Even with robot umpires, MLB
managers will find reasons to argue and get ejected
[March 25, 2026]
By RONALD BLUM
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Cash isn't worried that manager ejections
will become a relic of baseball's past just because robot umpires
have arrived to settle some debates.
“You only get two challenges, right? That can come up in the first
inning,” the Tampa Bay Rays manager said.
Manager tantrums at umpires have long delighted fans: the Yankees’
Billy Martin kicking and throwing dirt on Dale Scott in 1988,
Cincinnati’s Lou Piniella heaving first base into right field in
anger at Dutch Rennert in 1990 and the Orioles' Earl Weaver going
face to face with Bill Haller in 1980, each profanely calling the
other a liar.
But Major League Baseball has given managers less to gripe about in
the past two decades. Video reviews began for home run calls in
August 2008 and were widely expanded to many decisions for the 2014
season. The Automated Ball-Strike System starts this year to allow
challenges to human strike zone calls, dubbed robot umpires.
“Manager ejections have been down for a while now because of the
replay system,” said Hall of Famer Jim Leyland, a three-time Manager
of the Year tossed 73 times over 22 seasons. “I really like the ABS.
I think it’s going to be great for the game.”
Last year, 61.5% of ejections among players, managers and coaches
(99 of 161) were related to ball/strike calls, according to MLB, up
slightly from 60.3% (114 of 189) in 2024. The figure included what
MLB counted as inappropriate comments and conduct, and throwing
equipment in protest.
“I’m in favor of anything that allows our technology to play in this
game," Cash said. "We have so much of it. Why not use it?”
Each team gets two challenges per game, and a club keeps its
challenge if successful. A team out of challenges gets an additional
one in each extra inning.
“You’re going to take out the argument of balls and strikes
initially,” Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “I think the
challenge is going to be after the challenges go away, how managers
are and what they do? But I do think that there is going to be
probably less general complaining about balls and strikes in the
early going.”
Aaron Boone of the Yankees has led or tied for the most ejections in
four straight seasons, and his nine in 2022 were the most since
Atlanta's Bobby Cox was tossed 10 times in 2007.
[to top of second column] |
In this Oct. 21, 1976, file photo, New York Yankees manager Billy
Martin argues a call with first base ump Bruce Froemming during the
fourth game of baseball's World Series against the Cincinnati Reds
at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo, File)
Cox was thrown out a record 162 times, followed by
John McGraw (121), Leo Durocher (100), Weaver (96), Tony La Russa
(93) and Bruce Bochy (89).
Cincinnati's Terry Francona, starting his 25th season in a big
league dugout, leads active managers with 54. Boone, beginning his
ninth season, is second with 46.
Boone is less concerned over whether his dugout dissents will
dwindle and more focused on keeping his players locked in if a
challenge goes against them. If an umpire calls strike three to
strand the bases loaded and the pitcher pumps a fist and bounds off
the mound, how will the pitcher quickly regain composure if ABS
reverses the call and forces a 3-2 offering?
“It's a whole new thing that pitchers have never dealt with. That’s
an emotional thing you’ve got to deal with,” Boone said. “That’s
something we’ve already addressed, same with the hitters to a lesser
degree: that reset. How do you clear the mechanism?"
Bobby Valentine, who managed three major league teams over 16
seasons, will be honored by the New York Mets this May with a
giveaway promotion commemorating one of his 44 ejections. After he
was tossed by Randy Marsh on June 9, 1999, Valentine returned to the
dugout with a fake mustache fashioned from eye black and sunglasses.
Valentine thinks players have evolved past the point where a manager
could spark his team with a histrionic argument.
“I found that by the end of my career that that was only
entertainment,” he said. "It didn’t fire anyone up except for my
wife, who was worried about the fine that I was going to get.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
