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The Phillies and the Mets squared off on Tuesday, August 31st, but it wasn’t a fruitful day for the Phillies. While the game itself was mostly uneventful, it ended on a sour note for the Phillies and their manager, Joe Girardi. He was ejected from the game after the pitch clock wasn’t reset.
The pitch clock is one of the new rules that Major League Baseball implemented to speed up gameplay. For pitchers, it is a 15 or 20-second clock depending on the circumstances. The clock starts ticking as soon as the pitcher receives the ball back from the catcher or umpire. They must then begin their pitching motion before the clock runs out. If they fail to do so, a ball is called.
The Phillies were in the bottom of the ninth inning when the pitch clock came into play. José Alvarado threw a pitch to the Mets’ batter, J.D. Davis, but was distracted by something and never began his pitching motion. The umpire behind home plate, Tom Hallion, called a ball on Alvarado and stopped the clock.
The issue arose when the pitch clock was not reset after the ball call. This is meant to give the pitcher a fresh start. However, the clock continued to read “00:11,” which is confusing for the pitcher and umpire alike. Girardi, noticing the problem, approached the umpires to ask them to reset the clock.
This is where things went awry. The umpires initially refused Girardi’s request, citing concerns about the time and wanting to keep the game moving. Girardi, already visibly distressed, continued to argue with them, and as a result, was ejected from the game.
This was not the end of the controversy, though. After Girardi returned to the dugout, the umpires realized that the clock had not been reset and rectified the error. This allowed Alvarado to pitch again, but the situation had already escalated too much.
The Phillies ended up losing the game by one run, and the ejection of Girardi left fans wondering what could have happened if he had been allowed to continue managing. After the game, Girardi expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that he did not understand why the umpires would not reset the clock.
It is not the first time that the pitch clock has caused issues in a game. In August, the Brewers lost a game against the Reds after a similar incident with the pitch clock. The clock failed to reset after a ball was called, and the Brewers’ pitcher threw a pitch while the clock was still running. This resulted in a balk call and ultimately led to the Reds’ victory.
Overall, the pitch clock’s implementation has been met with mixed reactions from players, coaches, and fans alike. While it has successfully sped up gameplay, it has also led to these types of controversies and misunderstandings. It remains to be seen whether or not the rule will continue to be enforced in the future.
In conclusion, the Phillies’ game against the Mets ended in a sour note after Joe Girardi was ejected for arguing about the pitch clock not being reset. The situation highlights the challenges and controversies surrounding the rule and its implementation in Major League Baseball. While it has its benefits, it is clear that adjustments need to be made to ensure its proper use and avoid these types of incidents in the future.
