San Francisco Giants Manager Gabe Kapler Suspended and Fined for Returning to Dugout After Ejection
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler has been handed a one-game suspension and fined for returning to the dugout area after being ejected during Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The decision was announced by Major League Baseball.
Kapler was ejected by home plate umpire Chad Whitson in the fourth inning for disputing a strike call. This marks Kapler’s second ejection this season and his seventh throughout his career. However, despite being ejected, Kapler returned to the dugout area and continued to watch the game on a monitor in the batting cage at the Giants’ home stadium, Oracle Park. He even engaged in conversations with players and coaches while still dressed in his uniform.
Addressing the situation, Kapler admitted his wrongdoing and acknowledged that he violated the spirit of the rule. He stated, “First, I violated the spirit of the rule, right? The spirit of the rule is the manager goes up the clubhouse, gets in street clothes, [and I] violated that being around the dugout area.” He further explained that he would serve his suspension by monitoring the game from the clubhouse, with the door shut to avoid any temptation to interfere.
Kapler’s suspension will take effect during Friday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Interim manager duties will be divided between bench coach Kai Correa and pitching coach Andrew Bailey for the duration of the game.
Taking responsibility for his actions, Kapler met with the team to apologize and remind them to stay focused on the upcoming game against Atlanta. The Giants currently hold a 64-57 record and sit 10.5 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Although they have lost eight of their last 11 games, they are still 1.5 games ahead in the wild card race.
The San Francisco Giants will have to navigate through Kapler’s absence as they continue to fight for a playoff spot. Despite their recent struggles, the team remains determined to maintain their competitive edge.
This report includes data from The Associated Press.