Pitchers Robbie Ray and Luke Weaver were teammates in Arizona for a couple seasons, and that friendship clearly carried on to their new spots with the Mariners and Royals.
But we have now learned that there is no place for friendly competition when umpire Adrian Johnson is around.
Ahead of Sunday’s game between the Mariners and Royals, both Ray and Weaver stood at the dugout steps to have a good, old-fashioned national anthem standoff. And the two players were so committed to the standoff that the umpires had to get involved.
The two pitchers probably didn’t expect the umpires to take the standoff so seriously, but Johnson could not have been more annoyed.
Former teammates Luke Weaver and Robbie Ray had a National Anthem standoff that lasted so long the umpires had to get involved 🤣 pic.twitter.com/w3EHU4z3Eq
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 25, 2022
After Johnson initially told them to cut it out and go to the dugout with little success, the umpire actually ejected both players. We could see as he made note in his scorebook, and Ray didn’t seem to realize it as he was celebrating the standoff victory. They announced the ejection in the press box as well.
Announcement just made in press box. Mariners starter Robbie Ray and Royals reliever Luke Weaver were ejected prior to the start of today's game.
— Lynn Worthy (@LWorthySports) September 25, 2022
You don’t see that happen too often.
Ray wasn’t scheduled to start on Sunday, and it was unlikely that Weaver was going to see action. So, the ejections didn’t have any impact on the game. MLB fans did use the ordeal as an opportunity to roast the umpire, though. It was another example of baseball getting in its own way when it comes to fun displays of personality.
This was how Twitter reacted
These umps are lame as hell. https://t.co/XGqsnitZWt
— Andy Martin (@andy_martin523) September 25, 2022
And they both were ejected………. 🙄🙄 https://t.co/mbhzwURIaZ
— Kathy™ (@kathawk23) September 25, 2022
Ump show https://t.co/QgKvptpzpp
— Sam (@SJCar8713) September 25, 2022
The fact that both of these guys got ejected for having fun is peak Major League Baseball. https://t.co/T4rx6O3qxc
— Tuck Clarry🏀🌐 (@hellohoopworld) September 25, 2022
Umpires hate fun for ejecting them over this lmao https://t.co/qBdfpQyDA3
— goth brooks (they/them) 🐣 (@gothxbrooks) September 25, 2022
This is why no one likes Umpires https://t.co/k4fEdwTiYl
— #JCooke🐺⚾️🧢🔴⚪⚫🤙 (@JustinLcooke) September 25, 2022
Fire this umpire for tossing both players. Baseball is about fun, not about an over sensitive umpire. https://t.co/bkwfj4CMKD
— Oilers John 🇨🇦 ✈️ (@OilersJohn) September 25, 2022
They ejected them both because umps hate fun. 😅😅😅
I'm a big fan of these standoffs and would support them being built out into part of the game experience. You want to stand off during live play? Good luck bro, go for it! https://t.co/m1xOtM0QOg
— Ryan Eades (@ryan2499) September 25, 2022
Both were ejected for having fun, way to go MLB https://t.co/gAcHhnTahi
— Justin Ciavolella (@jciavolella76) September 25, 2022
Do better next time, MLB.
