Two MLB pitchers were ejected and fined for their national anthem standoff and the umpire who ejected them didn't have to do this, but here we are. This was a fun moment for two former teammates who wanted to be the last man standing, or off the field, after the national anthem, but instead, it turned into hefty fines and ejection when it could have simply been a "get off the field, we're about to start the game" moment for the officials.
It was Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm and his former teammate Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford who stood on the field after the national anthem while teams were being announced. It's not like they got in the way of anything, so it's really SOFT that they would be ejected and fined over something that many fans would simply find entertaining. Even though the umpire warned them, they didn't leave, and that's why he ejected them - but still, was that necessary, and do they really need to be fined for just standing there being silly with each other? Come on, guys, this is ridiculous.
WEEI's Rob Bradford posted the video on Twitter for everyone to see and it was kinda funny considering the Phillies fanatic was antagonizing the Red Sox pitcher.
NBC Sports posted some of the more detailed information about the national anthem standoff. Their sports news report said the following:
Crawford's fine was especially hefty as he currently is on the 15-day injured list. Fortunately for the 27-year-old right-hander, who's on a pre-arbitration contract, he'll get some help from a veteran teammate.
“If you get thrown out and you’re on the IL, you get crushed,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on Sunday. “I know there’s a guy that went to the same school as him that’s probably going to take care of that.”
That guy Cora is referring to is none other than Chris Sale. Both Crawford and Sale attended Florida Gulf Coast University.
As for Strahm, the former Red Sox reliever probably won't be in another standoff any time soon.
“Zero of it was planned. Just, (the) anthem was over and I looked across and Kutter kind of gave me a grin and I know exactly what that grin meant so just stood there,” Strahm said, per Bradford. ...
"If you know me, you know competition is everything to me so kind of felt like I was being called out right there. Looking back on it, probably not the wisest decision I’ve made in my big league career. … I guess I should’ve known better with how strict they are with pitch clock.”
