The Phillies will receive a formal warning letter from Major League Baseball in the wake of an unusual situation from Saturday’s game, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets. The league ruled that home plate umpire Jerry Layne was right to allow Phils reliever Hoby Milner some extra warm-up pitches after Milner was brought into the game seemingly without warning by manager Gabe Kapler, as Milner wasn’t even up in the bullpen. The Braves objected to Milner being allowed any warm-up pitches after being called into the game, yet Layne felt the extra time was necessary for the sake of Milner’s health. Kapler’s usage of his bullpen has already become a controversial subject in Philadelphia, as the Phillies used 21 pitchers over their first three games of the season. “Any time we have a miscommunication it’s my responsibility so I take full responsibility for it,” Kapler told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salibury and other media after the game.
Some more items from the NL East…
- The Braves are set to add both Anibal Sanchez and Carlos Perez to their 25-man roster for tomorrow’s game, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. Corresponding moves have yet to be determined, as Atlanta still isn’t certain whether Kurt Suzuki could require some DL time after he was hit in the hand with a pitch on Friday. Perez is out of options, so the newly-acquired catcher seemed likely to get an immediate placement on the MLB roster to avoid being exposed to waivers. Sanchez was signed to a minor league contract two weeks ago and will make $1MM for reaching the Braves’ big league roster.
- There could be quite a bit of roster-juggling for the Braves in the next couple of weeks, as MLB.com’s Mark Bowman details in a reader mailbag piece. Bowman actually wasn’t certain the team would go ahead with promoting Sanchez since the Braves don’t need a fifth starter until April 10, and there wasn’t any major need to use Sanchez out of the bullpen since the relievers weren’t overly taxed over Atlanta’s first three games. (Plus, the Braves are off today and on April 5.) Much will depend on Suzuki’s DL status or if Johan Camargo will be immediately activated when he is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 5, or if the Braves will give Camargo some time in the minors to get fully up to speed after missing three weeks.
- The Marlins will purchase the contract of right-hander Trevor Richards from Triple-A New Orleans tomorrow in time for Richards to start Monday’s game against the Red Sox. The 24-year-old Richards will be making his Major League debut. After going undrafted out of Drury University, Richards pitched in independent ball before signing with the Marlins in 2016 and has done nothing but impress in Miami’s farm system. Richards has a 2.52 ERA, 9.5 K/9, and 4.59 K/BB rate over 200 1/3 innings, starting 34 of his 38 career appearances as a Marlins prospect.
Gabe Kapler to Dusty Baker: Hold my beer.
It is not the umpires responsibility to make decisions based on the health of a player. They are there to make sure the games are played within the rules of the game. The umpire had no right to determine if the pitcher should or shouldn’t get more time. Rules State he has 2mins and 5sec to get ready..so now the next time it happens that team/player better get the same treatment.
So possibly ruin a guy’s arm because of a rule? Phillies will pay for the mistake
He would not have ruined his. He would have to throw soft enough until he was properly warmed up.
Saw this happen twice. Nolan Ryan was accidentally penciled in as starter when he had just pitched the earlier day. It wasn’t noticed until lineup cards were exchanged. He had to pitch to one batter.
Ryan came in wearing tennis shoes and got the first guy out on a SLOWBALL. Then walked off to a big ovation.
The other time was when Mattingly paid two visits to the mound with the same pitcher.
The reliever got out of it slowly and nicely.
Don’t assume someone’s going to get hurt. These are athletes.
Maybe you girls want to extend the netting behind the plate around the mound!
“Maybe you girls want to extend the netting. . . “
You insult people by calling them “girls”, greatdaysport? The twenty-first century called, wondering what’s taking you so long to catch up. No cheers for you.
You’re right. Let me get you a tissue
Feminism, learn it
“Let me get you a tissue.”
Why, I’m not crying I am laughing at you.
