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In a game in Cincinnati, the Mets gave a lineup card to the home plate umpire that was not the same as the one they posted in the dugout. The official one had Astrubal Cabrera hitting second and Wilmer Flores third, but the one in the dugout had them in the reverse order. In the top of the first, Brandon Nimmo led off and struck out. Flores came up next, out of order, and also fanned. Naturally, the Reds did not object. Cabrera then hit a ground rule double. When Jay Bruce, the #4 hitter on both lineup cards came up, the Reds pointed out that Bruce should have hit after Flores because an accepted out of turn play resets the position in the lineup, and Bruce followed Flores on the umpire’s card. Bruce, the correct batter was called out, and Cabrera’s double was eliminated effectively meaning that Cabrera did not bat in the first inning. Adrian Gonzalez, the #5 hitter, correctly led off in the top of the second and singled. The Reds asked about it, and the umpire ruled properly that the single stood. For the rest of the game, Cabrera batted in the #2 slot as he should have in the first.

In a game in Cincinnati, the Mets gave a lineup card to the home plate umpire that was not the same as the one they posted in the dugout. The official one had Astrubal Cabrera hitting second and Wilmer Flores third, but the one in the dugout had them in the reverse order. In the top of the first, Brandon Nimmo led off and struck out. Flores came up next, out of order, and also fanned. Naturally, the Reds did not object. Cabrera then hit a ground rule double. When Jay Bruce, the #4 hitter on both lineup cards came up, the Reds pointed out that Bruce should have hit after Flores because an accepted out of turn play resets the position in the lineup, and Bruce followed Flores on the umpire’s card. Bruce, the correct batter was called out, and Cabrera’s double was eliminated effectively meaning that Cabrera did not bat in the first inning. Adrian Gonzalez, the #5 hitter, correctly led off in the top of the second and singled. The Reds asked about it, and the umpire ruled properly that the single stood. For the rest of the game, Cabrera batted in the #2 slot as he should have in the first.

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8/25/2017 – Although it was not actually a case of batting out of turn, the Red Sox had an amazing mistake in the 9th inning of their 16-3 loss to Baltimore on August 25, 2017. As is often the custom in such lopsided contests, the Red Sox put a position player on the mound in the top of the 9th. In this case, it was Mitch Moreland, who had played first base the entire game to this point. The Red Sox lost the DH for the remainder of the game and the new first baseman, Hanley Ramirez, entered the game in the 7th spot in the batting order, formerly occupied by DH Chris Young. They made no other changes. Moreland did well in his one inning as pitcher, allowing no runs on two hits and even collecting a strikeout.The trouble occurred in the home 9th. The first batter was Rafael Devers, batting in the 6th spot. He made an out and the proper next batter was Ramirez. However, Chris Young came to the plate and singled – even though he was no longer in the game! Because this was an illegal reentry and not an improper batter, the umpires should have noticed it and not allowed it. No one appeared to notice – not the umpires or either team. Since it was a 16-3 game with two outs to go, it is likely that Ramirez had not even thought about where he was batting. As for DH Young, he simply followed Devers to the plate as he had all night. The official remedy is to call Young a pinch-hitter for Ramirez, which causes all the official totals to come out right.

8/25/2017 – Although it was not actually a case of batting out of turn, the Red Sox had an amazing mistake in the 9th inning of their 16-3 loss to Baltimore on August 25, 2017. As is often the custom in such lopsided contests, the Red Sox put a position player on the mound in the top of the 9th. In this case, it was Mitch Moreland, who had played first base the entire game to this point. The Red Sox lost the DH for the remainder of the game and the new first baseman, Hanley Ramirez, entered the game in the 7th spot in the batting order, formerly occupied by DH Chris Young. They made no other changes. Moreland did well in his one inning as pitcher, allowing no runs on two hits and even collecting a strikeout.The trouble occurred in the home 9th. The first batter was Rafael Devers, batting in the 6th spot. He made an out and the proper next batter was Ramirez. However, Chris Young came to the plate and singled – even though he was no longer in the game! Because this was an illegal reentry and not an improper batter, the umpires should have noticed it and not allowed it. No one appeared to notice – not the umpires or either team. Since it was a 16-3 game with two outs to go, it is likely that Ramirez had not even thought about where he was batting. As for DH Young, he simply followed Devers to the plate as he had all night. The official remedy is to call Young a pinch-hitter for Ramirez, which causes all the official totals to come out right.

