{"id":46495,"date":"2021-04-29T22:00:50","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T02:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=46495"},"modified":"2021-04-30T00:12:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T04:12:34","slug":"ejection-inspection-202104-joe-girardi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2021\/04\/29\/ejection-inspection-202104-joe-girardi\/","title":{"rendered":"Ejection Inspection, Week Four: Joe Girardi Goes Nuts, Aaron Boone Tossed as Well"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joe Girardi Goes Nuts after Two Phillies Get Plunked but Both Teams Get Warned<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Welcome to Week Four 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 manager Earl Weaver. This week had the highest average Weaver rating in recent memory. Of the six ejections, two earned three, three earned four, and \u2014 for the first time in 2021 \u2014 one earned five. That came from Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi.<\/p>\n

(For a list of every article in this series, click here<\/a>. Week Three is a week late due to health reasons and can be found here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

There were six ejections in Week Four \u2013 five managers and a bench coach.<\/p>\n

Ejection Table<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1<\/a><\/td>\nSat<\/td>\n4\/24<\/td>\nCHC<\/td>\nMIL<\/td>\nB9<\/td>\nDavid Ross<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nCory Blaser<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing balls\/strikes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/a><\/td>\nSun<\/td>\n4\/25<\/td>\nCIN<\/td>\n@STL<\/a><\/td>\nT6<\/td>\nDavid Bell<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nJoe West<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing warnings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/a><\/td>\nMon<\/td>\n4\/26<\/td>\nNYY<\/td>\n@BAL<\/a><\/td>\nT8<\/td>\nAaron Boone<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nGreg Gibson<\/td>\n1B<\/td>\nArguing denial of replay request<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/a><\/td>\nMon<\/td>\n4\/26<\/td>\nOAK<\/td>\n@TB<\/a><\/td>\nT7<\/td>\nBob Melvin<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nSean Barber<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing replay decision<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/a><\/td>\nWed<\/td>\n4\/28<\/td>\nMIL<\/td>\nMIA<\/a><\/td>\nT4<\/td>\nPat Murphy<\/td>\nBeC<\/td>\nMarty Foster<\/td>\n1B<\/td>\nArguing checked bunt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/a><\/td>\nWed<\/td>\n4\/28<\/td>\nPHL<\/td>\n@STL<\/td>\nT6<\/td>\nJoe Girardi<\/td>\nMgr<\/td>\nChris Segal<\/td>\nHP<\/td>\nArguing warnings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

David Ross, Chicago Cubs Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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

Saturday, April 24, vs. Chicago Cubs, bottom of the ninth<\/p>\n

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

Cory Blaser (HP)<\/p>\n

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

The Cubs trailed the Brewers, 4-3, with a runner on first and nobody out. They were facing Brewers closer Josh Hader. Jake Marisnick took the first pitch from Hader, one that was more than four inches above the top of the zone. Blaser called a strike, drawing the ire of the Cubs dugout. He looked toward the dugout, waited maybe <\/em>four seconds, and gave Ross the thumb.<\/p>\n

A fired-up Ross stormed onto the field to let Blaser have it. After a somewhat lengthy tirade, one that saw Ross have to re-cover his face several times, Ross headed to the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

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

This is one of the most justified angry reactions from a manager all season. That pitch was incredibly <\/em>high. Calling it a strike was a travesty.<\/p>\n

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

By the letter, yes. However, this was a quick trigger. Plus, the pitch was so far out of the zone that few could blame Ross for being upset.<\/p>\n

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

Three Weavers. It might have been more had we been able to read his lips.<\/p>\n

David Bell, Cincinnati Reds Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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

Sunday, April 25, vs. Cincinnati Reds, top of the sixth<\/p>\n

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

Joe West (HP)<\/p>\n

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

Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty, with a 4-0 lead, hit Reds second baseman Jonathan India squarely on the helmet with a 1-1 fastball. India was angry as he stood up since this is the second time this month that a Cardinals pitcher hit him on the head. Thankfully, India was able to stay in the game.<\/p>\n

After a conference among the umpires, they warned both teams. When notified, Bell blew his top. Before going into the dugout, he angrily and demonstrably ranted for nearly a minute. His mask prevented us from reading his lips, but there were a lot of consonants flying\u2026.<\/p>\n

