Brian Snitker Loses Mind after Charlie Culberson Injury
Welcome to Week 25 of Ejection Inspection! The premise and ground rules are detailed here. The condensed version: each ejection from the previous week (Thursday through Wednesday) is listed in a table. The author – a former player/coach/umpire – analyzes each ejection and assigns it an entertainment rating of one to five Weavers in honor of late Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver. This week had 14 ejections. Six occurred on one day, Saturday. With only two weeks left in the regular season, this is understandable. One that would have been understandable no matter when it occurred happened on this day. Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker went berserk after the Charlie Culberson injury when his substitute did not go to first base.
(For a list of every article in this series, click here.)
There were 14 ejections in Week 25 – six players, six managers, a bench coach, and a first base coach. The six from Saturday appear in this column. For the other eight, click here.
Ejection Table
| 1 | Thu | 9/12 | SD | CHC | B9 | Wil Myers | CF | Ramon De Jesus | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
| 2 | Thu | 9/12 | TEX | TB | T7 | Chris Woodward | Mgr | Mike Muchlinski | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
| 3 | Fri | 9/13 | WSN | ATL | B8 | Tim Bogar | FBC | Tim Timmons | 1B | Arguing checked swing(?) |
| 4 | Fri | 9/13 | KC | HOU | 7/8 | Alex Gordon | LF | Lance Barrett | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
| 5 | Fri | 9/13 | KC | HOU | 7/8 | Ned Yost | Mgr | Lance Barrett | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
| 6 | Sat | 9/14 | CHC | PIT | T9 | Dillon Maples | P | Alfonso Marquez | HP | Hitting a batter after a warning |
| 7 | Sat | 9/14 | CHC | PIT | T9 | Joe Maddon | Mgr | Alfonso Marquez | HP | Player hitting a batter after a warning |
| 8 | Sat | 9/14 | ATL | @WSN | T7 | Brian Snitker | Mgr | Bill Welke | 1B | Arguing checked swing |
| 9 | Sat | 9/14 | KC | HOU | T2 | Dale Sveum | BeC | Chris Guccione | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
| 10 | Sat | 9/14 | SD | @COL | T5 | Eric Hosmer | 1B | Carlos Torres | 3B | Arguing checked swing |
| 11 | Sat | 9/14 | SD | @COL | T5 | Andy Green | Mgr | Carlos Torres | 3B | Defending his player |
| 12 | Sun | 9/15 | PHL | BOS | B4 | Bryce Harper | RF | Gabe Morales | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
| 13 | Sun | 9/15 | PHL | BOS | B4 | Gabe Kapler | Mgr | Gabe Morales | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
| 14 | Sun | 9/15 | ATL | @WSN | T5 | Matt Joyce | RF | Bill Welke | HP | Arguing balls/strikes |
Dillon Maples, Chicago Cubs Pitcher
Joe Maddon, Chicago Cubs Manager
When
Saturday, September 14th, vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, top of the ninth
Umpire
Alfonso Marquez (HP)
Description
The Pirates had plunked four Cubs hitters in the first six innings. After the fourth – David Bote – Marquez issued warnings. Bote was livid since it was the second time of the season that Clay Holmes had drilled him.
In the ninth, Maples hit Elias Diaz and Erik Gonzalez in consecutive at-bats, though not on consecutive pitches. After the second, Marquez threw Maples out, and, by rule, had to eject Maddon as well.
Understand the frustration?
The Cubs didn’t seem to be frustrated since they were ahead 14-1 at the time. If this were a close game, they probably would have been, though. Maples has had control problems all year. The first HBP was a slider that got away from him, and the second was a curveball that had done the same.
Was the ejection justified?
It didn’t seem like it. Keep in mind, however, that Marquez was backed into a corner after issuing the warnings.
Entertainment Rating
Zero Weavers. It was a rule-based ejection that had no clear argument whatsoever.
Brian Snitker, Atlanta Braves Manager
When
Saturday, September 14th, at Washington Nationals, top of the seventh
Umpire
Bill Welke (1B)
Description
Braves pinch hitter Charlie Culberson squared around to bunt the first pitch from Fernando Rodney. There were runners on first and second with nobody out. Rodney’s fastball got away from him and traveled high and tight. Culberson tried to pull the bat back and get out of the way but couldn’t. A frightening moment ensued as the ball caught him squarely in the right cheek. (Thankfully, it didn’t damage his eye socket.) After the medical staff from both teams took care of Culberson, he got up on his own and headed for treatment.
On appeal, Welke ruled that Culberson had offered at the pitch. By rule, this meant that the pitch was a dead ball strike. This incensed Snitker, whose explosive protest resulted in Welke sending him to the showers. After being tossed, Snitker vented the frustration that his batter was “hit in the (bleeping) face” and yet his substitute didn’t get first base. Before leaving the field, Snitker yelled “Shame on you” twice.
Understand the frustration?
Yes. Every manager in the LEAGUE would have been ejected here, even if the call were correct. (According to replay, it wasn’t.)
Was the ejection justified?
Yes, but Snitker didn’t care, and no other manager would have, either.
Entertainment Rating
Snitker’s reaction would normally be worth Four Weavers. However, the scary incident leading to it makes it tough to even watch it, let alone be entertained by it.
Dale Sveum, Kansas City Royals Bench Coach
When
Saturday, September 14th, vs. Houston Astros, top of the second
Umpire
Chris Guccione (HP)
Description
The Royals were still reeling from the previous day’s strike zone. In the top of the second, a 1-0 pitch to leadoff hitter Alex Bregman crossed the heart of the plate above the knees. Guccione called it a ball. Later in the at-bat, a 3-1 sinker near the inside corner and belt-high was ball four. After the first pitch to the subsequent hitter was well inside, Guccione lifted his mask and yelled for someone in the Royals dugout to stop yelling, ending it with, “I’m working. I’m working.” Sveum continued, so Guccione booted him.
Understand the frustration?
Yes, especially with the Bregman at-bat, and considering the strike zone from the night before.
Was the ejection justified?
What Sveum said is unknown to the public. However, given that manager Ned Yost did not react at all, it probably was.
Entertainment Rating
One Weaver. This was unremarkable.
Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres First Baseman
Andy Green, San Diego Padres Manager
When
Saturday, September 14th, at Colorado Rockies, top of the fifth
Umpire
Carlos Torres (3B)
Description
Hosmer tried to check his swing on a 1-0 pitch in the dirt. On appeal, Torres ruled that he swung. Replays disagreed. Hosmer ultimately grounded to second. On his way back to the third base dugout, he yelled twice at Torres that it was “terrible.” As Hosmer was about to go down the stairs, Torres chucked him.
Hosmer walked up to Torres and protested his ejection. Green quickly joined him as third base coach Glenn Hoffman pulled Hosmer away. Plate umpire Paul Nauert intervened with Green, and as Green walked away, he finished his sentence to Torres. When Green said a parting sentence, Torres bounced him.
Understand the frustration?
Absolutely. Both Hosmer and Green were walking away when they were dumped.
Was the ejection justified?
Technically, yes, but both felt like quick triggers. Hosmer could have been handled just fine with hands up and, “Eric, that’s enough.” Green was walking away. Had he said more than one sentence while walking away, then, yes, toss him, but this seemed trifling.
Entertainment Rating
Three Weavers. The ejection was strange, and the aftermath lasted a while. Plus, Green is fun to watch when he argues.
For the other eight ejections from Week 25 and the leaderboard, click here.
Evan Thompson played baseball as a youth and teenager. He also umpired between 1995 and 2004 and has coached at the high school level.
Main Photo
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