Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel on Sunday before a single pitch was thrown [1, 2].
The incident highlights the lingering tension between players and officials over controversial calls, specifically those that directly impact the score of a game.
Sale was tossed during the Braves' matchup against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium [1, 3]. The ejection occurred because Sale argued with Merzel regarding a balk call made during Saturday's game [3, 4]. That specific call from the previous day resulted in a run for the opposing team [2].
While the ejection happened before the game began, there is conflicting information regarding Sale's role in the Sunday contest. Some reports indicate Sale was not scheduled to pitch in the game when the incident occurred [5]. Other reports simply note the ejection took place before the first pitch [1].
The confrontation centered on the fallout from the Saturday game. Sale remained frustrated by the officiating, leading to the verbal exchange with Merzel that triggered the immediate ejection [3, 4].
“Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel on Sunday before a single pitch was thrown.”
This ejection is unusual because it occurred before the start of a game and concerned an event from a previous day. It underscores the volatility of umpire-player relations when a perceived incorrect call has a tangible impact on the game's outcome, such as scoring a run.
