Blue Jays' Springer goes ballistic on umpire after ejection
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer was ejected from Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels in the seventh inning after a video review didn't overturn a non-hit-by-pitch call.
The ball appeared to hit Springer's right foot, and the four-time All-Star went off on home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez after he tossed him from the game for arguing the call.
"George isn't going to look into the dugout and say he got hit if he didn't get hit," manager John Schneider told reporters after the game. "It was pretty clear from our view that he did. Maybe there wasn't an angle in New York (that showed it).
"There's no need to throw George out there. He was kinda walking away and gathering himself. That was why I think he reacted the way he did."
Springer said the umpire did not say anything to set him off and that he was in shock because the replay review did not rule that he was hit by the pitch. Springer also said Gonzalez told him that he did not see if the ball made contact with his foot because his view was blocked by Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe.
"If you argue the call in that situation it's an automatic ejection. I get it. I know the rules," Springer said.
He added: "I just think I need to be better. There's kids in the stands, and kids watching, I can't get that angry. I don't want my sons to see me get that mad."
The Associated Press reported that replay official Adrian Johnson said he could not get a definitive angle that showed the ball striking Springer's foot.
The ejection was Springer's first of the season. He had a walk and a run scored in two at-bats before being tossed.