MLB Ejections 170-71 - Adrian Johnson (4-5; SEA-KC)

[Lindsay]

HP Umpire Adrian Johnson ejected Mariners pitcher Robbie Ray and Royals pitcher Luke Weaver (national anthem standoff/refusal to leave field/delay of game) prior to the top of the 1st inning of the #Mariners-#Royals game. Following the pre-game performance of the national anthem, off-day pitchers and bench personnel Ray (Seattle) and Weaver (Kansas City) remained on the playing field in the locations occupied during the national anthem. They remained in these on-field positions as Royals starting pitcher Max Castillo completed his warmup pitches and the game was ready to begin, and were ejected for delaying the start of the game after failing to follow the umpires' direction to leave the field, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejections, the game hadn't begun (score was tied 0-0). The Royals ultimately won the contest, 13-12.

These are Adrian Johnson (80)'s 4th and 5th ejections of 2022.

These are the 170th and 171st ejection reports of the 2022 MLB regular season.

These are the 57th and 58th player ejections of 2022. Prior to ejection, neither player appeared in the game.

This is Seattle's 12th ejection of 2022, 1st in the AL West (SEA 12; LA 10; HOU 7; OAK 6; TEX 2).

This is Kansas City's 4th ejection of 2022, T-3rd in the AL Central (CWS 6; CLE 5; DET, KC MIN 4).

This is Robbie Ray's 1st ejection since March 27, 2017 (Bill Miller; QOC = U [Balls/Strikes {Spring}]).

This is Luke Weaver's first career MLB ejection.

This is Adrian Johnson's 4/5th ejection of 2022, 1st since June 26 (Scott Servais; QOC = U [Fighting]).

Wrap: Seattle Mariners vs Kansas City Royals, 9/25/22 | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: National anthem standoff leads to pair of pre-game delay ejections (SEA-KC)

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[NateWalter]

Regardless of your opinion on the anthem... ejecting people for this is dumb. The fans tend to enjoy it; it's light-hearted, and honestly, the ejection just looks bad for an umpire here.

This is one of those cases that if it's wrong or inappropriate, let the MLB office handle it.

As for the umpires, let their managers know that they have x-amount of time (i.e 30 or 60 seconds) and then eject. But this makes umpires look power hungry and does nothing but turn people against them.

[UMP45]

1 hour ago, NateWalter said:

Regardless of your opinion on the anthem... ejecting people for this is dumb. The fans tend to enjoy it; it's light-hearted, and honestly, the ejection just looks bad for an umpire here.

This is one of those cases that if it's wrong or inappropriate, let the MLB office handle it.

As for the umpires, let their managers know that they have x-amount of time (i.e 30 or 60 seconds) and then eject. But this makes umpires look power hungry and does nothing but turn people against them.

I can tell by your response you didn't watch the video.

[beerguy55]

2 hours ago, NateWalter said:

Regardless of your opinion on the anthem... ejecting people for this is dumb. The fans tend to enjoy it; it's light-hearted, and honestly, the ejection just looks bad for an umpire here.

This is one of those cases that if it's wrong or inappropriate, let the MLB office handle it.

As for the umpires, let their managers know that they have x-amount of time (i.e 30 or 60 seconds) and then eject. But this makes umpires look power hungry and does nothing but turn people against them.

No...the players are being stupid.  Period.  For people who think the anthem is so glorious and sacred these players are making it about themselves and turning the moment into a farce.

The one who looks really bad is Robbie Ray for cheering his "victory" because Luke Weaver got ejected first.

People with low IQ's trying to assert dominance.  This is just dick measuring.  

[NateWalter]

22 minutes ago, beerguy55 said:

People with low IQ's trying to assert dominance.  This is just dick measuring.  

No one is trying to "assert dominance"... it's just a dumb game. It's mutually fun for all parties involved, except the umpires.

Aside from crotchety old men, I don't think there's a fan in the stands or anyone watching at home that thinks, "thank God the umpires ended their fun so the game won't start 2 minutes late!"

[Velho]

41 minutes ago, NateWalter said:

No one is trying to "assert dominance"... it's just a dumb game. It's mutually fun for all parties involved, except the umpires.

Aside from crotchety old men, I don't think there's a fan in the stands or anyone watching at home that thinks, "thank God the umpires ended their fun so the game won't start 2 minutes late!"

Don't disagree. However, the TV executives (the only ones that matter in MLB) do have a problem with an extra "2 minutes", or will it be 5, 15, 20? Where will it stop?

[NateWalter]

12 minutes ago, Velho said:

Don't disagree. However, the TV executives (the only ones that matter in MLB) do have a problem with an extra "2 minutes", or will it be 5, 15, 20? Where will it stop?

For starters, if it's going on for an additional 5 minutes, I'd have no problem with the ejections. MLB's problem isn't length of game, though. Watched a college football game lately? That's a 4+ hour commitment. Their issue is entertainment value, and if you can get two players to provide a small amount of joy and fun, I promise you, they won't care about those additional 120 seconds.

