Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider had a major reaction to a call influenced by a minor-league foul pole on Sunday.
Schneider was ejected from the Blue Jays’ series finale against the Athletics after an animated reaction to a Davis Schneider foul ball that the manager felt should have been a home run.
With the Blue Jays trailing 4-0 at the Athletics’ temporary home, Sutter Health Park — previously used exclusively as the home of the triple-A Sacramento River Cats — Schneider skied a first-pitch cutter over the left-field foul pole.
It was called foul by the third-base umpire, complicated by the shortened length of the foul poles at the minor-league facility, making the true flight path of the ball difficult to discern.
After the call was upheld upon a crew chief review, John Schneider burst out of the Blue Jays dugout, visibly incensed by the decision. He was tossed from the game immediately.
Spectacularly, Davis Schneider pulled the very next pitch 439 feet over the same wall in left for a home run. There was no doubt it was fair the second time around.
Both third-base coach Carlos Febles and, eventually, associate manager DeMarlo Hale held John Schneider back as he attempted to make his way to the third-base umpire. Both coaches and all three umpires stood between Schneider as he directed his frustration at the umpire who made the initial call.
Schneider continued to express his dissatisfaction as he made his way to the visitors’ clubhouse beyond the left-field wall, seemingly gesturing that the ball was fair.
