Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi could be coaching with his job on the line. Unnecessary ejections won’t help his cause.
Girardi was thrown out of Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners due to a close play at first base, in which Adam Frazier helped dislodge a ball from Rhys Hoskins’ glove.
Despite a diving stop by Jean Segura and an accurate throw to first base, Frazier swatted the ball out of Hoskins’ glove at the last moment. While it wasn’t quite A-Rod in the playoffs bad, or NBA S.W.A.T team bad, Frazier definitely got away with one.
Luis Torrens would score on the play.
Unfortunately, the play was not reviewable. A protest to crew chief Bill Miller was for naught, as he was ejected shortly thereafter. Miller was having none of it.
Could Phillies really fire Joe Girardi?
Fans wanted Girardi fired after the Phillies’ implosion while facing the New York Mets, in which they allowed seven ninth-inning runs. They had entered the inning with a six-run advantage.
Girardi’s bullpen management has been questionable at best for the last season-plus. This year, the front office made sure he had more to work with. The excuses are tired. Philly doesn’t have time for this from a baseball team loaded with offense and pitching.
Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler make for a dominant top of the rotation. Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber and Hoskins combine for a ton of power in the middle of the Phillies lineup.
Surely, that ought to be enough to make the playoffs in a crowded National League.
All eyes in Philly are on Girardi. Should they fail to reach the playoffs again, he will likely be the odd man out.