I just think ejections should be absolute last resort. Warn the coaches next. I guarantee if you threaten to eject the manager, those guys would have been back in the dugouts immediately.

Ejecting guys for this doesn't do umpires any favors.

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, NateWalter said:

No one is trying to "assert dominance"... it's just a dumb game. It's mutually fun for all parties involved, except the umpires.

Aside from crotchety old men, I don't think there's a fan in the stands or anyone watching at home that thinks, "thank God the umpires ended their fun so the game won't start 2 minutes late!"

As a crochety old man, umpire, and a fan watching at home I don't care if the game started 2 minutes late. I do care that 2 stupid ignorant unaware players think that a "fun" event should be connected to the Anthem. Pulling this BS doesn't do those players any favors.

[GreyhoundAggie]

My biggest complaint is that High Schoolers and lower level players watch this, think its funny or accepted, and then try it at our games where it is expressly forbidden.

And then we as umpires are the bad guys for enforcing the rules. Just play baseball.

[beerguy55]

2 hours ago, NateWalter said:

No one is trying to "assert dominance"... it's just a dumb game. It's mutually fun for all parties involved, except the umpires.

Aside from crotchety old men, I don't think there's a fan in the stands or anyone watching at home that thinks, "thank God the umpires ended their fun so the game won't start 2 minutes late!"

 

1 hour ago, NateWalter said:

For starters, if it's going on for an additional 5 minutes, I'd have no problem with the ejections. MLB's problem isn't length of game, though. Watched a college football game lately? That's a 4+ hour commitment. Their issue is entertainment value, and if you can get two players to provide a small amount of joy and fun, I promise you, they won't care about those additional 120 seconds.

I just think ejections should be absolute last resort. Warn the coaches next. I guarantee if you threaten to eject the manager, those guys would have been back in the dugouts immediately.

Ejecting guys for this doesn't do umpires any favors.

I couldn't care less if the game started 45 minutes late (but I'm willing to bet most of those fans would)...

It's not only a silly game, but tying it to the anthem is in inappropriate and hypocritical...you know, that same sacred anthem where the guy who dared take a knee never played a pro football game again, and these asshats are playing a standoff game using the anthem as a backdrop?

How about this - how about these "professional" people not put the umpires in this position to begin with?  How about they respect the umpires, the game, and the anthem, and just sit their asses back in the dugout and not make themselves the center of attention.

Yeah, I agree, eject the managers instead (or too)...that would certainly solve the problem rather than ejecting two players who weren't going to play that day anyway...but again, why do you need to put that on the umpire's lap?  Do I eject them now?  Wait 5 minutes?  10 minutes?  At what point will NateWalter not think I'm the bad guy here.

Making the umpire even have to consider that decision, or how to get the game going, reflects poorly on literally everybody on that field EXCEPT the umpires.

[dumbdumb]

1 hour ago, Jimurray said:

As a crochety old man, umpire, and a fan watching at home I don't care if the game started 2 minutes late. I do care that 2 stupid ignorant unaware players think that a "fun" event should be connected to the Anthem. Pulling this BS doesn't do those players any favors.

does this still hold for the collegiate level like this post from johnnyg08 in 2014 or has it changed. doesn't the NCAA want to put the hammer down on this display.

 

in my email this morning:

National Anthem Standoff:

Any umpire shall eject any player, coach, manager or trainer for violations of the Coaches & Players Code of Ethics, p. 10. Conferences may choose to implement additional penalties (see Appendix D) The UIC is to warn the head coach of the offending team that should any player not return to his dugout area immediately after the playing of the National Anthem, the head coach and player(s) will be ejected immediately.

 

 

 

 

[NateWalter]

14 minutes ago, beerguy55 said:

I couldn't care less if the game started 45 minutes late (but I'm willing to bet most of those fans would)...

It's not only a silly game, but tying it to the anthem is in inappropriate and hypocritical...you know, that same sacred anthem where the guy who dared take a knee never played a pro football game again, and these asshats are playing a standoff game using the anthem as a backdrop?

How about this - how about these "professional" people not put the umpires in this position to begin with?  How about they respect the umpires, the game, and the anthem, and just sit their asses back in the dugout and not make themselves the center of attention.

How's it hypocritical? Have either players involved made comments about the anthem (one is Canadian, FWIW) and how players ought to conduct themselves during it?

I'm not going to waste my time arguing how one should or shouldn't use the anthem, although I'd contend that as an umpire, if you're even considering one's conduct during the anthem when thinking about punishing them, you are unfit for the role. Period. Point blank. I've umpired games where a player has taken a knee during the anthem. That's their right.

As far as officiating, warn the managers first. You saw them standing there during the pregame meeting. That's your chance to let the managers handle it.

[Velho]

3 hours ago, NateWalter said:

I just think ejections should be absolute last resort. Warn the coaches next. I guarantee if you threaten to eject the manager, those guys would have been back in the dugouts immediately.

Ejecting guys for this doesn't do umpires any favors.

100% agree