MiLB Ejection of the Week: Rich Gonzalez

Has Chicago found its next Hawk Harrelson in the minor leagues? This week's Minor League Baseball ejection of the week comes to us from Winston-Salem during the post-season matchup between the Class-A Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans and W-S Dash and features HP Umpire Rich Gonzalez.

Rich Gonzalez makes the "out" call at home plate.

Down by one game heading into Game 2 of the Carolina League Southern Division's Pelicans-Dash series, W-S needed a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning, the following took place:

HP Umpire Rich Gonzalez ejected Dash Manager Tommy Thompson for arguing an out call. With one out and one on, Dash batter Daniel Wagner hit a 0-1 fastball from Pelicans pitcher Joe Van Meter to center field as baserunner R3 Chris Curley prepared to tag from third with the tying run. As Pelicans center fielder Teodoro Martinez's throw to catcher Vincent DiFazio arrived at home plate, so did Curley, who replays indicate slid under and ahead of DiFazio's tag, replays suggest the call may have been incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Pelicans were leading, 2-1. The Dash ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

Nonetheless, perhaps the most striking feature of this play was "Voice of the Dash" Brian Boesch, who channeled his inner Hawk Harrelson in chiding Gonzalez in between his pitch-calling during the ensuing fourth inning. The Dash are a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

With remarks such as, "This isn't an opinion, this is a fact: That was an absolutely atrocious call by home plate umpire Rich Gonzalez," and "Rich Gonzalez missed the call in the postseason, that's a shame," to go along with characterizations of, "Gonzalez's terrible call," and "that wasn't even close ... the throw was caught above DiFazio's head," and the raw emotion of "Wow .... man, that's just frustrating when you deserve a run and you don't get one," it appears the Sox may be developing more than just player talent down on the farm.

Wrap: Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Winston-Salem Dash, 9/6/12
Video: Gonzalez calls the out at home, Brian Boesch continues his scathing critique during the next inning