Umpire Ramon DeJesus was on a power trip during the Rangers game against the Angels, ejecting three different Rangers including Marcus Semien.
Whether we’re talking soccer or hockey, a hat trick is an achievement worth celebrating. When it comes to an MLB umpire with a hat trick of ejections, all we can do is shake our heads.
Ramon DeJesus, who was serving as the first base umpire on Thursday as the Rangers battled the Angels, managed such a feat when he tossed Marcus Semien, Mike Maddux and Bruce Bochy in turn.
What was Semien’s crime? Arguing a check swing call made by DeJesus in the seventh inning.
DeJesus couldn’t handle Semien rather calmly claiming the call should have been ball four.
And it’s no wonder Semien was frustrated. The Rangers trailed 3-2 and had a man on third as Semien worked through his at-bat. He thought he’d earned the walk.
Instead of just understanding the second baseman’s frustrations, the umpire had to go ahead and escalate the situation until the Rangers pitching coach and manager were also tossed.
Umpires have a tough job. We get it. The call was close and the umpire didn’t want to be challenged. That’s just not a good enough reason to toss a guy who was arguing his case, not causing a ruckus.
After Semien got ejected, of course his coaches were going to come to his defense. So DeJesus’s quick trigger resulted in more drama than would have ever come his way if he’d just walked away.
This is the kind of thing that makes fans hate umpires.
Texas turned to Ezequiel Duran in place of Semien. They went on to lose the game 5-3 after Shohei Ohtani, who pitched six innings and gave up two earned runs, blasted a 443-foot home run in the eighth inning.