Tony Vitello explains the Blake Burke ejection, issues call to action
Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke was ejected from Tennessee’s 8-3 game three win over Illinois Sunday afternoon in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Burke had just launched his sixth home of the season to right-centerfield, bringing the Vols within a run at 3-2. After rounding the bases, members of the Illinois coaching staff were irate and visibly arguing with the home plate umpire.
#BurkeBlast has us within one.
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Vitello joined the shouting match moments later and confusion spread about what exactly was going on. Turns out, Burke allegedly said something to the catcher when crossing home plate, causing the Fighting Illini to put his hands up in the air and consult the home plate umpire.
It’s worth noting that both benches had already been warned earlier in the ballgame as the contest was chirpy from the start.
“Well there had already been an unsportsmanlike conduct that was issued when both catchers were talking to each other during [Camden] Janik’s at-bat,” Vitello said after the game. “Blake hit the home run and when he crossed home plate, I don’t know what he was saying but he was clearly talking to the catcher about the home run or telling him about it. Which he’s a smart enough guy, he could see where the ball landed. There’s no need to do that so I don’t necessarily agree with Blake’s approach or some of our other guys’ approach in certain situations and how they handled it.”
Dalton Bargo replaced Burke at first base to begin the sixth inning. Burke will also miss Tennessee’s midweek bout with Eastern Kentucky due to NCAA ejection rules, but will be back for the Southeastern Conference opener at Alabama Friday night.
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“I also don’t agree with how we got to that whole spot. It was not necessary. We’ll come out of today being the bad guys and maybe something gets posted and you see Blake Burke got thrown out and he’s a bad guy,” the coach continued. “I don’t remember back then anybody throwing baseballs, 90 MPH objects at guys when they’re not looking at it, but it started about six years ago. Our guys are guilty of doing it. I’m not calling out there guy. He’s doing what he’s got to do. We saw his video last night— he’s going to be really good. He’s already good as a young sophomore so I’m not calling him out but I don’t get that whole trend.”
The skipper is alluding to the ‘quick pitch’ Illinois starter Jake Swartz was accused by fans of doing several times early in the ballgame on Sunday.
“I’m not a rule maker and I’m not smart enough to and I haven’t been doing this long enough— they should rely on the older guys in the conference that know that stuff,” Vitello concluded. “But I think before bat flips let’s— I wouldn’t want Ben Joyce throwing at me when I’m not looking at it. That’s not good for anybody. One kid gets hit in the face kind of like the Evansville kid did when I was back in college and maybe someone will pay attention to it but it just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Burke has been on a tear lately at the plate as his home run Sunday marked the eighth-straight game he’s registered a hit. He ends the weekend going 5-for-9 at the plate with three doubles, 6 runs batted in and two walks.
