Adrian Beltre moves on-deck circle, gets ejected (Video)
In an another unfortunate display by an umpire, Adrian Beltre got ejected Wednesday night for a trivial offense.
In the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday night, the Texas Rangers were trailing the Miami Marlins 18-6. Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre was on deck, with Nomar Mazara at the plate, and he was visible at times from the center field television camera.
The on-deck circle is more of a suggestion than anything, as long as players don’t stray too far from it. It’s not even a sort of permanent chalk outline in every major league ballpark, including Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
Beltre’s position could have, in theory, been a distraction to the opposing pitcher as he tried to focus on the hitter. But when apparently directed by umpire Gerry Davis to stand in the on-deck circle, Beltre simply moved it to where he already was in an effort to comply. That, however, did not fly with Davis.
Adrian Beltre was told to move into the on-deck circle, so he moved the on-deck circle over to him and was ejected for it pic.twitter.com/PfYIxlFkCo
— bird hating account (@atf13atf) July 27, 2017
This is an all-time sports GIF pic.twitter.com/D6L991talO
— bird hating account (@atf13atf) July 27, 2017
Practically before the on-deck circle pad hit the ground in its new spot, Davis ejected Beltre for a perceived transgression. A collection of bats, weighted doughnuts and other assorted hitter-related stuff is easily seen on the pad, so Beltre would have at best been standing closely next to it in its original place.
Former Rangers’ shortstop Michael Young, who of course shared a left side of the infield with Beltre for a time, tweeted support for his former teammate.
On deck circles are slippery. Nobody stands on them. Can't pick and choose when you enforce it. And if you do, don't pick a respected HOFer.
— Michael Young (@MikeyY626) July 27, 2017
It also seems Beltre did not move the on-deck circle all that far anyway, and there’s visual confirmation from a Marlins’ beat writer.
Adrian Beltre was ejected for dragging the on-deck circle after ump asked him to get in it. You can see how far he moved it. pic.twitter.com/EdthGPrLNC
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) July 27, 2017
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Major league umpires have a need to be a focal point far too often. Players and managers can’t really openly challenge them on the field anymore, without being ejected, so in this situation enforcing a trivial “rule” became a good idea. Beltre dismissed the notion he was trying to be funny or show up an umpire, but Davis chose to make an example of a future Hall of Famer who’s now four hits shy of 3,000 for his career.