{"id":19864,"date":"2019-05-16T06:00:05","date_gmt":"2019-05-16T10:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/\/?p=19864"},"modified":"2019-07-08T00:54:35","modified_gmt":"2019-07-08T04:54:35","slug":"ejection-inspection-week-seven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2019\/05\/16\/ejection-inspection-week-seven\/","title":{"rendered":"Ejection Inspection, Week Seven: Hunter Wendelstedt Should Not Call Detroit Tigers Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Week Seven of Ejection Inspection! Before getting into the main part of today\u2019s edition, it\u2019s soapbox time. Hunter Wendelstedt and Detroit Tigers<\/a> manager Ron Gardenhire<\/a><\/strong> do not get along. On Saturday, Wendelstedt ejected Gardenhire for the sixth time. Because of their history, it is likely that Gardenhire has less patience with Wendelstedt than he does with other umpires, and the reverse is also likely to be true \u2013 and they probably don\u2019t even realize it. Consequently, Hunter Wendelstedt should not call Detroit Tigers games. It doesn\u2019t make sense to keep putting him in the same ballpark as Gardenhire.<\/p>\n

Now for the column. The premise and ground rules are detailed here<\/a>. The condensed version: each ejection from the previous week (Thursday through Wednesday) is listed in a table. The author \u2013 a former player\/coach\/umpire \u2013 analyzes each ejection and assigns it an entertainment rating of one to five Weavers in honor of late Orioles manager Earl Weaver<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

(For a list of every article in this series, click here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

There were four ejections in Week Seven \u2013 two players and two managers. In an odd coincidence, all four were from the road team, and all four were tossed by the plate umpire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nDate<\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/strong><\/td>\nOpp<\/strong><\/td>\nInn.<\/strong><\/td>\nName<\/strong><\/td>\nPos<\/strong><\/td>\nUmpire<\/strong><\/td>\nPos<\/strong><\/td>\nReason<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/a><\/td>\nSat<\/td>\n5\/11<\/td>\nDET<\/a><\/td>\n@MIN<\/td>\nB3<\/td>\nRon Gardenhire<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nHunter Wendelstedt<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nSticking up for bench coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/a><\/td>\nSat<\/td>\n5\/11<\/td>\nDET<\/td>\n@MIN<\/td>\nB1<\/td>\nMiguel Cabrera<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\nDH<\/td>\nChad Whitson<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing balls\/strikes from dugout<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/a><\/td>\nMon<\/td>\n5\/13<\/td>\nOAK<\/a><\/td>\n@SEA<\/a><\/td>\nB8<\/td>\nBob Melvin<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nD.J. Reyburn<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing balls\/strikes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/a><\/td>\nWed<\/td>\n5\/15<\/td>\nSD<\/a><\/td>\n@LAD<\/a><\/td>\nT5<\/td>\nIan Kinsler<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n2B<\/td>\nScott Barry<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing balls\/strikes from dugout<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ron Gardenhire, Detroit Tigers manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Saturday, May 11, at Minnesota Twins<\/a>, bottom of the third (first game of double header)<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hunter Wendelstedt (HP)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As stated in the first paragraph, Ron Gardenhire and Hunter Wendelstedt have a history. According to the last paragraph of this article<\/a> by Chris McCosky of The Detroit News<\/em>, this is the sixth time that Wendelstedt has tossed Gardenhire. Their history was detailed in Sunday\u2019s edition of the Star Tribune<\/em><\/a>.<\/em> After one ejection in 2009, Wendelstedt stated that Gardenhire didn\u2019t know the rules and then invited him to his umpiring school for a rules session.<\/p>\n

Anyway, in the bottom of the third, Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull<\/a><\/strong> ran into trouble after retiring the first two hitters. After a single, stolen base, and passed ball, Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario<\/a><\/strong> ended up on third base. Meanwhile, first baseman C.J. Cron<\/a><\/strong> walked on four pitches. Next, right fielder Jake Cave<\/a><\/strong> worked the count to 2-2 before the next two pitches missed high, loading the bases.<\/p>\n

Tigers bench coach Steve Liddle was yelling at Wendelstedt from the dugout. As Wendelstedt was putting his mask on and preparing to resume the game, Gardenhire came out of the dugout. He got into Wendelstedt\u2019s face, was ejected, and then went on an angry tangent.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sort of. Some of the pitches were close, and teams want those called in their favor, but those last two to Cave were well high.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Gardenhire came out of the dugout to defend Liddle, and his first words to Wendelstedt were, \u201cThat\u2019s (expletive).\u201d This warrants an ejection, so yes, it was justified. However, it\u2019s more complicated than this.<\/p>\n

