Wotus ejected during lineup card exchange after heated conversation
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Tensions from the Giants’ 10-6 loss to the D-backs on Friday seem to have spilled over into Saturday’s split doubleheader at Oracle Park.
Senior advisor to the president of baseball operations Ron Wotus was ejected before Game 1 after getting into a heated conversation with crew chief Alan Porter during the lineup card exchange at home plate.
“I went up there and I had asked Alan a few things about last night's game,” Wotus said after the Giants fell to the D-backs, 7-1, in Game 1 on Saturday. “At one point, he didn't want to discuss it anymore, and I did. I was ejected, so that's what it was about.”
The contentious scene came one day after Porter tossed manager Tony Vitello and second-base umpire Roberto Ortiz ejected right-hander Logan Webb for arguing a pair of calls that played a pivotal role in the D-backs’ five-run rally in the third inning on Friday.
Rookie starter Blade Tidwell thought he struck out Lars Nootbaar on a 1-2 fastball, but Porter -- who was serving as the home-plate umpire on Friday -- called the pitch a ball, which wasn’t challenged by Giants catcher Andrew Knizner. Nootbaar doubled on the next pitch from Tidwell, setting up a two-run homer from Corbin Carroll that put the D-backs ahead, 3-2.
The Giants’ frustrations continued to mount when Nolan Arenado later pulled a chopper down the third-base line. The ball landed in foul territory, but third-base umpire Alex MacKay ruled it had traveled over the bag, which made it fair.
The call -- which was not eligible for review -- resulted in a double for Arenado, putting a pair of runners on with two outs for Tim Tawa. Tawa followed with a three-run blast off Tidwell, extending Arizona’s lead to 6-2.
Vitello and Webb both stuck up for Tidwell by voicing their displeasure with the calls at the end of the fateful inning. Vitello barked at Porter and extended his arms apart to show how far foul he believed Arenado’s double was, leading to his fifth career ejection and his second in three days. Webb was also tossed, the first such occurrence of his eight-year career.
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Vitello said afterward that Porter didn’t like that the first-year manager didn’t immediately step onto the field to argue the fair call on Arenado’s double and instead waited until the end of the inning to yell from the dugout. Vitello also noted that he “wasn’t trying to make it personal, but it got personal real quick.”
Vitello said Saturday that he had moved on, though Wotus’ ejection suggested that others in the organization still weren't over the events that transpired on Friday.
“You can’t change the past,” Vitello said. “I just want to win. I’d like to be involved in the dugout. If I make a mistake, then I’d rather sleep on that then not be involved in the party. I respect the way the guys competed after the way that went on. It’s over now, so move on. We’ve got quite the challenge ahead of us with two games.”
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Vitello also said he didn’t plan to change his approach despite having to deal with the same umpiring crew on Saturday.
“I think you might as well be authentic in who you are,” Vitello said.
Wotus, meanwhile, said he isn’t expecting to take the lineup card out for Game 2.
“I don’t think [bench coach Jayce Tingler] will give me the card,” Wotus said.