 |
| Tourists manager Joe Mikulik during his 2006 ejection. |
While Patterson calmy shook his head and repeated the word, "no," Mikulik employed histrionic gesture after verbal onslaught, at several points kicking dirt, throwing his hat and dislodging and picking up third base before handing the bag to a spectator and tipping his cap to the crowd before exiting into the Asheville dugout.
In 2006, Mikulik employed similar exaggerated tantrum tactics after being ejected arguing a call at second base in Lexington, Kentucky. At the time, Mikulik was likewise manager of the Single-A Tourists. (Video: Mikulik throws hat, base, kicks chalk and dirt on home plate, throws bats from dugout onto the field, pours water onto home plate to make mud, pretends he's a catcher, untucks his shirt, stadium PA system plays audio of a child crying before breaking into "Hit the Road, Jack").
In 2007 and not to be outdone, then-Mississippi Braves manager Phil Wellman protested the umpires' ejection of his pitcher whose glove possessed a foreign substance by throwing his hat, physically bending down to cover home plate with dirt, outlining his perception of the strike zone by drawing a line using his fingers, throwing third base into extremely shallow center field, crawling on hands and knees while pitching the rosin bag to the home plate umpire's feet as in a grenade, ejecting the umpire from the game, taking both second and third base bags into right field, and saluting the crowd before exiting through the outfield wall. (Video: Wellman's tantrum... see it to believe it).
So from Mikulik to Wellman, are managerial temper tantrums healthy for the sport of baseball or are they a distraction: Is it entertainment, a disgrace or both?
Wrap: Tourists at RiverDogs (MiLB, Single-A), 7/28/12
Video: Mikulik ejected arguing safe call, repeats his blown gasket of 6 seasons ago, steals third base
This guy is an embarrassment to baseball
ReplyDeleteGuess it took Joe 6 years to save up another grand!
ReplyDeleteWhile the video is inconculsive, Patterson was in the proscribed position, and probably had a really good look at this attempted tag. It's the type of play where the "default" call is "out", unless you're absolutely convinced he missed him.
I wonder how much of this is anger at the call, and how much of it is designed to put butts in seats. After Wellman put on his show on the road, people couldn't get braves tickets fast enough, presumably to see the next installment at home. Wellman's "thing" was firing up the fans. It's hard to believe he was *that* upset about the call.
ReplyDeletedale sveum tossed after winters blew a call at first in chicago
ReplyDeleteGet dumped in the first inning then give a curtain call? Most definitely trying to fire his team and fans up... Patterson had a pretty good look too.
ReplyDeleteSure thing Curt, Joe getting tossed in Charleston is going to pack the park in Asheville. You give Wellman too much credit.
ReplyDeleteHow about Joe being stuck in A ball for 20 years and no sign of getting out?
Eh he's a career minor league manager, tons of em out there, just like career college coaches.
ReplyDeleteI can shed a little light on some things brought up here. I worked in the Sally league, and joe was a manager then. He has been offered promotions but prefers Asheville. We never had any big problems with h, but you could tell he was a powder keg. My personal opinion-he's a bully and goes after guys he perceives as weaker.
ReplyDeleteI was in the southern league when wellman blew up. He was ejected in Chattanooga, so not firing up the fans. He REALLY didn't like one of the guys on the crew, so yes, he was that mad. Again, wellman was not one of the guys i had a problem with-not many did. And they don't have trouble selling tickets in Mississippi, always good crowds, so that also wasn't a factor.
@ Anon 9:31 -- He definitely seems like a loose cannon for sure. The umpire here looked like he handled himself extremely well, and after watching Mikelik's 2006 meltdown, that umpire also looked great in handling the situation, just standing there letting the coach go nuts, with ZERO emotion.... so I'm not sure if your bully against weaker umpires angle holds very much water. I think sometimes coaches just lose it. The umpires in both situations handled them admirably given the actions of the nutjob coach.
ReplyDeleteWellman was the type of manager who was engaging with the fans off-the-field and was high profile in promotions in ways that many managers are not.
ReplyDeleteWellman's tantrum led the local newscasts and did create quite a stir with the fan base. Definitely got everyone fired up.
9:31 is correct that pearl always has a decent crowd, but Wellman struck me as the type that wasn't going to be satisfied unless every game was sold out.
I'm not saying you guys are wrong at all. You observed him on the field repeatedly, up close and personal. I'm basing my comments strictly on my observations of Wellman in the community. As such, I would defer to 9:31 as to wellman's true motivations for this blow-up.
Who did Wellman not like on the crew? I know Rice was CC at the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure Brent was CC....that was the year he went thru PBUC again and had to go to short season again but filled in prior to it starting...but whatever
ReplyDeleteBrent Rice was not the CC, he was the number 3 on that crew. Jeff Latter was the Crew Chief. He was in the PCL until the end of the 2010 season.
ReplyDeleteI hope the South Atlantic League throw the book at this douchebag... He's an embarrasment to professional baseball
ReplyDeleteHere's what I mean by his perception of weak. Joe is an old school type manager. He yells, he expects to get something back. I think those guys did alright, but they might learn as they move up that it's ok to give some back sometimes. I know at least one of those guys in '06 figured that out, and he's done pretty well since.
ReplyDeleteAs far as who Wellman didn't like, I'm no bus driver. I was just giving a little insight.
Prior to his epic display Wellman had previously managed in the AA Reds team in Chattanooga. He had a great following from the Chattanooga fanbase and was very well respected in the area. His affiliation switch to the Braves organization was due to an issue he had with the Reds brass and had nothing to do with the Chattanooga franchise. While managing in Chattanooga Wellman was known to be involved in ejections that were usually worthy of a showing on "You Gotta See This..." Most of those were initiated by typical baseball-related frustrations. However his personality and showmanship typically elevated the theatrics of his ejection. After his departure from the Reds system he began managing in the Braves system. His 'return' to Chattanooga was well-advertised sporting news in Chattanooga for that particulat series. So what people aren't seeing is that 90% of his theatrics were all for show. He may have legitimately disliked one of the umpires - or maybe he was just benignly upset with a particular call or play - and decided this was the time to put on one of his shows...
ReplyDelete