Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol did not see the end of his team’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, getting ejected in the eighth inning. When the two teams met on Friday for the second game of the series, it was déjà vu.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Chicago’s Andrew Vaughn tied the game with a home run. With his next pitch, Tampa’s Zach Eflin hit Luis Robert. That prompted a brief meeting of the umpires, who ruled that both benches should be warned.
Grifol was not happy, voicing his displeasure from the dugout area. Home plate umpire Marvin Hudson put his hand up, trying to quiet Grifol but quickly threw the manager out of the game. That led to Grifol charging out of the dugout and while his argument with Grifol wasn’t long, it was intense.
Benches are warned in Chicago after Luis Robert is HBP. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol is not happy and gets tossed, prompting a brief but intense argument. pic.twitter.com/Vm1JPxI1u2
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 28, 2023
The argument got the attention of baseball fans.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol is the first manager to be ejected twice this season — and he did it on back to back nights. Understandable considering the fortunes of the team right now. Marvin Hudson tossed him in both games. He hadn't ejected anyone since June, 2021.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) April 28, 2023
I miss this part of baseball https://t.co/EgNcb6tieI
— king bull (@solid8fate) April 28, 2023
Pedro Grifol is the first 7-19 manager to have a nemesis. https://t.co/Sp4u5Ng5Fa
— Patrick Nolan (@SoxMach_pnoles) April 29, 2023
For the second time in as many days, Pedro Grifol has been ejected.
Things are simply really bad in Chicago right now… https://t.co/ueGlKYO0RN
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) April 28, 2023
Grifol might have been legitimately upset. One can make a case that the warning was either too harsh or too lenient. In either case, the White Sox wouldn’t be happy.
But it has also been a rough season on the South Side thus far. The White Sox entered Friday’s game at 7-19 and on an eight-game losing streak.
So, this argument could have been as much about trying to spark something in the team as it was arguing the ruling.
