It is very important to follow social distancing guidelines, even during a manager-umpire argument.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton got into the first socially-distant argument of the MLB season between him and home plate umpire Jordan Baker during the third inning of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Shelton, in just his third game as Pirates manager, was barking at the umpires for ejecting pitcher Derek Holland from the left field stands – where pitchers who are not playing sit – moments earlier
Shelton jogged out to get his money’s worth, but in 2020 your money’s worth is not getting up into the face of the umpire and screaming in his face.
Instead, Shelton and Baker both masked up – Baker’s mask was broken so he had to hold it onto his face – as they approached each other and began having a heated conversation with some space between the two.
Managers and umpires staying six feet away from each other is part of MLB’s protocols during this pandemic-shortened season as they try to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19.
It wasn’t perfect social distancing, though.
Shelton may have gotten a little closer than six feet – and for a brief moment removed his mask to be heard – but there was definitely some restraint shown compared to the usually manager-umpire argument we are used to seeing, making for a unique moment in what is already an unusual baseball season.
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