Cuban National team run the umpires off the field, a breakdown
What Happened
In the 2017 matchup between the Cuban national team and the Rockland Boulders, tensions boil over after a controversial call at second base. With the game on the line, Cuban runner Yoenis Cespedes slides into second base and the Rockland shortstop argues that Cespedes knocked the ball out of his hand. The home plate umpire initially rules Cespedes safe, but after a discussion with the other umpires, the call is overturned, much to the dismay of the Cuban team. Cuban manager Alexei Ramirez and player Machado immediately protest the decision, arguing that Cespedes was clearly safe. Umpire Gonzalez quickly ejects Ramirez and Machado for their outspoken objections. Cespedes, still standing on second base, begins kicking dirt at the umpire in frustration. The situation quickly escalates, with several Cuban players aggressively confronting the umpires and making physical contact. Fearing for their safety, the umpires decide to abandon the field, leading the Cuban national team to "run the umpires off the field." The Rockland Boulders players celebrate the controversial victory, while the Cuban team is escorted away from the stadium. Throughout the heated exchange, the umpires struggle to maintain control of the situation. The home plate umpire remains largely silent, while a younger umpire attempts to mediate the confrontation. However, the Cuban players' outrage over the overturned call proves too much to contain, leading to the dramatic conclusion. This incident highlights the high stakes and intense emotions that can arise during international baseball competitions. The Cuban national team, feeling that they have been wronged by the officiating, resort to physical intimidation in an effort to have the call overturned. The Rockland Boulders, on the other hand, celebrate the victory, secure in the knowledge that they have prevailed despite the heated on-field drama. Ultimately, of sportsmanship and respect for the umpires' authority overshadows the on-field action, leaving a lasting impression on all who witness this dramatic and contentious conclusion to the game.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentit's 2017 and the Cuban national team is
about to lose to the Rockland boulders
and that play ruled safe and short
stopper segment says he knocked it at my
hands he knocked it out of my hands it's
Cespedes his stepbrother or half-brother
is the Cuban runner here's another look
I don't think he knocked it out of his
hands he's clearly safe and then he kind
of braces up against him I don't think
there's direct it's not like a-rod and
Bronson Arroyo I think theis dude on
Rockland just loses the ball but they
convince the UMP that this runner
assessment has knocked it out of his
hand so the Rockland coach comes up and
he's like my players say he knocked it
have his hands I'm says no his foot was
on the bag before he caught the ball but
he didn't knock it to have his hands but
I'll go check and he does a lot of this
stuff he's doing a lot of hand motions
very expressive he's gonna go to his
other umpires and he's going to confer
which seems unnecessary because no one
had a better view than you so I zoomed
in here on the UMP because the head UMP
or the home plate UMP doesn't talk at
all he just kind of touches his mouth
and touches his chin making sure it's
still there there's a younger UMP big
looking dude young looking dude he's
talking one of them over rules this call
and I don't understand how or where they
would do that or why I don't understand
why you do that and neither does the
Cuban national team like you called him
safe you called him safe what's he got
to do with he goes puppy-dog crooked
head look at him very sad and he's just
like that's horrible you called him safe
you called him safe what's he got to do
with it because he thinks the home plate
umpire overruled it maybe but he didn't
anyway it's about to get pretty crazy
because the Cuban national team is upset
and they're gonna put on a show so
Machado comes out and says he is safe
Gonzalez said something UMP right away
throws them out of the game because
they're still arguing Cespedes is still
in second base cuz he thinks he's safe
and now he's gonna kick dirt on him I
think he made contact nothing gets
running away from the dirt which is a
little funny cuz it's just dirt dude and
then they're gonna go after him look at
this little helmet that's contact
that's contact just scary man this guy's
getting ganged up on so I understand why
he's scared of the
[ __ ] it we're out we're out you guys
lost we're not even gonna let you finish
you're scaring us you're ganging up on
us they leave so yep I'm out crew and
then hit that's contact
that's contact that's contact that's
contact
that's contact ha just go let it go so a
lot contact was made with this um and he
made sure to put it in his memory bank
and just just say it you know a lot of
contact was made in case those guys
didn't know they're contacting him he
let it known they run away I don't blame
him for being scared or for running away
they basically got flanked on all sides
so much contact to unreal and they get
escorted out of the stadium the Cuban
team they get escorted away for a little
bit
Rockland they just do some high fives
because they've won great call and then
they high-five each other because it is
a game of sportsmanship after all