Chase Utley’s Game Reminded Me of the 1988 Mets
Once again, Major League Baseball showed its umpires are terrible:
That’s right. Noah Syndergaard got tossed for that. No warnings. Nothing. The umpire went from zero to ejection. Best part? It was a minor league umpire:
Adam Hamari, the ejector of Syndergaard, is listed as a "Minor League Call-Up Umpire" in MLB's 2016 Umpire Media Guide.
— Tim Heiman (@TimHeiman) May 29, 2016
Anytime you can have a minor league umpire behind home plate for a nationally televised game, you gave to do it, right? It’s always a good thing to have a minor league umpire effectively decide the outcome of a major league game. At least Terry Collins came out and got his money’s worth before getting ejected:
Retaliation? Noah Syndergaard threw behind Chase Utley & was ejected.
Terry Collins was livid & got tossed too.https://t.co/LqL4Qax0YS
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 29, 2016
Believe it or not the rest of the game ensued after that #umpshow.
It should come as no surprise that with an injured David Wright (didn’t start due to neck issues which may or may not be related to the spinal stenosis) and the Mets ace being ejected, the Mets were behind the eight ball. It’s not that Mets fans accept a loss, it’s just that they would’ve understood at least until Chase Utley homered off of Logan Verrett in the sixth to break the 0-0 tie.
He then hit a grand slam off of Hansel Robles the following inning after Antonio Bastardo loaded the bases with only one out to make it 6-0.
Now, normally, when you get buzzed, you’re uncomfortable at the plate. Not Utley. Why? BECAUSE THE UMPIRES PROTECTED UTLEY! Because the umpires announced the Mets were not allowed to pitch him inside lest they be ejected. It was a joke. But hey, he wasn’t suspended or even called out when he broke another player’s leg for a clearly illegal play:
The Mets lost 9-1. The entire night was ruined.
It was supposed to be a night when the fans celebrated the greatness of the 1986 Mets. It was supposed to be a night where we remembered their swagger and how they always won the battle whether we were referring to the game or the brawl. That wasn’t what happened tonight.
Instead, we were left with the same bitter taste in our mouths that we had in 1988.
The only thing that will make me angrier about the ejection and the final score will be when that hack Joe Torre suspends or fines Syndergaard.
Game Notes: The Mets had a funny take on the Thor pitch:
The ball gets away from @Noahsyndergaard, he is asked to leave. @lverrett4 will enter with one out in the 3rd. #Mets pic.twitter.com/SFmeM3hv5M
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 29, 2016