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7/4/2016 – In the top of the first during the 11AM contest in the Nation’s Capital, Brewers’ left fielder Ryan Braun singled up the middle with two out. Nationals manager Dusty Baker spoke with HP Umpire Cory Blaser, pointing out that Jonathan Lucroy was the scheduled batter in that spot according to the lineup card. Lucroy was called out to end the inning.

7/4/2016 – In the top of the first during the 11AM contest in the Nation’s Capital, Brewers’ left fielder Ryan Braun singled up the middle with two out. Nationals manager Dusty Baker spoke with HP Umpire Cory Blaser, pointing out that Jonathan Lucroy was the scheduled batter in that spot according to the lineup card. Lucroy was called out to end the inning.

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9/4/2013 – In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rangers made a few lineup changes. Geovany Soto entered the game as the catcher and batted sixth while Engel Beltre entered the game as the new right fielder and batted fifth. Previously, the right fielder had been batting sixth and the catcher fifth. In the top of the ninth, Soto batted in his proper spot and homered. Beltre then came to the plate out of turn (he was before Soto not after) and struck out. Then Soto’s spot was skipped and Jeff Baker struck out (out of turn). Jurickson Profar then struck out to end the game.

9/4/2013 – In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rangers made a few lineup changes. Geovany Soto entered the game as the catcher and batted sixth while Engel Beltre entered the game as the new right fielder and batted fifth. Previously, the right fielder had been batting sixth and the catcher fifth. In the top of the ninth, Soto batted in his proper spot and homered. Beltre then came to the plate out of turn (he was before Soto not after) and struck out. Then Soto’s spot was skipped and Jeff Baker struck out (out of turn). Jurickson Profar then struck out to end the game.

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7/6/2013 – There was confusion concerning the Giants batting order in a game against the Dodgers. In the bottom of the first inning, the Giants had a runner on 3B and one out when Buster Posey hit an RBI-double to the RF corner. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly spoke to HP umpire Tony Randazzo, saying that Posey was listed fourth and Pedro Sandoval should have been the batter. Sandoval was ruled out, the runner went back to third, and Posey came back to the plate to bat in his proper spot, making the third out of the inning and wiping a run off the board for the Giants.

7/6/2013 – There was confusion concerning the Giants batting order in a game against the Dodgers. In the bottom of the first inning, the Giants had a runner on 3B and one out when Buster Posey hit an RBI-double to the RF corner. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly spoke to HP umpire Tony Randazzo, saying that Posey was listed fourth and Pedro Sandoval should have been the batter. Sandoval was ruled out, the runner went back to third, and Posey came back to the plate to bat in his proper spot, making the third out of the inning and wiping a run off the board for the Giants.

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6/19/2010 – The Rays were playing the Marlins in an Inter-League contest in South Florida. To start the top of the ninth, the Marlins made three defensive changes. In the bottom of the frame, Brian Barden came to the plate to start the inning and walked on a 3-2 count. Rays manager Joe Madden talked with HP umpire Lance Barksdale about the Marlins hitting out of order. Because Barden batted out of turn Barksdale made him leave first base and the proper batter, Wes Helms, was called out with an automatic putout to the catcher. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez came out and argued for a long time with Barksdale, who ejected Gonzalez. There was a long discussion between Gonzalez, Barksdale and crew chief Tom Hallion. After the game, Gonzalez insisted that Barksdale did not correctly write down what Gonzalez said were the batting positions for the substitutes.

6/19/2010 – The Rays were playing the Marlins in an Inter-League contest in South Florida. To start the top of the ninth, the Marlins made three defensive changes. In the bottom of the frame, Brian Barden came to the plate to start the inning and walked on a 3-2 count. Rays manager Joe Madden talked with HP umpire Lance Barksdale about the Marlins hitting out of order. Because Barden batted out of turn Barksdale made him leave first base and the proper batter, Wes Helms, was called out with an automatic putout to the catcher. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez came out and argued for a long time with Barksdale, who ejected Gonzalez. There was a long discussion between Gonzalez, Barksdale and crew chief Tom Hallion. After the game, Gonzalez insisted that Barksdale did not correctly write down what Gonzalez said were the batting positions for the substitutes.

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5/11/2008 – In the top of the ninth, after a double switch, the Reds batted out of order when David Ross hit in Corey Patterson’s spot. Ross flew out to right and then Mets Manager Willie Randolph told the umpires about the issue. Patterson was called out instead of Ross and Ross batted again and singled. Randolph should have taken the out and kept quiet.

