The Yankees on Saturday fell to the Rays by a score of 9-5 (box score) and as such are in danger of being swept on Sunday. Also troubling for the Yankees is that ace Masahiro Tanaka struggled once again, and now his 2017 ERA stands at 6.56 after nine starts. 

As you might imagine, it was a frustrating day for Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Said frustration was very evident in the fifth, when Girardi emerged from the dugout to ask plate ump Scott Barry why Yanks pitching coach Larry Rothschild had just been run. Suffice it to say, Girardi found the answer to be wanting ... 

Covering the plate in upturned soil? That's indeed a managerial #powermove that, as broadcaster Ken Singleton notes, evokes the stylings and inner fires of Billy Martin. Also notable is that Barry, presumably in some kind of counter-protest against the ritual burial of home plate, didn't brush off the dish until after the following batter ... 

dirtplatecircle052117.jpg

Steven Souza walked during that plate appearance. You be the judge as to whether the partially obscured plate played a role in said free pass. Anyhow, as crew chief Paul Emmel explained, the ejections of Rothschild and Girardi were fairly basic ... 

''When Scott went out there to break Rothschild, he argued pitches. Same with Joe, he argued pitches. You cannot argue pitches.''

Girardi, though, didn't quite see things that way ... 

Also of note is that two Yanks and one Ray got plunked in this one. These same two teams (and this same umpiring crew) are back at it on Sunday. 

Speaking of old-school managerial fits of pique, one time John McGraw in righteous protest did not but probably should have excavated home plate and fired it from a Civil War cannon over the center field wall. Perhaps Mr. Girardi on Sunday will remedy this baseball oversight for the betterment of all.