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

Definitely. Nothing makes Bell angrier than his players getting hit in the head. In his entire tenure managing the Reds, he has had several players get drilled. Many of those were on or near the head. Recall how often this happened in 2019 at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now it\u2019s happened to the same player twice in a month against the same team.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, in almost every game, both teams were warned without the Reds hitting anyone.<\/p>\n

Bell\u2019s contention is often \u201cif it\u2019s serious enough to warn both teams, why don\u2019t you eject him?\u201d While it seems to be a valid question, the fact is that the rules do not allow it. For a pitcher to get ejected, he must have intentionally thrown at a batter (at least in the umpire\u2019s judgment). This particular pitch was clearly an accident. The umpires, however, may warn teams if they feel that retaliation may occur, even if it comes at the beginning of the game. Intentional pitches are not required for warnings \u2014 just for ejections.<\/p>\n

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

We can\u2019t know for sure without knowing what Bell said, but more than likely, yes. He probably said something that crossed the line, given his past.<\/p>\n

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

Four Weavers. This was a real doozy that nearly earned five. It didn\u2019t quite have the extra oomph, though.<\/p>\n

Aaron Boone, New York Yankees Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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

Monday, April 26, at Baltimore Orioles, top of the eighth<\/p>\n

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

Greg Gibson (1B)<\/p>\n

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

An out call at third prevented a Yankee run from scoring on a \u201ctiming play.\u201d This refers to a tag play on the third out with multiple runners on base. If a runner is tagged at a base before another runner crosses the plate, no run scores. Boone did not notify the umpires soon enough that he wanted to challenge the call.<\/p>\n

When Gibson notified Boone that his time was up, Boone exploded. He felt that the umpiring crew did not give him enough time to notify them. Boone came on the field and got into a fiery, nose-to-nose argument with Gibson. Since the Yankees have reached 85% vaccinations, they don\u2019t have to wear masks in the dugout, so we could see every word Boone said. Boone pointed a lot, and most of the words he used started with \u201chorse.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Boone honestly felt he had not been given enough time, so yes. When running a timer on the game broadcast, it looks like Boone was correct. The call probably would have stood, but Boone did not even get the opportunity to challenge it, and that\u2019s what angered him.<\/p>\n

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

Yes, although his frustration was understandable.<\/p>\n

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

Four Weavers. This was a blast. However, it wasn\u2019t quite enough to earn five. Boone didn\u2019t say or do anything that will be replayed over and over.<\/p>\n

Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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

Monday, April 26, at Tampa Bay Rays, top of the seventh<\/p>\n

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

Sean Barber (HP)<\/p>\n

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

With two outs and Elvis Andrus on first, Tony Kemp hit a high fly to shallow left. It was so high that Joey Wendle, despite calling his teammates off, misplayed it. Shortstop Willy Adames gathered it on one hop and fired it home. With there being two outs, Andrus was running the whole way, so the play was very close. Barber called him out.<\/p>\n

Replays showed the diving Andrus\u2019 hand touch the plate before catcher Mike Zunino tagged him on the ribcage. It looked like it would be an easy overturn, but the replay officials inexplicably upheld the call. Melvin ran onto the field and pointed to the plate as he took out his frustration on Barber. Within second, Barber launched him.<\/p>\n

Melvin continued yelling. It did not last long, as third base umpire Adrian Johnson got in Melvin\u2019s face and pointed him to the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

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

Every manager in the league would have been thrown out over this one. The call was clearly incorrect. Replay should have fixed it, but it did not.<\/p>\n

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

By rule, yes, since leaving the dugout to argue a replay decision is automatic.<\/p>\n

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

Three Weavers, solely because it didn\u2019t last long enough to get four.<\/p>\n

Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers Bench Coach<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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

Wednesday, April 28, vs. Miami Marlins, top of the fourth<\/p>\n

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

Marty Foster (1B)<\/p>\n

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

Foster made a now-infamous (yet correct<\/a>, according to the badly written rule) obstruction call in the second inning. It nullified an out, and that came back to haunt the Brewers, who surrendered another run in the second after there were two outs.<\/p>\n

In the top of the fourth, with runners on first and second and nobody out, Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara tried to bunt the first pitch and then pulled the bat back. Replays showed that he stabbed at the ball and then quickly tried to cover it up by pulling the bat back. On appeal, Foster said he didn\u2019t swing.<\/p>\n

