Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo wasn’t ejected for not wearing a mask, as some speculated. Crew chief Joe West clarified Rizzo was ejected from Atlanta’s Truist Park for repeatedly yelling at the umpires.
“I wouldn’t take that from a player. I wouldn’t take that from a manager,” West told The Associated Press. “If it was Donald Trump, I’d eject him, too. But I’d still vote for him.”
West said Rizzo’s yelling started Friday at the start of the Nationals’ four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. The crew contacted the league office saying they would stop Rizzo’s hollering at them if it continued.
Sunday the situation came to a head, leading West to say “enough is enough.” West threw Rizzo out of the game as the GM watched the game from a luxury suite.
West was heard during the broadcast saying, “Call security” in an attempt to get aid to remove Rizzo from the ballpark. West was also heard saying “he doesn’t have his mask on” that led to confusion as to why Rizzo was ejected. It’s apparent he was only describing Rizzo to security.
It’s been a frustrating season for the Nationals. Rizzo’s ejection occurred in the seventh inning with Washington trailing 7-1. The Nationals went on to lose the game 10-3. The loss dropped the Nationals to a 14-25 record this season and 9.5 games behind the Braves in the NL East.
