Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has been ejected in back-to-back contests. On Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, Counsell was tossed alongside Nico Hoerner for arguing a called strike. A day later, he was quickly ejected after pointing out that Phillies base runner Otto Kemp took a path inside the baseline that interfered with the play.
Craig Counsell has been ejected in back-to-back games
On Sunday, Counsell was tossed for defending Hoerner, who was upset over a called strike. Things got heated in this argument as the frustrations from the day boiled over. A day later, Counsell was seemingly tossed before getting more than a few words in to home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell has been ejected in back-to-back games
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In this instance, Counsell was arguing that Phillies runner Otto Kemp interfered with the play as he took an inside the base line path to first base. Counsell, who was ejected rather quickly, was told by Scherwater that Kemp’s path didn’t affect the play. He added that it’s a situation where if first baseman Michael Busch doesn’t catch the ball they call him out.
Cubs fans react to Criag Counsell’ second consecutive ejection
Following Counsell’s second consecutive ejection, fans on social media had several reactions. One fan wrote “Thanks for sticking up for your players. That was a bad call. Runner interference.”
Another wrote, “Can’t blame him (Counsell) these umps have been horrible lately,” in reference to thoughts not only on the game against the Phillies but the umpiring over the following weekend against the Tigers.
Lastly, fans acknowledged that Counsell’s ejection against the Phillies was rather quick, as a fan wrote, “Extreme sensitivity by the umps. Do they just throw dudes out for even walking up to them?”
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1 Comment
My hope is the league looks into this. Counsell’s two ejections have to get someone’s attention in the league’s office. The officiating in the Detroit game was so below acceptable, it literally changed the game by reshaping the strike zone, leaving the batters to figure out crazy place will be called a strike. To be fair, we all have seen players get upset at calls that were called correct. However, this umpire crew was unhinged and wanted no part of being second guessed on their mistakes. Nico asking the umpire if he had a bad day, or something similar, was in no way meriting ejection. Him and Counsell being tossed so quickly for that laughable comment is simply “thin skinned” on the part of the umpire crew. And no doubt the Cubs will run into this crew again.
The league office needs to intervene and assure that umpire crews are calling the game, not making the game’s outcome.