Prior to Wednesday’s game, the MLB commissioner’s office held a conference call with both Buck Showalter & John Farrell, and the GMs of both teams, to issue a warning to both. So basically, saying both the Orioles & Red Sox need to cut the crap or suspensions and/or fines will be levied.
I told y’all to hold onto your butts, didn’t I?
So fast forward to the top of the 2nd inning. Kevin Gausman hasn’t allowed a hit yet & Xander Bogaerts gets hit on the hip. HE WAS HIT WITH A 77-mph CURVEBALL.
Do I need to remind everybody that Gausman throws a 98-mph fastball?
More importantly, do I need to remind home plate umpire Sam Holbrook that Gausman throws a 98-mph fastball?
The second Gausman hit Bogaerts, Caleb Joseph’s reacted the way we all did – by hanging his head in a “ugh, here we go” gesture.
And then Holbrook immediately ejected Gausman, which was his first career ejection, throwing Joseph into a rage I’ve never seen come from him before. The benches didn’t clear but Joseph, Gausman & Buck sure as hell had some choice words for Holbrook.
It seemed as if the majority of both Orioles & Red Sox fans, commentators & beat writers were all shocked that Holbrook immediately threw out Gausman with no warning. Let’s be honest: intentionally hitting a guy with a 77-mph curveball is a joke. Throw in that Gausman surely knew damn well that a suspension would be in order were he to throw at somebody, and it’s impossible to not take his side.
Unless you’re a Red Sox fan, of course. Not even their announcers were buying it.
https://twitter.com/TestudoDave/status/859925855627247616
#O's have right to be livid after 3 different Bos Ps have been throwing at Machado purposefully then Gausman accidentally HPB gets ejected
— Jim Bowden⭐️ (@JimBowdenGM) May 3, 2017
The umpires in this Red Sox-Orioles series have handled this whole state of affairs so awfully. Just a comically bad ejection there.
— Jon Tayler, Top 0.1% On OnlyJons (@JATayler) May 3, 2017
The Eck: "If I'm Sam Holbrook, I'm embarrassed right now."
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) May 3, 2017
As if Holbrook wasn’t already the joke of the game, he then decides to throw out Adam Jones later on. It all stemmed from a high second strike being called, which was obviously questionable, and which Holbrook took his sweet time to call.
Jones then struck out as he swung at the third strike. As AJ was walking back to the dugout, he obviously wasn’t happy about that second strike being called. We don’t know what he said, but Jones never once got in Holbrook’s face about that call but yet, he was still ejected. This was also AJ’s first career ejection.
At this point of the series & game, everything is a complete joke.
I’ll say it again: I’m not a homer & will fully admit when one of our players is wrong but I think I can speak for others when I say that this whole series & feud with the Red Sox has been a complete joke. Now let’s add the umps being a complete joke too. I mean, I’ve even been told by Red Sox fans that they didn’t agree with these ejections.
I would love to split the series & end it in the win column, but let’s be honest: I’m pretty much checked out. Like Caleb Joseph, I can’t wait to get the hell out of Boston.
