Nicholas Castellanos and David Bell got ejected in the first inning for arguing balls and strikes. It was another brutal ump show display.
Castellanos was right to argue, as the ball was clearly off the plate and completely changed the outcome of the at-bat. However, home plate umpire Sean Barber was having none of it, and ejected Castellanos before he could hit a deep fly ball to left field and ruin a commentator’s on-air apology in the process.
David Bell, who rightfully went out to defend his star slugger, was also given the boot.
While umpires don’t make time for arguing, neither Castellanos nor Bell necessarily “went off” at Barber. If anything, it was a civil conversation that should’ve ended with a light hand.
Instead, Barber did this:
Also, if you’re going to eject two people, at least put a little effort behind it.
Cincinnati Reds locked in NL Wild Card race, ejections come at bad time
The Reds don’t need this right now.
Battling perhaps another NL Wild Card contender in the Phillies (should they fall too far out of first in the NL East), Barber has taken away one of their best players for the entirety of a head-to-head matchup. What’s the fun in that?
The Reds are 2.5 games back of the San Diego Padres for the second Wild Card spot, and 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies, who are tied with the Braves for first in the East. Every game looms large, especially this one.
Bell and the Reds are right to be mad.