It Takes Such A Big, Strong Man Like MLB Umpire Willie Traynor To Eject Jesus Luzardo From A Game After He's Already Been Pulled
You can't quit because you're FIRED!
When is a pitcher technically out of a game? Is it the moment he hands the ball over to the manager after getting pulled? Is it when he gets to the dugout? Is it once the pitcher coming in relief throws his first pitch? Not that it really changes anything that happens here, but I'd love to know what the technical delineation of Jesus Luzardo's exit goes down as. Was he ejected before he was fully pulled from the game, or was he pulled from the game before he was ejected?
Either way, here we have another prime example of baseball umpires being the biggest bitches in sports. They are all a bunch of dudes who get off on power trips, but are too soft to become cops. Luzardo's night is already over, but this umpire can't resist a perfect opportunity to toss a guy from the game. Home plate ump Willie Traynor already fucked Luzardo over all night right from the jump, so you'd think he'd be willing to let this one slide. Just look at how far he shoved his fist up Luzardo's ass on Juan Soto's first at-bat of the game.
You want to give Juan Soto a late timeout call? Fine. I get it. Luzardo has every right to be pissed off about it, but whatever. It's far from the most egregious thing to happen during that at-bat. Because if you're going to let him call a late timeout, you can't also give him 3 free calls. Luzardo threw 7 strikes during that at-bat, and Soto still walks. So now instead of having 2 outs and getting out of the 1st inning 1-2-3 after Marte flies out in the next at-bat, Luzardo had to face 3 more batters.
Willie Traynor started off the night by declaring war against Jesus Luzardo. Maybe he'd have the common decency to just respect the ceasefire once Luzardo was pulled instead of firing off one last salvo with the ejection. But Willie Traynor would have never become an MLB umpire in the first place if he didn't have that insatiable desire to be a dickhead.
Oh, and the Phillies lost at Citi Field again last night. What a wild surprise! They get their shit rocked in the inning Luzardo comes out, blow the lead, Harrison Bader steps up to tie the game and give you a little hope that maybe this Phillies team can find a way to clutch up against the Mets. Then the 9th inning happens.
Sick! I'm sure they'll figure it out in October…