Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer completely lost his mind after the home plate umpire did not see him get hit by a pitch, and a replay review let the call stand, during Tuesday night's game in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.
It happened in the top of the seventh with one out and nobody on with the Blue Jays leading 5-0. On the 1-2 pitch, Angels reliever Kenny Rosenberg threw an 84 mph cutter low and inside that hit Springer on the right foot. Springer was ready to walk to first base when home plate umpire Manny Gonzales called the pitch a ball, possibly thinking the ball bounced before hitting Springer's foot.
Springer immediately signaled to manager John Schneider to ask for a replay. Although the replay appeared to show Springer get hit in the toe on the right foot, the call stood after the replay review. The call was not appealable, and the Blue Jays lost their challenge for the rest of the game.
Springer was understandably agitated and pleaded with Gonzales to no avail. As Schneider came out to argue on Springer's behalf, Gonzales ejected Springer, which made him even more angry. Not only did Schneider have to step in between Springer and Gonzales to separate them, but Vladimir Guererro Jr. had to pull Springer away and hold him back from getting back into Gonzales' face.
George Springer absolutely LOSES IT and gets ejected after review says he wasn’t hit by the pitch pic.twitter.com/3R4dRjpwh8
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 14, 2024
We don't blame Springer for being upset about the missed call, although we would like to know what was apparently said by Gonzales that caused him to blow his top. Springer was completely livid.
We saw a recent incident where an umpire reversed an HBP call which led to an ejection. The umpires need to get these calls right.
Addison Barger had to come into the game to finish Springer's at-bat and popped out to third. Barger took Springer's spot in right field for the rest of the game.
In the end, the ejection of Springer had no impact on the end result. The Blue Jays beat the Angels 6-1, but are still in last place in the American League East.
Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.
