As Jesse Winker proved Saturday night, there are still some gaping loopholes in pitch clock enforcement that need to be addressed.
But it doesn’t do any good to discuss those points in the middle of a game, as Winker did, earning an ejection after one of the most mild-mannered player-umpire “arguments” ever seen.
The Milwaukee Brewers slugger stepped in to face Tampa Bay Rays reliever Ryan Thompson in the eighth inning. With eight seconds left on the pitch clock, Winker was not ready to face the pitcher, per the new rule.
However, Thompson was standing several feet behind the pitching rubber at the time, not nearly ready to pitch.
That didn’t matter to home plate umpire Adam Hamari, who rang up a called strike one on Winker for violating the pitch timer.
After Winker struck out a few pitches later on a called third strike, he turned to Hamari to argue the timer violation and was immediately ejected.
Jesse Winker was given an automatic strike for not being in the batter's box even though Ryan Thompson was not on the mound
He struck out and was ejected after the at-bat pic.twitter.com/7pV2IDDRLo
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 20, 2023
Actually, to say Winker argued is an exaggeration. He may not have even looked sternly at Hamari. The scene seemed so peaceful. Even Hamari’s ejection motion seemed weirdly subdued.
No matter. Winker got an ejection, and the generally popular pitch clock revealed another glitch that needs to be fixed.
MLB fans on Twitter found both the call and ejection bizarre.
Weirdest ejection in MLB history? Both guys were, the ejection was calm, and Jesse Winker was called after getting tossed.😂#Brewers | #ThisIsMyCrew
pic.twitter.com/lk0cTDHgJt— Depressed New York Fan (@JudgeEnjoyer) May 20, 2023
It’s stupid and I don’t like it, but I’m combing over the rule right now, and there isn’t anything in there that explicitly says the pitcher has to be ready at that mark. Seems like an oversight that’ll be adjusted, but as written, they might have been right?
— extremely pleasant mail delivery guy (@dumbmailguy) May 21, 2023
The batter is subject to his end of the clock rule, the pitcher to his. Both were under the clock at the time.
— El Coyote (@kbo_coyote) May 21, 2023
Batter has one job. Be ready at 8 seconds. Don’t worry about the pitcher. Don’t worry about the catcher. Don’t worry about the umpire. Just be ready. How hard is that?
— Blue 🇨🇦 (@deadpull_hitter) May 21, 2023
He shouldn’t have to be ready at 8 seconds if the pitcher is off the rubber AND the pitching coach is heading to the mound. Come on.
— Badger Steve 🧀🍺🦌 (@UW_Steve) May 21, 2023
This is the rule? Not sure where the confusion is. If the pitcher isn’t ready to pitch by the end of the clock then that is his problem and the batter will get a ball.
— Tom Cassidy (@tcassidy2) May 21, 2023
[Jomboy Media, Photo Credit: FS1]
