Sports

Virginia Baseball Coach Unloads On Umpire For Abuse Of Power After Botched Infield Fly

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Virginia baseball coach Chris Pollard was ejected during a Thursday night matchup with ACC rival Clemson. He unloaded on an umpire following a controversial ruling.

A botched infield fly play preceded the argument. An ump show set the Cavaliers off.

Pollard said after the game that the call on the field was not the reason for his ejection. He claims it was the result of “abuse.”

Chris Pollard was ejected.

He earned every bit of that exit by giving the home plate umpire a verbal lashing. It came in response to a huge call in a crucial moment of the game.

The Cavaliers were threatening, up 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two runners on and one out, they had a chance to put the contest out of reach.

Virginia batter RJ Holmes skied a high popup on the infield. It was initially unclear if it would fall in foul or fair territory.

Clemson’s catcher misplayed the ball, which landed just in front of home plate. The play was initially ruled live. All runners were safe to load the bases.

Tigers‘ head coach Erik Bakich immediately came out to discuss the possibility of an infield fly. His request was granted. The call was changed. Below is the NCAA interpretation of the rule.

A fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second or first, second and third bases are occupied before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who is positioned in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.

-Rule 2-48

There is a judgement aspect to the call. Umpires must determine whether or not the play can be made with “ordinary effort.”

Most would classify the situation as such, though the Clemson infield made it look extraordinary with its inability to corral the popup. You can be the judge.

The issue Chris Pollard took was not with the call itself, but rather the retroactive overturning to rule an infield fly. It was not initially and clearly stated by the crew. He needed clarity.

The entire situation created confusion. Umpires approached Pollard to provide reasoning for the decision. As he walked towards the dugout with an explanation, the home plate blue got into a back and forth with a player or coach on third base.

It set Pollard off.

The infield fly did not cause the ejection.

After the game, the coach was asked about what transpired. Chris Pollard said he was ejected for defending his team from “verbal abuse.”

“The call was an infield fly,” he recalled. “I’d have to go back and watch. I didn’t see anybody on the field signal infield fly, but I think the most important thing to say in this postgame is that the ejection had nothing to do with whether or not that was an infield fly.

“I’m always going to protect our players and coaches when somebody is verbally abusing them.”

Pollard did not like the way the umpire spoke to a player or coach. He believed it an abuse of power to quiet criticism following an incorrect ruling. The head coach wouldn’t stand for it.

Pollard missed the final three innings of the game. Virginia would hold on for a 6-4 victory in the series opener.