The Brewers dugout lost it, giving Foster all kinds of grief. After a few seconds that included more yelling, Foster pointed at Murphy and sent him to the showers. Murphy gave a profane two-word reply that ended with \u201cyou\u201d as he marched up to Foster. He said, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be (expletive) kidding me\u201d as he got in Foster\u2019s face. After pulling up his mask, Murphy pointed in Foster\u2019s face as he continued his fiery tirade. Brewers manager Craig Counsell and another member of the umpiring crew (can\u2019t tell if it was the second- or third-base umpire) tried to restrain Murphy, but he pointed around the two and kept unloading on Foster. After about 20-30 seconds, Murphy went to the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

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

Yes. Tensions were already high in the Brewers dugout, since they felt like they had been hosed by the obstruction call by the same umpire. This bunt attempt should have been a strike, but Foster said it wasn\u2019t. In Milwaukee, the home team uses the first-base dugout, so they had a great view of the bunt attempt. An ejection was inevitable at this point.<\/p>\n

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

Probably. We don\u2019t know exactly what Murphy said, but he\u2019s going to have a short leash since he isn\u2019t the manager. This is also a situation that is ripe for someone to get personal with an umpire. The word \u201cyou\u201d will get someone ejected faster than most curse words, in fact.<\/p>\n

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

Four Weavers. Murphy was livid.<\/em> And it was fun to see the much smaller Counsell \u2014 who played for Murphy at Notre Dame \u2014 restrain his mentor and college coach.<\/p>\n

Joe Girardi, Philadelphia Phillies Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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

Wednesday, April 28, at St. Louis Cardinals, top of the sixth<\/p>\n

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

Chris Segal (HP)<\/p>\n

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

Left-handed reliever Genesis Cabrera entered the game in the top of the sixth to face Bryce Harper of the Phillies. His first pitch \u2014 a 97-mph fastball \u2014 hit Harper directly on the left cheekbone in a frightening moment. Miraculously \u2014 and thankfully \u2014 Harper got up under his own power and headed to the training room. Up stepped Didi Gregorius. Cabrera\u2019s first pitch drilled him squarely in the ribs, sending him to the ground in pain.<\/p>\n

An irate Phillies dugout screamed at the visibly shaken and upset Cabrera. The phrases suitable for television included \u201cThrow better pitches!\u201d and \u201cGet the ball over the plate!\u201d Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said after the game that he would have pulled Cabrera after his pitch to Harper, but the three-batter minimum didn\u2019t allow it.<\/p>\n

Joe Girardi came onto the field to check on Gregorius. Before he returned to the dugout, the umpires warned both benches. Girardi lost his mind. He pointed at the mound and \u201cejected\u201d Cabrera, prompting the real thing from Segal. Girardi continued his profanity-laced tirade, pacing for about 30 seconds as he blew off steam. On his way to the clubhouse, Girardi pulled down his mask and yelled to Cabrera, \u201cThrow the ball over the (expletive) plate!\u201d Cabrera\u2019s shoulders slumped even further. Shildt yelled across the field, \u201cHe didn\u2019t mean to do it, Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Completely. Joe Girardi just saw two of his best players go down in a heap on consecutive pitches. Then the umpires warned both benches. This made it difficult for the Phillies to even pitch on the inner half of the plate, let alone retaliate.<\/p>\n

Also of note \u2014 Harper was the third batter the Cardinals have hit in the head with a hard fastball this month. Teams know this.<\/p>\n

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

Yes. Managers can\u2019t be \u201cthrowing out\u201d opposing pitchers, no matter how justified their anger is. And, as we’ve said, Joe Girardi was justified in his anger.<\/p>\n

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

Five Weavers, easily. This was one of the most memorable, entertaining ejections we\u2019ve seen in over a year. It\u2019s not common to see a manager \u201ceject\u201d an opposing pitcher, after all. This was also one of the best Joe Girardi ejections ever.<\/p>\n

Leaderboard<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After four weeks, here are the leaders.<\/p>\n

Managers: 13 tied with one each
\nPlayers: Six tied with one each
\nTeam high: Reds (three).
\nTeam low: Fifteen have not had anyone ejected yet.
\nUmpire: Tie between Greg Gibson and John Libka (two each), although Libka\u2019s came in the same game.<\/p>\n

Look for Week Five on Thursday, May 6.<\/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>