5/11/2008 – In the top of the ninth, after a double switch, the Reds batted out of order when David Ross hit in Corey Patterson’s spot. Ross flew out to right and then Mets Manager Willie Randolph told the umpires about the issue. Patterson was called out instead of Ross and Ross batted again and singled. Randolph should have taken the out and kept quiet.

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9/1/2007 – Toronto had two different lineups, one posted in the clubhouse and one handed to the umpires. The latter, which is the one that counts, showed Aaron Hill batting sixth, Lyle Overbay batting seventh, Gregg Zaun eighth and John McDonald ninth. Overbay batted in Hill’s spot in the second inning and made an out. Then Hill doubled but the Mariners pointed out the mistake. Here is where is got interesting. The umpires huddled and then called Hill out for batting out of order. Then Zaun was allowed to bat. The correct call would be that the proper batter (Zaun) should have been declared out and then the hitter after him (McDonald) would be the next batter. Thus, in this case, Hill should have been skipped entirely. The concept of skipping someone in the lineup is difficult for people to grasp but is the correct sequence here.

9/1/2007 – Toronto had two different lineups, one posted in the clubhouse and one handed to the umpires. The latter, which is the one that counts, showed Aaron Hill batting sixth, Lyle Overbay batting seventh, Gregg Zaun eighth and John McDonald ninth. Overbay batted in Hill’s spot in the second inning and made an out. Then Hill doubled but the Mariners pointed out the mistake. Here is where is got interesting. The umpires huddled and then called Hill out for batting out of order. Then Zaun was allowed to bat. The correct call would be that the proper batter (Zaun) should have been declared out and then the hitter after him (McDonald) would be the next batter. Thus, in this case, Hill should have been skipped entirely. The concept of skipping someone in the lineup is difficult for people to grasp but is the correct sequence here.

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7/1/2005 – Kansas City manager Buddy Bell delivered a different lineup to the umpires than was posted in the dugout. In the bottom of the first inning, David DeJesus led off with a single. Angels manager Mike Scioscia then spoke with plate arbiter Jerry Crawford about the batting order. Since Angel Berroa was listed as hitting first on the official lineup card, he was called out and DeJesus was told to bat again. This time he hit a fly ball to centerfield for the second out.

7/1/2005 – Kansas City manager Buddy Bell delivered a different lineup to the umpires than was posted in the dugout. In the bottom of the first inning, David DeJesus led off with a single. Angels manager Mike Scioscia then spoke with plate arbiter Jerry Crawford about the batting order. Since Angel Berroa was listed as hitting first on the official lineup card, he was called out and DeJesus was told to bat again. This time he hit a fly ball to centerfield for the second out.

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4/16/2004 – In the top of the seventh inning, Cubs manager Dusty Baker intended to place two new players in the lineup with a double switch but failed to tell Umpire C.B. Bucknor. When the Cubs batted in the bottom of the inning, shortstop Ramon Martinez came to the plate in the ninth spot in the order and doubled. The Reds protested that the Cubs were batting out of order. Pitcher Kent Mercker, the proper batter, was called out. Baker argued with the umpires but was told that the call stood. Yelling & screaming, he tossed his lineup card on the ground and was ejected by Bucknor. Baker threw his hat, walked away and returned; he tossed his hat again, stomped to the dugout and kicked some items in the on deck circle before finally leaving the field. The Cubs won in the bottom of the ninth, 11-10, when Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou hit back-to-back homers to end the game. When Baker arrived home that day, his son called him “Mad Dog.”

4/16/2004 – In the top of the seventh inning, Cubs manager Dusty Baker intended to place two new players in the lineup with a double switch but failed to tell Umpire C.B. Bucknor. When the Cubs batted in the bottom of the inning, shortstop Ramon Martinez came to the plate in the ninth spot in the order and doubled. The Reds protested that the Cubs were batting out of order. Pitcher Kent Mercker, the proper batter, was called out. Baker argued with the umpires but was told that the call stood. Yelling & screaming, he tossed his lineup card on the ground and was ejected by Bucknor. Baker threw his hat, walked away and returned; he tossed his hat again, stomped to the dugout and kicked some items in the on deck circle before finally leaving the field. The Cubs won in the bottom of the ninth, 11-10, when Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou hit back-to-back homers to end the game. When Baker arrived home that day, his son called him “Mad Dog.”