NEWSLETTER
The White Sox and Cardinals are in a tight one (with Cubs implications!), and with runners on first and second with just one out in the bottom of the 7th, Cards manager Mike Shildt called upon Giovanny Gallegos to put out the fire.
But before Gallegos could even throw a pitch, he had to go through a wardrobe change – umpire Joe West made Gallegos change his hat (it was confiscated for some reason). Shildt didn’t appreciate it, said as much, and was sent packing:
Joe West noticed a substance on the bill of Giovanny Gallegos' hat & made him change hats.
Cardinals manager Mike Shildt argued the ruling and was ejected. pic.twitter.com/dqp8BoYEg1
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 26, 2021
Joe West has the quickest trigger finger when it comes to ejections pic.twitter.com/Aq3XR9enYs
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken) May 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/Verly32/status/1397654792923619329
After the umpires came to investigate Gallegos’ hat, Shildt was thrown out of the game. This came moments after expressing his displeasure in having to bring his pitcher a new hat to wear. Meanwhile, Gallegos’ hat — which you can see above has some sort of something on it — was given to a White Sox attendant and taken off the field. I imagine the league, which reviewed Trevor Bauer’s balls earlier in the year, will want a further look at Gallegos’ hat. Otherwise, I’m unsure why it was given to a White Sox clubby in the first place.
Gallegos stranded the inherited baserunners, but I don’t think this is the last we’ll be hearing about this. And I can’t believe this is the last hat controversy we’ll have if the umps are going to be strict about this. Heck, someone is gonna be a pain in the butt about Craig Kimbrel’s hat, aren’t they?
