Cardinals manager Mike Shildt gets ejected after his batter isnt granted time, a breakdown
What Happened
In a late June 2019 game, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt got tossed over a misunderstanding rooted in a denied time-out request. His batter, David Freese, asked for time, didn't get it granted, and stepped out of the box anyway, taking a called strike. When Freese protested to the umpire, the ump responded with a dismissive hand gesture. Shildt charged out not to argue the time call but to defend his player against the gesture, and the whole confrontation spiraled because the umpire thought Shildt was mad about something completely different.
Why This Matters
Umpires aren't obligated to grant a batter's time request, especially once a pitcher has started his motion, so the ump was technically within his rights to make Freese stand in. That part Shildt accepted. His issue was the body language afterward, the show-up gesture aimed at his hitter who had walked away quietly. The hot mics turn this into a comedy of crossed wires: the ump keeps defending the time call while Shildt keeps saying he doesn't care about the time. Both men talk past each other until the ejection lands. For a first-year manager, moments like this matter because players notice who has their back. Shildt's 2019 club eventually won the NL Central, and clips of him backing his guys became part of his reputation as a players' manager.
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Key Moments
Who / What Is Involved
Players: Mike Shildt. Teams: Cardinals.
Key Terms Mentioned
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentCardinals manager Mike Shildt got
ejected a couple games ago all because
of this classic misunderstanding and
annoyance and the batter asks for time
on the old one doesn't get it granted
but walks out of the box anyway Freese
strike now he looks at the UMP and says
come on man I asked for time UMP does
that which manager does not like that
the UMP just made that hand gesture at
him that's the cause of controversy here
the umpire thinks the manager is mad
about the time he's not he's mad about
the hand gesture and we have some hot
mics and you can hear the UMP yelling
here my opinion I think that's that's
fine he doesn't have to grant time it
was kind of late you don't want to mess
up the pitcher but that's not what
shilts mad at this is what he's mad at
hey don't talk [ __ ] to my guy he didn't
say [ __ ] to you you talk [ __ ] to my
player knock it off none other word
another word you're out of here
[ __ ] take my hat off make myself look
more intense I'm gonna take mine now I'm
gonna leave it on he didn't say [ __ ] to
you he just [ __ ] asked for time he
what I didn't say anything you're the
one screaming at me as he's pitching the
ball you asked for time that's fine but
you can't show the hitter up that's my
whole [ __ ] problem
so confused here he's like wait what's
your problem you're not upset about time
what do you mean I was showing him up
it's telling him you made that hand
gesture I didn't like you he showed me
up no I didn't stand there and show him
up no no no no no no no no no no no no
no that's the whole miscommunication
he's like I don't care if you don't
grant them time but don't make gestures
at my guys like that when they calmly
walk away and just say their peace with
you my guy didn't say a [ __ ] word
walked [ __ ] away from him don't talk
[ __ ] to my [ __ ] guys there you go
managers got his team's back go to
coverage gear calm use discount code
breakdown and get you 10% off a hat of
your choice they got football baseball
and some other sports it's okay I got
your back I got your back I had your
back so good