter, thrown by Johnathan Sanchez) worked third base, taking part in his third no-hitter of the year. Barrett also partook in his third no-hitter of the season tonight and his second no-hitter calling balls and strikes in as many seasons. He umpired Angels pitcher Ervin Santana's no-hitter of the Indians on July 27, 2011. Umpires Mike Muchlinski and Angel Campos (both AAA fill-ins) were not part of either previous no-hitter Runge & Barrett worked in 2012.

With this perfect game, Ted Barrett becomes the first umpire in Major League history to work the plate for two perfect games in a career. Barrett called balls and strikes for David Cone's perfect game in July of 1999.

With the increased frequency of the no-hitter, there very well may possibly be something to the idea that we will easily surpass the logarithmic trend prediction of six no-hitters in the 2012 season. Could it be thanks to the human element? The umpiring? Whatever is stirring the pot in 2012, there is no shortage of hair thin close calls.

With another no-hitter, we all of course saw yet another very close play that kept the perfect game and no-hitter intact, as in the previous four no-hitters. The previous four were: Brian Runge's inconclusive ruling of a swing made by Brendan Ryan, Angel Hernandez's correct call of a batted foul ball, Adrian Johnson's incorrect call of foul on a batted ball by Carlos Beltran, and Ted Barrett's inconclusive call of out on Dee Gordon at first base. This time, it was yet another fair/foul call. 1B Umpire Mike Muchlinski ruled a 1-2 batted ball by Astros batter Jordan Schafer foul on a bouncing ball that bounded near the bag at first. Astros Manager Brad Mills shortly questioned the call, as replays showed a very close play.

Umpire Odds & Ends: Perfect Game 21

Baseball and the UEFL saw a perfect game for the first time this season and 21st in MLB history today, April 21, when Brian Runge (18) umpired the plate for White Sox pitcher Phil Humber's first career no-hitter and perfect game against the Seattle Mariners. Humber threw 95 pitches, though only 51 were callable, with 28 balls and 23 called strikes

Did Ryan swing?

Watch the following video to see Humber complete the perfect game and decide for yourself whether Brian Runge's game-ending swing call on Mariners batter Brendan Ryan's attempted check swing was the correct or incorrect call.

Video: Humber strikes out Ryan on close check swing call to secure the 21st perfect game in MLB history
Video: Final Out - Side angle of Ryan's attempted check swing (Thanks to TheGunsofHochuli for the link)


Here is a quick look at the statistics of how Brian Runge called Phil Humber's perfect game & no hitter:
Total Pitches: 95
Swinging Strikes: 14
Foul Balls: 12
In Play, Out: 18
Callable Pitches: 51
Balls: 28
Called Strikes: 23

Correct Called Balls: 25
Incorrect Called Balls (Called balls within the strike zone): 3 (1 additional was in the borderline range; correct)
Correct Ball %: <90.0%

Correct Called Strikes: 21
Incorrect Called Strikes (Called strikes outside the strike zone): 2 (3 others were in the borderline range; correct)
Correct Strike %: 91.3%

Correct % of Called Pitches: 90.2%

Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball