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After a volatile night with three O's ejected from tonight's 5-0 loss to Minnesota, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and Ty Wigginton talked about their ejections.
(Roch has posted comments from Juan Samuel, who was also tossed).
Kranitz was ejected after Wigginton's ejection for arguing a safe call at first base. Kranitz was tossed by home plate ump Bill Hohn.
"I didn't say anything," Kranitz said. "I sarcastically clapped in the way that the umpire, I guess Bill Hohn took offense to. Yeah you know I shouldn't have done that. It wasn't the right thing to do, but you know, you get frustrated. Especially when Kevin's been on the mound, crazy things have happened when he pitched. And he was on a pretty good roll on the time, it was reaction, shouldn't have happened. And you know, what are you going to do?
"Sure there's frustration. I think anytime you are not winning ball games, as many as we think we should be winning. Pavano had that game in hand obviously. That call didn't change the outcome of the game by any stretch of the imagination. It was just frustration on everybody's part. I think we're all tired of losing some ball games. And when something happens and it doesn't go our way, you say and do things you shouldn't do.
I was a little bit surprised with [the ejection.] Yeah, I am. I'm surprised."
I asked Kranitz if the ejections in some way could be a positive, to see himself, Wigginton and Samuel show the passion and fire that they did.
"Certainly. You know, we want to win. And we want to win bad ,and you could just see the competitiveness in Wiggy and how he went about it. It's also frustration too, which unfortunately, I should probably stop talking."
Wigginton was ejected by crew chief and first base umpire Gary Darling for arguing a play at first base where he felt he tagged J.J. Hardy out, yet the call was safe.
"I don't think they'll be anything other than a normal ejection. In baseball you've got the option of questioning a call, and he ejected me for questioning a call.
"You get the leadoff guy on and he goes first pitch and we get him hung out to dry. I felt he was out. Getting that leadoff guy out would be a big part in the game. You're four runs down, that's one swing of the bat and it's a tie ballgame.
"He said I missed him. I felt he was out. We're in last place, and anytime you're in last place there's a lot of frustration in the season. Obviously that's not where we wanted to be. Frustration is all part of the game. Let's come out tomorrow and win a ballgame."
Darling told me after the game that Wigginton did bump him in the chest and he will be filing a report on the play, presumably with the league office.
Wigginton was pretty fired up but said at no point was there any chance of the argument escalating out of control.
"I would never do anything that could get worse, I guess. You're arguing a call, he threw me out of the game, and I wanted to make sure he knew where I was coming from. He's a pro and I'm a pro and we'll go about our business tomorrow."
Here is a link to the story with the umpires post-game comments.
"I sarcastically clapped in the way that the umpire, I guess Bill Hohn took offense to."
Please... if Mr. Bill Hohn is so thin-skinned that he thinks a coach striking his hands together in a very common motion is grounds for dismissal from the game, then I think he should probably find a different profession. Maybe something where he and his fellow employees will actually be held accountable for their egregious mistakes.
Maybe they should suspend the entire team--forcing the Orioles to forfeit the remainder of the season. This would be the most merciful thing the fans can hope.
Steve-
Have you heard anything as far as Guthrie and Millwood? I'd like to get Britton up here and let him get his last 75 innings at the MLB level. Maybe he would come under and qualify for ROY next year.
Considering the O's I think have had more picks for ROY both of the last 2 seasons and neither one of them is even close to being that caliber.
Obviously, Millwood is going to be hard to get anything for, simply because he is terrible and having the worst season of his career.
ALso, I don't hate Markakis. He is my favorite Oriole. I just wish he was better and amongst the elite players in the league. He just isn't.
Look at Nick's numbers and compare them to Ichiro. Nick has a bit more pop, has a lower batting average, and seems less inclined to steal. Besides that, they really aren't very different. Would you knock Ichiro and say he isn't among the elite?
Anonymous
Your comment is stupid. Sorry but it is dumb. Ichiro is in the twilight of his career, going off the top of my head this is his what, 10th season with MLB with many more in Japan beforehand. Let me know how Nick is doing after 15 dominating years, I am sure he has no 260 hit seasons nor will he being to the hall of fame. Not many career 298 hitters with an average 15 of homeruns a season and no stolen bases seem to make it.
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Guys, we have to watch calling each other names. I know you are not calling the person stupid, but let's be careful and respectful. Thanks. - Steve.
Due to the blantcy of the errored call, I cannot see any justice is suspending Wigginton. Look for the spark that was the cause. The upire needs to admit is error and everyone go their way.
I do think the ups have to some degree been slackards with the O's this year. Oh well they are the worse team in mlb this year. What does it matter is f they lose or we blow a call. A little perverted laziness in doing their job
The Umps need to sharpen their game. The O's need to play better.
I'm siding with Anonymous on the Markakis-Ichiro comparison. I think while Nick hasn't reached league batting leader status yet, Ichiro is possibly the one OF he compares most closely too. The other poster didn't say Markakis is as good as Ichiro yet, nor did he make HOF claims, but the similarities are there between the two players. Nick has far and away been our most consistent player this year. He doesn't have the home run numbers that Jones has put up, but he also doesn't give away runs on defense either.
I would add to this that Markakis may not be as good a hitter over the duration but he is a better Right Fielder in terms of fielding his position. He belongs in the discussion of the best defensive right fielders in the game. His arm alone should put him in the conversation. The slight on Gold Gloves for him is much bigger than the slight on All Star appearances.