MLB Ejection 007 - Dan Merzel (1; John Schneider)

[Lindsay]

HP Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Blue Jays manager John Schneider (no stop balk call on pitcher Kevin Gausman; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Dodgers-#BlueJays game. With none out and one on, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman was called for a balk during delivery to Dodgers batter Alex Freeland, advancing baserunner R1 Hyseong Kim to second base. Replays indicate Gausman, pitching from Set Position, failed to come to a stop during his delivery, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 2-0. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

This is Dan Merzel (3)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(13): "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop."

This is the 7th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 7th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 7 Managers, 0 Coaches, 0 Players.

This is Toronto's 1st ejection of 2026, 1st in the AL East (BAL, BOS, TOR 1; NYY, TB 0).

This is John Schneider's 1st ejection since Sept 19, 2025 (Nestor Ceja; QOC = Y [Check Swing]).

This is Dan Merzel's 1st ejection since July 2, 2023 (Aaron Boone; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Toronto Blue Jays, 4/7/26 | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Schneider tossed arguing Merzel's balk call for Gausman running the stop sign

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[Mussgrass]

Why doesn't the manager get a suspension for that kind of tirade? No umpire should have to put up with someone inches from his face like that. I know I would not.

Why can't pitchers just come set without all the extra crap?

[wolfe_man]

22 minutes ago, Mussgrass said:

Why doesn't the manager get a suspension for that kind of tirade? No umpire should have to put up with someone inches from his face like that. 

I fully agree with this.  If someone did this type of stuff (getting all up in someone's face and spitting on them while yelling) in public, it would be considered assault.  I have no idea why we condone this type of behavior just because it happens to an umpire on a baseball field.  MLB needs to start holding people accountable so kids don't see it and think it's okay to do at their level also.

I believe there's an old saying, what we allow, we promote.  MLB would not promote this (but see all the videos getting tons of hits on the web?) but they certainly condone it.

[Velho]

2 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

3 hours ago, Mussgrass said:

Why doesn't the manager get a suspension for that kind of tirade? No umpire should have to put up with someone inches from his face like that. 

I fully agree with this.  If someone did this type of stuff (getting all up in someone's face and spitting on them while yelling) in public, it would be considered assault.  I have no idea why we condone this type of behavior just because it happens to an umpire on a baseball field. 

 

[dumbdumb]

how about getting this grief from the front office

https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2001/0726/1231378.html

or this from sandy alderson too

https://www.closecallsports.com/2019/03/mlb-rules-chair-wants-to-allow.html

[Velho]

20 minutes ago, dumbdumb said:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2001/0726/1231378.html

 😳

 

20 minutes ago, dumbdumb said:

https://www.closecallsports.com/2019/03/mlb-rules-chair-wants-to-allow.html

 😮

[The Man in Blue]

[The Man in Blue]

How can you tell an MLB manager from a Muppet?

 

If there is a hand up their ***, it is a Muppet.  If it is head up their ***, it is a manager.

[The Man in Blue]

8 hours ago, Mussgrass said:

Why can't pitchers just come set without all the extra crap?

 

I still contend the "up" on the bounce is a "motion that is naturally associated with his pitch"  (OBR) or a "movement of any part of the body such as he habitually uses in his delivery" (NFHS).

Until we collectively decide we are going to call this crap, though . . .