San Francisco Giants Manager Gabe Kapler Suspended and Fined Following Ejection
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Giants Manager Gabe Kapler has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball (MLB) for his actions during Tuesday night’s game at Oracle Park. Kapler’s ejection and subsequent return to the dugout have proven to be costly.
Kapler expressed his envy towards viewers watching the game on TV during a press conference after his ejection. He acknowledged that the TV perspective offers a broader view of the game compared to what can be seen from the dugout. However, Kapler’s view from the dugout on Tuesday night led to consequences.
MLB announced the suspension and fine on Friday, specifying that Kapler had returned to the dugout following his fourth inning ejection. As a result, Kapler will miss Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves, with bench coach Kai Correa taking over managerial duties.
The incident occurred when Kapler confronted home plate umpire Chad Whitson after a missed call involving rookie Wade Meckler. Kapler yelled from the dugout before making his way to argue with Whitson on the field.
Despite the disruption caused by Kapler’s ejection, the Giants managed to win the game 7-0 after displaying a spirited performance. One notable highlight was Joc Pederson’s amusing slide at home plate.
When questioned about Pederson’s slide, Kapler mentioned that he watched it on TV from the batting cage and enjoyed observing the various shots capturing Pederson’s facial expressions. Kapler also acknowledged the energy displayed by the Giants following his ejection but admitted that he did not return to his office during the game.
Kapler jokingly stated, “I don’t remember if this is my first time watching the game in the cage or right behind the steps. We’ve got the cage up and running. It’s really interesting to see the location of the pitches and how effective our pitchers were through the game.”
The batting cage at Oracle Park is located just a few feet from the dugout, down a short set of steps. MLB has consistently enforced the rule that ejected managers are expected to watch the rest of the game from their office or another location within the clubhouse.
Kapler’s suspension serves as a reminder to managers across the league about adhering to MLB’s guidelines regarding ejections and post-ejection behavior.