Yankees manager Aaron Boone earned his first ejection of 2021 on Monday night, getting tossed in the eighth inning of the team’s 4-2 loss to Baltimore for arguing after apparently being late in making the call for a video review.
With the bases loaded and two out in the eighth and the Yankees down 4-1, Gio Urshela rapped a single into left field; Clint Frazier scored from third on the play, but as DJ LeMahieu headed home, Orioles left fielder Austin Hays threw to third instead, where Maikel Franco made a tag on Aaron Judge as he slid into the bag in an evasive manner.
Umpires ruled that LeMahieu’s run did not score, and according to Boone, first base umpire Greg Gibson told him that he was too late to challenge the overall play – despite there being two plays to look at – and he was ejected when he came out of the dugout.
“Greg came down from first and apparently said we didn’t have any time left when I went to challenge, so they didn’t let us challenge,” Boone said. “It was too quick, and I just felt like it was kind of bullying, frankly.”
Boone was waiting to hear from bench coach Carlos Mendoza what was being seen in the replay room by video coordinator Brett Weber, and apparently, waited too long on a play he ultimately knows he would’ve challenged.
“Ultimately I would’ve challenged, but I wanted to let Webby review because we knew we had two plays to review there,” Boone said. “I was watching Mendy, so ultimately, if there’s any indecision there, I’m going to go to that (the headphones motion).
Boone also said “I didn’t hear him say now” about Gibson calling time on the review window, which he felt was too quick.
“I must’ve been looking at Mendy on the phone, because it seemed so early to me. It was very quick,” Boone said. “Usually I have a good rhythm where I’m looking at Mendy and holding them off, but apparently he said something, and when I went to turn and challenge, it was too late.”
Boone didn’t think based on a quick initial look at the play after the game that Judge would have been called safe, but wishes he had the chance to at least see if the run should have counted.
“Very frustrating. I’m going to challenge that at that point all day long, but I want to give them a chance to see both just in case it’s a total moot point,” the skipper said.
However, he doesn’t fault Judge for trying to take the extra base there to set up what could’ve been the tying run on third with two outs.
“Obviously you don’t want to make the last out at third base as a general rule, but a first-and-third scenario is a little more advantageous than a first and second situation, so you don’t want to be totally non-aggressive,” Boone said. “We know Hays has a good arm, and he made a good play.”
LeMahieu didn’t see the play in real time as he was running home, but after the game, would only say that “from the replay it looked like a bang-bang play.”
Judge, meanwhile, said “I thought I was in 100 percent,” but that “I gotta play a little smarter baseball there."
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