The intensity of baseball games can become heated, and this time around the Oracle Park stood witness. While the baseball fans had barely digested Aaron Boone’s fiery dismissal on Tuesday, in came another. In what was a scene all too familiar with heated words, animated gestures, and emphatic ejection, we saw Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo take center stage. While this ignited a significant debate over umpiring standards, the 59-year-old has something left to say.

The crucial moment came in a game against the San Francisco Giants on May 14, 2025. The D-backs were up, 8-6, in the nail-biting bottom of the eighth. Giants batter Heliot Ramos hit a grounder down the third-base line. Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suárez made a backhanded stop, firing to first where Ramos was called safe. At the same time, Giants runner Christian Koss collided with Arizona’s second baseman Jordan Lawlar. Koss was tagged out by shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. This play quickly sparked controversy.

The umpiring crew gathered after the collision, with crew chief Mark Ripperger among them. They overturned the out call, ruling Lawlar obstructed, and awarded Koss second base. Lovullo did not take kindly to the ruling. He later told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM about his mindset. He stated, “I said, ‘Look, I’m not going off the field, leaving the field until you throw me out of the game.'” MLB Network Radio captioned the post, “Torey Lovullo sounds off on his ejection on Wednesday.” This showed his raw determination.

Lovullo admitted immediately after the game that the call didn’t make sense. He felt the umpires might be “trying to cover themselves a little bit.” However, after reviewing the play, he conceded, “They got it right… Umpires are good. And I stand corrected.” The obstruction rule, OBR 6.01(h)(2), concerns a fielder impeding a runner without the ball. Managers who debate such judgment calls, per OBR 8.02(c), leave themselves open to ejection, which Lovullo quickly earned with his protest. However, just before exiting, the Diamondbacks manager hilariously pointed to each member of the officiating crew and delivered his ejection gesture to all four umpires!

Though his ejection from a game is not the first occurrence this season.

Another day, another ejection it seems

This May 14 ejection marked Lovullo’s 22nd of his managerial career. It was also his second ejection of the 2025 season. His first occurred on April 8 against the Baltimore Orioles. In that game, Lovullo argued a questionable check-swing call by umpire Laz Diaz. That previous incident also included the ejection of Merrill Kelly, a Diamondbacks pitcher, who argued the same call.

Managerial ejections have been a common sight this year in the majors. New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been ejected twice this season. The last one took place against the Mariners is just one day before Lovullo’s incident on May 13.  San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt and star Fernando Tatis Jr. were both ejected in early May. St. Louis Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol and Cincinnati Reds’ Terry Francona have also been ejected. Even White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore faced an early exit.

Coming back to the game, despite the late-inning drama of their manager’s ejection, the Diamondbacks held on. They secured an 8-7 victory over the Giants in Oracle Park. Ketel Marte led the way for Arizona with two home runs and three RBIs. Eugenio Suárez also hit a home run and drove in three runs. For the Giants, Jung Hoo Lee hit a home run and had two RBIs. Heliot Ramos contributed three RBIs for San Francisco in the hard-fought contest. The win secured the series win for the D-backs.

The Diamondbacks are currently 23-21, which has placed them 4th in the NL West, behind the Dodgers, Padres, and Giants. They continue to battle in a tough division. Their manager’s fiery spirit undoubtedly reflects their own fight on the field. Will this passion translate into a stronger push for the playoffs? Only time will tell for these D-backs.