What got Gardenhire so mad? The audio was unclear, and no camera shot showed the conversation. Wendelstedt\u2019s reaction at the end of the conversation was visible, though. He was smiling and chuckling as he put on his mask after talking to the Detroit dugout. Whatever he said got the Tigers mad. Was he trying to use humor to defuse hot tempers, only to have the Tigers take it wrong? Was he making snarky comments at them? The people who know the answers to these questions have not said anything, so one can only speculate. However, from Wendelstedt\u2019s body language and calm demeanor during the discussion with Gardenhire, it seems like it was the former.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Four Weavers, easily. Gardenhire was furious. Almost all of what he said was either picked up by a microphone or visible through lip-reading. In his 23-second tirade \u2013 yes, this author timed it \u2013 Gardenhire used the expletive that begins with \u201cbull\u201d six times. He also told Wendelstedt to \u201cshut the (expletive) up\u201d with his second-to-last sentence.<\/p>\n

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers Designated Hitter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Saturday, May 11, at Minnesota Twins, bottom of the first (second game of double header)<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chad Whitson (HP)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the top of the first, Cabrera batted with two outs and a runner on third. A 1-0 fastball that appeared to be well outside was called a strike. Cabrera said a few words to Whitson about it before continuing his at-bat. He eventually grounded to second on a 2-2 pitch.<\/p>\n

The third pitch of the bottom of the first was just below the knees of Twins third baseman Marwin Gonzalez<\/a><\/strong>. Whitson called it ball one. Cabrera barked from the dugout, \u201cHey! Hey! Come on! Let\u2019s go!\u201d Then Whitson tossed him.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No, not on the third pitch of the game.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Technically, yes, but unless there was a warning given in the middle of the first, this felt like a very <\/em>quick trigger.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One Weaver. It didn\u2019t seem like Cabrera did much to warrant an ejection, so it wasn\u2019t very entertaining.<\/p>\n

Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Monday, May 13, at Seattle Mariners<\/a>, bottom of the eighth<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h3>\n

D.J. Reyburn (HP)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With a 4-1 lead, one out, and a runner on second, Athletics reliever Lou Trivino<\/a><\/strong> faced Mariners first baseman Edwin Encarnacion<\/a><\/strong>. On a 3-2 count, a pitch that appeared to be at the knees and over the middle of the plate was called ball four. An angry Melvin shouted at Reyburn, \u201cCome on! You ring us up on that, but you won\u2019t ring them up? That\u2019s (expletive). That\u2019s (expletive).\u201d<\/p>\n

The next hitter, designated hitter and Chris Farley look-alike Daniel Vogelbach<\/a><\/strong>, hit the first pitch over the fence in center field for a game-tying three-run home run. As Vogelbach crossed the plate, Melvin lost it. He yelled, \u201cHey! That\u2019s (bleeping) terrible! That\u2019s (expletive)!\u201d Then Reyburn tossed him, and Melvin sprinted up to Reyburn to get his money\u2019s worth. He pointed at the plate in an animated manner to illustrate his points as he said, \u201cThe ball\u2019s over there, the ball\u2019s over there, the ball\u2019s up. They\u2019re all strikes. You won\u2019t call \u2018em for us. You call it for (expletive) THEM. That\u2019s terrible! That\u2019s (expletive)!\u201d He said two or three more sentences after that, but his mouth wasn\u2019t visible. The camera then cut to the celebration in the Seattle dugout before going back to the field, where Melvin finished off his argument before storming to the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes. Every manager in the league would have been frustrated and probably would have been ejected in this situation. The last pitch to Encarnacion should have been called strike three. That would have been the second out with only one runner on. If Vogelbach had still homered on the first pitch, it\u2019s only a 4-3 ballgame instead of being tied.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes. Arguing balls and strikes warrants an ejection.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Four Weavers. Melvin snapped. It was like he thought, \u201cIs this worth it? Mmm. Yeah,\u201d and then charged out of the dugout to unload all his frustrations on Reyburn. This would have made Earl a very proud man. It was great theater.<\/p>\n

Ian Kinsler, San Diego Padres second baseman<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wednesday, May 15, at Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>, top of the fifth<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Scott Barry (HP)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After an 0-1 fastball that was barely off the outside corner was called strike two, Kinsler \u2013 who was not playing in the game \u2013 yelled at Barry from the dugout. Barry told Kinsler to stop, and when Kinsler kept arguing, Barry ran him.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No. It was very close to the zone, and Barry had been consistent the entire game.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes. Barry gave Kinsler a long leash. He told him to stop and gave him some time to do so, but Kinsler kept yelling.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Zero Weavers. Kinsler\u2019s actions were not caught on camera or picked up by a microphone. Also, Padres manager Andy Green<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s subsequent discussion with Barry was not memorable in any way.<\/p>\n

Look for Week Eight on Thursday, May 23.<\/p>\n

Evan Thompson played baseball as a youth and teenager. He also umpired between 1995 and 2004 and has coached at the high school level.<\/em><\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>