Craig Counsell has been ejected twice over the last week, with both ejections coming during Saturday night games. Last weekend he was ejected for arguing with Adam Beck after time was not granted to Willy Adames. Most recently he was tossed by David Rackley after he blatantly missed a third mound disengagement from San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb.
This sequence of events came during the fourth inning. With Willy Adames on first base and Rowdy Tellez up to bat, Alex Cobb stepped on the rubber. Before throwing a pitch he disengaged by stepping off, home plate umpire David Rackley gave the signal for a disengagement, and then the Giants catcher called time and went out for a mound visit.
Over the course of a few more pitches Alex Cobb threw over to first base on two separate occasions to check on Willy Adames. Two throws over to first base in addition to the initial disengagement means that if the runner is not tagged out on the third disengagement then a balk is called. Initially the first base umpire made this call by holding up three fingers.
How many fingers is he holding up? 🤔🤔🤔#ThisIsMyCrew | #MLB pic.twitter.com/so7ccG2eew
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) May 7, 2023
Even though home plate umpire David Rackley clearly signaled for a disengagement prior to the catcher calling for a mound visit earlier in the at-bat, he decided that the disengagement rule had not been broken. This is what prompted Craig Counsell to come out of the dugout.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell gets furious with umpire David Rackley after a blatantly missed third disengagement.
The umpiring crew decided that three disengagements did not occur and no balk was called. This clearly upset Craig Counsell, who continued to argue well after being ejected.
Craig Counsell has been ejected in the 4th inning.#ThisIsMyCrew | #Brewers pic.twitter.com/ILslQsLsKY
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) May 7, 2023
This is an all-timer from Brewers manager Craig Counsell:
“He fu–ked up? … You’re saying he f–ked up? … You f–ked up!” pic.twitter.com/3xHJ05Flm0
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) May 7, 2023
With cameras everywhere, there is no denying that Alex Cobb was awarded three disengagements during this sequence of events. If David Rackley decided to take away the first disengagement and call it a mound visit instead then it’s on him to communicate that between his fellow umpires as well as the players and coaches.
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1 Comment
Check the rules, “Mound visits, injury timeouts and offensive team timeouts do not count as a disengagement.” Therefore, the first disengagement indicated by the home plate umpire didn’t count and the 2nd throw to first was only the 2nd disengagement.