Why Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected Friday against the White Sox
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected from Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox in the fifth inning.
Quatraro was tossed after arguing with second-base umpire Tom Hanahan. Quatraro stormed out of the Royals’ dugout at Kauffman Stadium to address Hanahan after outfielder Kyle Isbel was called out on a stolen-base attempt.
Isbel raced toward second base, but the incoming throw beat him to the bag. He was tagged out by White Sox shortstop Colston Montgomery.
However, Quatraro argued that Montgomery blocked Isbel’s path. Replays showed Montgomery did place his knee in front of where Isbel slid.
The question was whether Montgomery did so before he caught the incoming throw. It’s up to the umpire to determine whether that was the case.
And Hanahan let the play continue without a definitive call.
It led Quatraro to argue that obstruction should’ve been called. MLB rules state that obstruction is deemed non-reviewable.
“I must not have the rule right, because we just don’t get it called,” Quatraro said after the game. “I mean, the guy clearly had his leg in front of the bag before he had the ball. I don’t get it. I mean, we asked for that play to be reviewable. It’s not reviewable. I think the umpires wish it was reviewable.”
He continued.
“The only explanation I got was that he was trying to get the call right,” Quatraro said. “So I know it’s not easy to umpire a major-league game. Things happen fast, but they can get help on that call. And it happens too often and it’s not called.”
Here is a further definition of the rule:
“Obstruction describes an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the process of fielding it, that impedes the baserunner’s progress,” MLB’s rules glossary says.
An MLB umpire has the judgment to make a ruling on such plays.
“If a play is being made on the obstructed baserunner, the ball is ruled dead and the umpire can place all runners on the base he determines they would have reached without the obstruction,” the glossary continues. “If no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the umpire will allow the play to progress until its natural conclusion and then impose any penalties he sees fit to nullify the act of obstruction.”
Royals bench coach Paul Hoover took over for Quatraro as the acting manager for the remainder of Friday’s game.
The Royals ended up winning 3-1. And several players were happy to see Quatraro stand up for the team.
“I love to see Q like that,” Royals team captain Salvador Perez said. “I love it, and he should be doing more like that. I just love it. We don’t have the opportunity to see him like that. I love it, and I think he was right. The shortstop blocked that base.
“I think the ball was halfway to get there and his leg was down. I don’t think the other umpires, nobody sees that. You know, the guy behind home plate is hard (to see it), he has to see the pitch. But the other guys, they should’ve seen it and made the call.”
This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM.
