Tony Vitello got tossed for the third time this season last night, adding another layer of absolute frustration to his first year managing the San Francisco Giants. They’re now spiraling with a 42-60 record, and what went down in Kansas City feels like the perfect gut-punch summary of their whole year.
A Call So Bad It Made Everyone See Red
It was the top of the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium, and the Giants were actually looking decent, holding onto a 3-0 lead. Then, chaos erupted. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino ripped a double down the right-field line and slid into second. As he tried to stand up, his momentum carried him off the bag. Giants shortstop Willy Adames was right there, quick as a flash, tagging him while he was off the base. Clear as day, right? Not to second base umpire Mike Estabrook. He called Pasquantino safe! But that’s not even the wildest part: Estabrook then indicated the play was dead because Adames had supposedly pushed Pasquantino off the base. Pushed him? Are you kidding me? Vitello, understandably, was fuming. He was told the play wasn’t reviewable, which only ratcheted up the frustration another ten notches.
“A Big Call” That Blew Up The Game
Vitello kept arguing as he walked back to the dugout, and that was it. Third base umpire Lance Barrett had enough and threw him out. Postgame, Vitello explained his side, saying he “obviously disagreed with the call,” and “just asked if it couldn’t be corrected.” He called it “a big call,” and he was right. When asked about the ejection, Vitello said he asked Barrett, “For what? Why?” Barrett’s response: “I told you twice to stop.” Vitello clarified he used “no curse words,” just repeated that it was “a big call” as he headed off the field.
You know it’s bad when even your own guys are speechless. Landon Roupp, who was on the mound when the whole mess went down, simply called it a “stupid call.” And Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming absolutely lost it on the replay. “That is absolutely ridiculous,” Flemming blasted on the air. “That is one of the worst ones I’ve seen in a long time. If I were Tony Vitello I’d just be getting kicked out of the game because I’d lose my mind.” Seconds later, Vitello was gone. The Giants then completely collapsed after that disputed call, giving up five runs and losing 5-4. It was their fifth straight loss, a brutal streak for a team already stuck at 42-60. They’ve got the second-fewest wins in all of MLB, only one ahead of the last-place Rockies. What a total mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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