If You’re Going To Get Ejected…
With 130, Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox is second on the all-time list for most ejections.
He needs only two more to pass John McGraw, the infamously combustible hater of umpires who managed the New York Giants in the early part of the 20th century, for first place.
Interestingly enough, Cox is generally pretty even-keeled, and even when he gets ejected, doesn’t blow up like some other guys like Earl Weaver or Lou Piniella.
But the Braves’ players like it. It’s a sign that their manager has their back, and will stick up for them. Chipper Jones actually surmised that Cox intentionally gets thrown out 30-40% of the time.
I say all this as introduction to AA Greenville (MI) Braves manager Phillip Wellman’s ejection from Friday night. Maybe he’s trying to follow Cox’s example or is trying to show his parent club that he’s not afraid to get ejected either.
Either way, the video of Wellman is a must-see even for non-baseball fans (cough, Angela, cough) and one of the most ridiculous and humorous things I’ve ever seen.
I think the high point is when he crawls to the mound and throws the rosin bag at the home plate umpire like a grenade. 10 out of 10 for originality.
I’m not telling you my time though; those records are sealed.
7 comments:
That actually happened in Chattanooga, where I live. It's too bad I wasn't there to see it, since it's not everyday you see someone completely lose their mind in front of a thousand or so people.
I'm sure you're probably aware of this and not really thinking about it, but the Braves' AA affiliate now plays in Pearl, Mississippi, which is a suburb of Jackson (though it used to be in Greenville, SC). It's probably confusing because aside from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, all the Braves' affiliates are called the Braves as well. That's some real creativity.
John,
It’s too bad you missed the game. It might not have been as memorable as seeing Carlton Fisk’s game-winning home run in Game 6 of the ’75 Series, but it would’ve been a close second.
Thanks for straightening me out on the Pearl, MI issue.
My confusion almost certainly stems from the combination of me knowing:
1) The Braves’ AA team used to be in a place called Greenville.
2) The Braves’ AA team is currently located in the state of Mississippi.
3) There is a Greenville, Mississippi.
Uh, yes, that was strange.
That is why baseball will always be an inferior sport to football. Football doesn't need coaches to act like idiots to make it exciting...
Baseball doesn‘t need coaches to act like idiots to make it exciting either…just people who can appreciate the complexity of what is going on. :)
agreed, but you have to admit, the grenade throw was amazingly accurate and his low crawl wasnt too bad...he had to have some training. He was saving those up for a good occasion.
Justin,
Don’t get me wrong, the whole episode was outstanding.
I think it’s pretty clear though that at some point he went being really ticked off to realizing, “Hey, with a little creativity, I can make Sportscenter…”
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