Matt Marton - USA Today Sports
Matt Marton - USA Today Sports

Cubs News: Javy Baez on ejection: "We're not animals"


by - Senior Editor -

Cubs second baseman Javier Baez and manager Joe Maddon got ejected at the end of the fifth inning of Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Cardinals for arguing a called-strike call on Baez. The umpire didn't like Baez showing him up by throwing his bat and his helmet after the call.

Home plate umpire Will Little rung up Baez without asking for an appeal with the first base umpire Ted Barrett on the difficult check swing call. Normally on the 50-50 call, umps will ask for help with his fellow ump that has a better view of the check swing.

Baez spoke with the media following the game about the incident with the umpire.

"I don't think I said anything to disrespect anything or anyone," Baez said. "It was a pretty close call. I only asked for him to check the umpire at first and he didn't say anything. I threw my helmet and he just threw me out from there. I mean, no reason. I guess for my helmet, but that doesn't have anything to do with him."

Baez understands that it was a difficult call but didn't think his ejection was warranted.

"We're all human. One way or the other, it was gonna be the wrong [call] for one of the teams. My message? We're not animals. Sometimes we ask where was a pitch or if it was a strike and it's not always offending them. I think we can talk things out. But I don't think there was anything there to be ejected."

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