Agree- he should have been made to throw warm-up pitches with a batter in the box. They could have chosen to throw them outside, like they did in intentional walks. Yes it would have loaded the bases. or worse, but that’s the price you pay.
Real good way to Feign insult and avoid the point.
Maybe you should watch the Real Sports segment on HBO about people getting hit at ballparks
and you wouldn’t make stupid jokes about the netting around the ballparks ! It’s horrific !
Rules also state the umpire can grant extra time.
That’s actually not true. The umps can make decisions based on the health of the players. Just because it’s not “normal” doesn’t mean it’s not a rule. I like how you just tried to pretend to know the rule book and yet the experts have all said that the rules allow for this kind of thing. Basically, you don’t know what the hell youre talking about so shut the hell up.
Exactly, and I’m even a Braves fan…clearly..lol
I’m also an umpire..It is our duty to call balls and strikes, safes and outs. ALSO, it is our duty to maintain player safety, and make sure both teams play with integrity!!
I mean, who is it going to hurt to let a guy get FIVE warm-up pitches!?! The umpire did not allow him to get the normal amount of warm-ups, but gave him enough to make sure he wouldn’t injure himself…
People need to get a grip!!
The ONLY part I don’t agree with, is the fact the oroginal pitcher wasn’t removed due to injury..Which is Kapler’s fault. Therefore, I would have given him those 5 warm-ups, but the batter would have started with a 1-0 count..
That way, the pitcher gets his warm-ups, but the Phillies pay for their manager’s mistake..
The rule actually states, any extra warm-ups the pitcher throws, each extra pitch is a ball on the batter…A new pitcher is allowed 8 warm-ups…unless that pitcher is entering the game due to an injury…Then, that pitcher gets as many as he needs, within reason..
Still though, there’s no reason to punish this kid, and risk him suffering an injury, just because Kapler mismanaged the situation..
Also it was like 2 minutes and 35 seconds. Everyone’s acting like the ump gave him 10 minutes to warm up.
It was over 8 and a half minutes… He didn’t even leave the bullpen before the 2 minute mark
It was 8.5 minutes because Snitker came out and argued for 5 minutes, not because he was actually taking that long to warm up.
that’s not true at all
So what exactly were the Phillies warned for? Neither this article nor the source article actually specify. They recant what happened but they don’t explain what infraction constituted a warning from MLB.
You’re only allowed so much time to warm out on the mound. Milner was granted extra time. It doesn’t matter if he wasn’t warming in the bullpen.
Because they made a pitching change and didn’t have a reliever warning up.
Thus far, I am not a fan of Kapler. He is attempting to reinvent the wheel, but not in a Joe Maddon type of way- the chip kelly way.
Yea. He seems really lost out there. This is why I don’t like the idea of giving a guy a manager position when he hasn’t even done it in the minors (at least I don’t think he has).
I’m feeling this way about Boone in NY. He’s made two questionable decisions so far that each could’ve changed the games outcome (Betances throwing 2 innings & walking Donaldson)
Everybody would have walked Donaldson there you have a man on second and third one out in a 4-3 game. You walk the perennial mvp candidate donaldson to get to Smoak and possibly have a chance at a double play. Smoak was 0-5 with 2 k va DRob and Donaldson was 3-8 with 2 hrs. What is the better matchup?
The betances one I agree was not a great decision it’s already hard enough for him to finish one inning clean nonetheless two
Kepler managed for one year in Class A a decade ago and was a coach for a couple more years. His Wiki page (before it gets altered) calls him Outfielder/worst manager alive!
More disturbing was the fact that he seemingly lied regarding whether Milner had been in the process of warming up. Any acknowledgment of blame or culpability that he has offered really seems disingenuous when taken together with the whole of his post-game comments.
He’s not going to last long if he keeps this up.
He’s keeping the bench warm for scoscia next year
The Cubs have apparently traded Daniel Camerena to the Yankees for a PTBNL or cash.
