{"id":46493,"date":"2021-04-22T19:08:40","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T23:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=46493"},"modified":"2021-12-30T18:36:42","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T23:36:42","slug":"ejection-inspection-202103-yawner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2021\/04\/22\/ejection-inspection-202103-yawner\/","title":{"rendered":"Ejection Inspection, Week Three: A Yawner of a Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three Managers and Two Pitchers Get Yawner Ejections<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Welcome to Week Three of Ejection Inspection! 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 Baltimore Orioles<\/a> manager Earl Weaver. Week Three was a yawner, as all five ejections were rather unremarkable.<\/p>\n

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

Ejection Table<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1<\/a><\/td>\nThu<\/td>\n4\/15<\/td>\nBOS<\/td>\n@MIN<\/a><\/td>\nB8<\/td>\nAlex Cora<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nJordan Baker<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing foul ball call<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/a><\/td>\nSun<\/td>\n4\/18<\/td>\nCIN<\/td>\nCLE<\/a><\/td>\nB7<\/td>\nWade Miley<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nBill Welke<\/td>\n1B<\/td>\nArguing foul tip no-call<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/a><\/td>\nTue<\/td>\n4\/20<\/td>\nNYM<\/td>\n@CHC<\/a><\/td>\nB4<\/td>\nTaijuan Walker<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nJohn Libka<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing balls\/strikes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/a><\/td>\nTue<\/td>\n4\/20<\/td>\nNYM<\/td>\n@CHC<\/td>\nT6<\/td>\nLuis Rojas<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nJohn Libka<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing balls\/strikes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/a><\/td>\nWed<\/td>\n4\/21<\/td>\nSD<\/td>\nMIL<\/a><\/td>\nB8<\/td>\nJayce Tingler<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nTom Hallion<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing balls\/strikes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Thursday, April 15th, vs. Boston Red Sox, bottom of the eighth<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Jordan Baker (HP)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There were runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the eighth of a 3-3 ballgame. Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers swung and missed a Matt Andriese pitch in the dirt. Baker killed the play immediately. Jeffers started to jog to first while Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez threw there, but Baker called everyone back. He ruled that Jeffers got a piece of the pitch.<\/p>\n

Replays clearly showed that Jeffers missed the pitch. Cora asked about replay from the dugout. Baker said \u201cThat\u2019s 100% me. There\u2019s no way they\u2019re going to overturn that. That\u2019s a foul ball.\u201d Baker called the crew together, but no one saw anything to overturn his call. An angry Cora protested, pointing to each of the base umpires. Baker had enough, so he gave Cora the heave-ho.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes. Not only was the call incorrect, but it\u2019s still inexplicably unreviewable. For a base umpire to see this play clearly enough to overturn it from over 100 feet away while they\u2019re looking for other things is a lot to ask.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It felt a bit hasty, but Cora also said, \u201cThat\u2019s two! That\u2019s two!\u201d at the end of the discussion. That is almost always going to get a manager tossed.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Two Weavers. He didn\u2019t really blow his top. However, he did do his usual ejection activity of pointing all over the field while arguing. That is what kept this from being only One Weaver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wade Miley, Cincinnati Reds Pitcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Sunday, April 18, vs. Cleveland Indians, bottom of the seventh<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Bill Welke (1B)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Facing Shane Bieber with a 1-2 count, nobody out, the bases empty, and the Indians holding a 6-2 lead, Jesse Winker swung at a pitch below the knees. He tipped the ball, which the catcher did not catch. Plate umpire Ben May did not see or hear the ball hit the bat, so he called Winker out on a swinging third strike. After a discussion among the four umpires, the call stood.<\/p>\n

As Winker reached the dugout, Welke ejected Miley for arguing the call. We did not know who was ejected until the game ticker updated.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes, because the call was incorrect and it\u2019s not reviewable. These plays are extremely difficult for the plate umpire to see, so they have to go by sound. If the crowd is loud enough \u2014 and this one was, despite the reduced capacity \u2014 then the umpire often won\u2019t hear it. As mentioned before, it is a tough task for the base umpires to see or hear foul tips.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Impossible to say without knowing what Miley said or did.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Zero Weavers, the first of three yawner ejections. We couldn\u2019t see or hear anything.<\/p>\n

Taijuan Walker, New York Mets Pitcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Tuesday, April 20, at Chicago Cubs, bottom of the fourth<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h4>\n

John Libka (HP)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Walker had a rough fourth inning. He did not like several of Libka\u2019s ball\/strike calls. In that inning, with two out, two singles and three walks led to two Cubs runs and an early exit for Walker. As he left the field upon being replaced, he made a few comments to Libka. Libka told him to stop, but Walker persisted, so Libka dumped him.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes, although Walker should have been angrier with himself for missing spots. Libka judged every callable pitch that inning correctly.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Can\u2019t fully say without knowing what Walker said. However, when a player persists after being told to stop, the umpire is fully justified in tossing him.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One Weaver, the second of three yawner ejections. This was unremarkable.<\/p>\n

Luis Rojas, New York Mets Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Tuesday, April 20, at Chicago Cubs, top of the sixth<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h4>\n

John Libka (HP)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A 3-2 pitch to Michael Conforto with one out, the bases empty, and the Cubs holding a 3-1 lead clipped the bottom of the zone for a called third strike. Rojas, already miffed over the circumstances surrounding Walker\u2019s ejection, barked protests from the dugout. Libka told him to stop. Rojas ignored the order, so Libka bounced him. This brought Rojas onto the field for a heated discussion with Libka. Due to the masks, it was impossible to know what was said. All we could see was a bunch of angry nodding and jaws moving.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes. He felt that the strike zone was not consistent for each team. While true that Libka called the pitches correctly, \u201cmy perception, my reality\u201d is also true.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Persistent arguing of balls and strikes is, by rule, an ejection, so yes.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Two Weavers. This was a bit more entertaining than Walker\u2019s ejection, but not by much.<\/p>\n

Jayce Tingler, San Diego Padres Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Wednesday, July 21, vs. Milwaukee Brewers, bottom of the eighth<\/p>\n

Umpire<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Tom \u201cIn the Jackpot\u201d Hallion (HP) (Steve Berthiaume, if you\u2019re reading this, that was for you.)<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h4>\n

With runners on the corners, nobody out, Jurickson Profar batting, and the Padres in a 4-2 deficit, Brewers reliever Brad Boxberger dotted the corner with a fastball. It was at the knees and on the inside corner, so Hallion correctly called a strike. Profar vehemently disagreed, shaking his arms in disgust before walking a few steps toward the Padres dugout. He turned around and came back to the plate, still fuming. Tingler came out of the dugout to talk to Hallion, who told him to return to the dugout. He stayed and said a few more words, so Hallion ran him. Tingler stayed on the field to say a few more words before heading to the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

Understand the frustration?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes, even though the pitch was called correctly. The Padres were about to get swept, so they were understandably frustrated. When that happens, teams often disagree with any close call that doesn\u2019t go in their favor, even if said call was correct.<\/p>\n

Was the ejection justified?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yes. Coming onto the field to argue balls and strikes warrants an ejection. Hallion even gave Tingler a chance to return to the dugout, but Tingler ignored him.<\/p>\n

Entertainment Rating<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One Weaver, the third of three yawner ejections. This was unremarkable.<\/p>\n

Read Week Four here<\/a>.<\/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>