# How "far" is a MLB manager ejected? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 13, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354 "2008-07-13T19:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/1 "2008-07-13T19:37:37Z")
Eric Wedge got ejected from the Indians game today for getting snippy over a ball call and a balk call. Jeff Datz is the acting manager. He just called a pitching change. Is Eric Wedge required to be totally hands-off from this point - including not making any phone calls to the dugout or bullpen - or does being ejected just mean you have to not be in the dugout and you can manage the team from afar? If the rule is that he’s supposed to be “hands off”, who is in charge of making sure he doesn’t get sneaky? Surely an umpire can’t be babysitting Wedge in his office while calling the game. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/2 "2008-07-13T20:15:39Z")
The manager is not allowed to advise his replacement. If it’s discovered, you can be suspended for multiple games. They once fined and suspended Bobby Valentine for being seen in the tunnel to the dugout (wearing Groucho glasses as a “joke” disguise). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/3 "2008-07-13T20:16:23Z")
It only means leaving the dugout. The manager can stay in the clubhouse. It’s an open secret that teams will often have a bench player serve as messenger if he wants to make a move. Then there was the time Bobby Valentine got tossed as the Mets manager, went and put on the mascot costume, and came back to the field. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/4 "2008-07-13T20:23:18Z")
Hmm, other than both mentioning Bobby Valentine, you two seem to have given conflicting answers 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/5 "2008-07-13T20:30:37Z")
When the legend becomes fact, post the legend. It’s more fun that way. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/6 "2008-07-13T20:37:46Z")
My error - I remembered both the Valentine episode that **RC** mentioned accurately and the [minor league game](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinston_Indians#Mascots) where the manager put on the mascot suit. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/7 "2008-07-13T20:38:35Z")
From the [MLB rulebook](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp) > [@](#): > > 4.07 When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from a game, he shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. He shall remain in the club house or change to street clothes and either leave the park or take a seat in the grandstand well removed from the vicinity of his team’s bench or bullpen. > Rule 4.07 Comment: If a manager, coach or player is under suspension he may not be in the dugout or press box during the course of a game. So, I would think a several game suspension would be the result if he was caught. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/8 "2008-07-13T20:41:04Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] They once fined and suspended Bobby Valentine for being seen in the tunnel to the dugout (wearing Groucho glasses as a “joke” disguise). [/QUOTE] And the pine tar “mustache”! I miss Bobby Valentine, he was the man. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/9 "2008-07-13T20:44:23Z")
So who’s in charge of “catching” them? Surely there’s a phone line from Wedge’s office to the dugout. Who’s going to know/tell if he makes The McDonald’s Call To The Dugout? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/10 "2008-07-13T23:30:20Z")
The umpires, nominally, but it’s a very hard thing to catch and they have higher priorities to attend to, such as keeping the game running. A manager’s ejection almost automatically entails a fine and suspension as well, so it’s easy to rationalize that they’re getting adequate punishment anyway. A suspended manager cannot even be in the ballpark for those games. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/11 "2008-07-13T23:42:56Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] Hmm, other than both mentioning Bobby Valentine, you two seem to have given conflicting answers 🙂 [/QUOTE] [Tie breaker](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/468724115_3a2c357f61.jpg?v=0). ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/12 "2008-07-14T00:22:55Z")
Hey, \*\*organists \*\*have been ejected. When the umpire means business, no one is safe, so the manager better be out of sight and out of touch. Most managers know they are getting ejected as they practically beg for it, so they don’t make much of an effort to cheat the system. Besides, the manager has a staff and they are all working the game, so no great loss of strategy is looming. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/13 "2008-07-14T00:28:46Z")
_A manager’s ejection almost automatically entails a fine and suspension as well,_ I don’t know about the fine, but it’s rare that they’re suspended for any additional games other than the one they were ejected from. I don’t even recall our own Mr. Gardenhire (who gets eject a lot) missing an extra game except maybe one when he lit into an umpire after the game on camera. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/14 "2008-07-14T02:20:10Z")
[QUOTE=Philster] Hey, \*\*organists \*\*have been ejected. [/quote] Youppi, the Expos mascot, was tossed once too. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/15 "2008-07-14T02:49:12Z")
[QUOTE=Philster] Hey, \*\*organists \*\*have been ejected… [/QUOTE] Tell us the story! The mascot one, too, please, **ElvisL1ves**! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/16 "2008-07-14T02:53:46Z")
[Enjoy!](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hruby/mascots/061204) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/17 "2008-07-14T03:05:03Z")
Nice! Now, on to the organist… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/18 "2008-07-14T03:10:27Z")
[This guy](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E7DB153BF933A2575AC0A9659C8B63) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/19 "2008-07-14T03:27:04Z")
Hell, umps have even ejected innocent [7th Inning](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIhv8p4O5WM) [Stretch Singers](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/34391_nlbook08.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354/20 "2008-07-14T04:02:01Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] And the pine tar “mustache”! I miss Bobby Valentine, he was the man. [/QUOTE] Do you have a cite for this? The only antic I’m aware of is the groucho mustache and nose. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-a-mlb-manager-ejected/456354.md?page=2)