I know some people are committed to hating everything Kapler does and others are committed to defending everything he does…I don’t care either way….
Objectively speaking, he’s been horrendous.
Also, I don’t mind them letting him warm up a bit instead of forcing him to risk injury but no way should Snitker have been tossed when it was his team being wronged for Kapler’s mistake.
The umps told him to get off the field and he wouldn’t. That’s grounds for being tossed in any ump’s book.
Don’t get me wrong, if I was Snitker I’d have been flipping out too, but the rule clearly states that it’s at the umpire’s discretion to allow extra time for a pitcher to warm up. The umpire’s discretion, not the opposing manager’s discretion.
Then why have a clock at all if when time expires it is not enforced?
The idea of Milner getting injured if he had no time to warmup is ridiculous especially when you see him in the ‘pen already getting some throws in while the call was being made. If he would have gotten shelled with everyone knowing he didn’t have enough time to warmup, then that’s on Kapler and he’d have a divided clubhouse his 3rd game in. Umps did not do their jobs and enforce the rules in this context and gave an uneven playing field for a team because a manager overlooked having his guys ready. It was Kapler’s mistake and his team should have been the one’s to bear the brunt of it, not him getting additional time. Thankfully, ATL continued the on-slaught and this didn’t determine the outcome of the game, but good on Snit.
There are rules, and then there’s also common sense..It is the job of the umpire to fill in the grey areas..
If the umpire deems the pitcher may be risking an injury, he can allow an extended warm-up time frame…
The Phillies should have started with a 1-0 count, for needing extra time, without there being an injury…But, the umpire erred on the side of caution, and good for him!!..
There is no need to risk that kid’s arm, because Kapler is a bonehead!! However, again, they should have received a penalty…Which typically is a ball on the batter for an extra warm-up pitch..A 1-0 or 2-0 count should have been rewarded to the Braves batter…
Those people who are just fans, and have access to a rulebook, won’t understand..Unless you’ve umpired, coached, or possibly played, I don’t expect someone to fully understand..Common sense isn’t so common these days…
So here’s my thing…let the kid warm up. Give the Braves a base runner. Situation over.
The pitching clock has nothing to do in that context or situation !
but ATL is undefeated (2-0) in games in which Snitker is ejected, so they really should look into making this a regular feature of Braves baseball.
I just cant see this situation ending well for the Phillies. I hope that management has the guts to admit that they really screwed up and make a change if this continues into Memorial Day. No established free agent is going to want to sign with them if this continues. Promote Wathan and maybe go after Girardi in the off-season
Boras: “The Phillies are offering you 400 million dollars over 12 years.”
Machado: “Wow, that’s an incredible offer and all, but obviously you are not remembering the third game of the season seven months ago in which Kapler had a miscommunication with his bullpen, are you?”
Boras: “Oh, right…sorry Manny, I forgot about that just like everyone else; I’ll find you a better contract with a team that doesn’t make mistakes”
this is NOT how the conversation is going to be played out, Steve. It has been 3 games, dude, so let’s turn it down a notch. Kapler hasn’t even been given a chance with the fickle philly fans; no matter what the guy does he is going to get roasted by easily the most ignorant fanbase in baseball. Dodgers got shutout two games in a row to start, they are not freaking out…Cubs, another playoff-bound team, struggled against the lowly Marlins in back-to-back games, and they are not freaking out…must be because they realize that sometimes you lose baseball games in embarrassing ways…but of course in Philly the world is coming to an end because the Phillies lost a series.
Boras represents Harper.
Good for the umpire allowing Milner to throw. At some point you got to realize that it’s better to keep players healthy rather than have a slight advantage.
And what if Milner would’ve came in and immediately plunked Freeman and broke his wrist again? Would Snitker still be making such a stink next time?
It’s better for the umps to keep players healthy than have a slight advantage??? Really? I thought umps enforce the rules keeping an even playing field to allow competition dictate the outcome of the game, without the obstruction of any advantages however slight they may be.
