It’s been a season of frustration for former Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello as he navigates his first season managing the San Francisco Giants. On July 22, he was ejected for the third time this year.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino slid into second base after hitting a double down the right-field line at Kauffman Stadium, but his momentum caused a stumble as he tried to stand up. Giants shortstop Willy Adames quickly tagged Pasquantino, claiming he came off the base.
To the Giants’ shock, second base umpire Mike Estabrook not only called him safe, but indicated that the play was dead because Pasquantino had been pushed off the bag by Adames.
Vitello was visibly frustrated after being told the play was not reviewable. After continuing to argue as he walked back to the dugout, he was ejected by third base umpire Lance Barrett.
“Obviously disagreed with the call,” Vitello told reporters postgame. “Just asked if it couldn’t be corrected. I don’t know what the response was, but I just said it was a big call.”
The visiting Giants entered the top of the seventh inning with a 3-0 lead but gave up five runs after the disputed call, resulting in their fifth straight loss, 5-4. Now at 42-60 on the year, San Francisco has the second-fewest wins in MLB, only one ahead of the last-place Rockies.
After Vitello was ejected by Barrett, he asked, “For what? Why?”
Barrett responded: “I told you twice to stop.”
“No curse words, if that’s what you’re getting at,” Vitello said when asked about the exchange. “All I said was ‘It’s a big call,’ twice. And, you know, he asked me to stop as I was walking back to the dugout.”
Landon Roupp, who was on the mound at the time, called it a “stupid call.” Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming took Vitello’s side after seeing the replay.
“That is absolutely ridiculous,” Flemming said on the broadcast. “That is one of the worst ones I’ve seen in a long time. If I were Tony Vitello I’d just be getting kicked out of the game because I’d lose my mind.”
Seconds later, Vitello’s day was over.
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @EmmettSiegel_
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