CINCINNATI _ You can probably blame Miss Manners for the ejection of Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde in the fourth inning of Saturday's 11-2 loss to the Reds.
Manager Joe Maddon said the ejection was because of the "general nature of the moment." But according to catcher Willson Contreras, it was precipitated by what he construed as a strange reaction from plate umpire Greg Gibson after Contreras had asked for a timeout while batting.
"It was really a difficult situation and I tried to handle it as best as I could," Contreras said through an interpreter. "The umpire said something to me that I didn't really like, and it got to the point where I looked over to the bench to get a little backup just because I didn't want to get thrown out myself and cost the team. It all happened because I had asked for timeout, and apparently I didn't thank him."
Hyde provided some vocal backup from the dugout and was ejected.
Contreras said he wasn't rude or confrontational.
"I never argued a single ball or strike," he said. "I kept my mouth shut. I wasn't arguing about anything else. That's what it was. ... He said something to me that I didn't think he needed to say. I'm here because I've earned my spot here, and I just didn't appreciate what he said."
Was it something personal?
"Yeah, it was something that I felt was directed to me personally," Contreras said. "I'm not going to repeat what he said because I'm trying to be professional. But he knows what he said to me."
Maddon simply said it was a "baseball thing between the two of them," calling it "one of those moments that occur in a game."
"Guys got hot," he said. "Not scoring any runs, we're frustrated. Of course that's going to make it boil over even more."
Despite the issue with Gibson, Contreras said he told Gibson afterward that he called a good game.
"I'm from Venezuela and I have morals and values, and I thanked him for calling a good game," he said. "That's what I'm hoping he learns from me after this game."
Gibson was unavailable for comment.