Maybe I’m in the minority, I don’t know. But I think reducing the risk of an injury is more important. I don’t think Milner should be punished because Kapler screwed up.
And I’m not 100% sure, but I think the umpire is supposed to do stuff like this to reduce the risk of injury at his discretion
So the Braves should be punished because the Phillies manager made a hasty call to the ‘pen when no one was ready? Makes real sense.
You’re assuming that Milner will get injured if he’s not warmed up. What about a momentum shift that could happen during the extended period of time (from the call to the ‘pen to next pitch)?
I think we’re talking in circles here, I just don’t think it’s the umps jobs to protect players indirectly like what you’re suggesting. Sure, if a player is throwing at a guy’s head, then they can intervene because those actions directly effect the players health, but nothing else. That’s the manager’s and coach’s jobs – to protect their players. If Kapler makes a boneheaded mistake, like he did, you allow the game to play out while enforcing the rules (penalizing the team for taking too long and letting the clock run out). How? I don’t know, but it’s the umps jobs to know. This scenario should have already played out, but it looks like MLB isn’t prepared for implementing new rules.
I get where you’re coming from and honestly this is such a rare occurrence that it doesn’t really matter. But how does it punish the Braves. Freeman gets cold waiting on deck?
Actually, you are supposed to go by rules. Pretty sure the Phillies manager was in the tanning bed when they went over that one about time limits on relievers being able to warm up.
Kapler should have been suspended 1 or 2 games. Completely ridiculous. I was a fool for even Looooking at tickets this season. Complete joke, not going to lure Harper or Machado here with this clown not even 40M per season. Myself and thousands others will drive him to the airport or bus station if needed.
Let’s be fair, Harper and Machado are only going to a team that wants to win now and build a dynasty. The truth is both Washington and Baltimore are better picks than Philly, with or without Kapler. Kapler made a major mistake but give him one free pass, especially in a game that was already lost.
Let me put it another way, I’m a Red Sox fan and I was grumbling about Cora keeping Kelly in during the opening day. But in the final game of the set he managed the pen well and Kelly rewarded the team with Cora’s faith.
We remember the bs but never the good moves, give Kapler a chance. He has another major screw up, then scream bloody murder.
Kapler hasn’t made a good move yet. And the Phil’s have positioned themselves financially to be able to afford both Machado and Harper next off season. Kapler threw 21 pitches out there in 28 innings. And when he threw in game 1 Milner said he wasn’t ready to go then either. Then, how do you bench your starting CF for opening day? He’s going off a week to 10 day script lineup like he’s Andy Ried in the first 10 to 15 plays of a nfl game. He was a player, but he seems to have no feel for the game. He didn’t do anything to win the 1 game the won, he just didn’t do as many things to lose it.
I don’t love Kapler’s moves either, but comparing him to Reid isn’t being fair to either of them. Andy was far more conventional, while Kapler is going for the opposite.
How is Baltimore a better pick than Philly for either winning in 2019 or a dynasty?
Harper
and Machado are going to the team that pays them the most money!
I think one of the reasons that people are going after the officiating in this situation is because they also decided not to charge the Phils with a challenge after they lost a replay challenge the other night on a tag play. Officiating is too uneven in all sports and it really can change the outcome of a game. Some of these umps really do act like the fans paid their money to see them.
The Phillies weren’t charged with a replay challenge because for some reason their review booth had gone out, while the Braves’ hadn’t, so they couldn’t request a crew chief review, but also couldn’t check it for themselves.
It was a questionable decision, to say the least, but it’s also pretty weird that in a brand new stadium, the home team’s review booth was just fine while the visitors’ was mysteriously out of commission due to a localized power outage.
The umpire made the correct decision. Kapler is analytics gone too far. Gabe, lift your head up and watch the game (and the bullpen).
Wow. So glad the Philthies hired Kapler. Stellar choice