Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was ejected Tuesday night at Petco Park in an extra innings thriller vs. the San Diego Padres. During the top of the ninth inning, Altuve argued with home plate umpire Brennan Miller that he fouled a ball off of his foot, and he went to great lengths to prove it, as he took off both his left cleat and sock adamantly claiming the umpire missed the call.
This course of action immediately led to an ejection.
Jose Altuve took off his sock and cleat to show the ump that he fouled this ball off his foot
He was promptly ejected pic.twitter.com/wtGGsdWdyL
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 18, 2024
Just when you thought this game couldn't get any wilder, Jose Altuve takes his shoe off. #HOUvsSD pic.twitter.com/e3YJTHTcw7
— Johnny Silva (@EyeOn_TheTicker) September 18, 2024
Luckily, for Altuve and his team, the game ended in the Astros' favor, with the final score being 4-3 after 10 innings.
Following the game, manager Joe Espada, who was also tossed, took his player's side.
"It's a foul ball," Espada stated. "You have to see the ball once it hits the foot, the flight of the ball, what the ball does. I don't understand. That's twice this year. I have a lot of respect for the umpires. They work hard. There's four out there. For me, you have to be able to see it. They missed that play."
Jose Altuve was ejected after taking off his sock and cleat to show where the ball hit him 😅
(via @SpaceCityHN) pic.twitter.com/4thx1F7Rpz
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 18, 2024
The first year manager continued, even saying he would have done the same thing as Altuve if he was in his shoes.
"I respect that from Jose," Espada said. "He wants to win, and he's a winner. Hey, I'll take it. I get it. If it was me, I probably take my shoes off, too, to prove a point."
All in all, this is the third ejection of his career, and second of the season, as he had a similar situation happen vs. the Mets (June 30), in which the Astros also won this game in extra innings (10-5), despite Altuve getting thrown out for arguing that he had fouled a ball off his foot. That is to say, this umpire also did not see it, so the ball was ruled fair and Altuve was thrown out in this situation as well.
"If i had a nickel for every time Jose Altuve was ejected for arguing that a fair ball hit off his body and should have been a foul ball with video evidence during the 2024 season, I would only have 2 nickels but it's weird that it happened twice." pic.twitter.com/iBXHCd8Lg0
— Theorpo (@Theorpo86) September 18, 2024
In view of Tuesday night's ejection coming at vital time in the game, tied 3-3 in the ninth inning, Altuve claims he did not take off his shoe and sock to show up the umpire, but rather he just thought it could help him see that the ball had made contact with his foot.
Jose Altuve is out of his mind 💀💀💀
pic.twitter.com/wUgvH4CwPL— Ballgame 👨🏻⚕️ (@BallgameBets) September 18, 2024
"It was going through my head that it can't happen," Altuve said. "It's ninth inning and winning run on second base, and I'm battling against a good pitcher, Suarez, the closer. So, obviously, trying to get a hit and drive in the run and win the game."
Jose Altuve: “I get a foul ball because it hit my foot and they just took it away from me. I don’t think it can happen…” pic.twitter.com/7KLAFf9Ytr
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 18, 2024
The 34-year-old lead-off hitter couldn't believe that the umpires couldn't assess what had happened.
"I get a foul ball because it hit my foot and they just took it away from me. I don't think it can happen. There were four [umpires] on the field. You've got to see the change of direction on the ball and just make the right call."
Related: Phillies' Nick Castellanos Has Heated Exchange With Umpire: 'F—-ing Speak Up'
