Braves manager Bobby Cox ejected from postseason game for 3rd time after arguing call at first

Cox ejected after arguing call at first base

SAN FRANCISCO — Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected from a postseason game for the third time after arguing a call at first base with umpire Paul Emmel in Game 2 of the NL division series against San Francisco on Friday night.

Alex Gonzalez was called out after Giants shortstop Juan Uribe made a diving stop and threw to first base in the second inning. The throw beat Gonzalez, but replays showed that Aubrey Huff’s foot might have been pulled off the bag.

Emmel was the umpire at second base in Game 1 who called Giants rookie Buster Posey safe on a stolen base when replays showed he was out. Posey later scored the only run of the game.

Cox did not argue in the opener, but this time he came out of the dugout after first-base coach Glenn Hubbard started arguing. Cox protested for a bit and was ejected by Emmel immediately after throwing his hat to the ground.

The 69-year-old Cox, who is retiring after this season, also was ejected in the 1992 and 1996 World Series. He is the major league record holder with 158 career ejections in the regular season.

Cox became the third manager to get ejected in eight postseason games this year, following Tampa Bay’s Joe Maddon and Minnesota’s Ron Gardenhire on Thursday. Before that, no manager had been tossed in the postseason since St. Louis’ Tony La Russa in 2005.

It was just the latest example of questionable umpiring in the postseason. Major League Baseball began trying instant replay on a limited basis in late 2008, using it only to review potential home runs. But it still is not used on plays on the bases or fair and foul calls, leading to some disputed calls in key moments in the past few postseasons.

Despite being hurt by the missed call in the opener, Cox reiterated his opposition to expanded replay before the game.

“I’m talking to more and more people that say we should have some type of review on plays,” Cox said. “I’m not so sure it’s a good idea, to be honest with you. I know it cost us last night.”