Fiery, uncharacteristic AJ Hinch ejection vs Mets must light fire under lifeless Tigers

AJ Hinch is a level-headed guy. Compared to other active managers like Terry Francona and Aaron Boone, he hasn't been ejected much in his long managerial career — only eight times since joining the Tigers in 2021.

But a botched replay review on Thursday against the Mets pushed Hinch over the limit. Gage Workman slid headfirst into third on a Zach McKinstry single that looked like it might get caught in shallow left field. He was called out on the field, and the Tigers challenged.

It was a long delay, and replays both on the broadcast and at Citi Field made it seem pretty obvious that Workman had gotten in just under the tag from Brett Baty.

But the powers that be ruled the call on the field was upheld. The broadcast picked up Hinch's yelling from the dugout clearly, and he was quickly tossed by home plate umpire Jordan Baker.

Hinch wasn't done, getting in Baker's face to give him a piece of his mind before taking his leave. That might've been the angriest Tigers fans have ever seen the skipper, and boy — did the Tigers need it.

AJ Hinch gets first ejection of the year after botched replay review at Tigers' expense

It was a bad call — a really bad call, and even Gary Cohen and Ron Darling on the Mets' broadcast knew it — but Hinch had to have been feeling what Tigers fans have been feeling for the last few weeks. Maybe he knew he needed something to light a fire under his dead offense.

Almost immediately after Hinch was ejected, Baty hit a two-run homer off of Keider Montero to tie the game at three apiece in the fourth. But there's still some game to go, and the Tigers need to take this as a motivator.

The Tigers have been limp and lifeless over their last 10 games. They were 3-7 going into Thursday's game and were outscored by the Mets (the METS!) 13-4 in the first two games.

The Mets also had a challenge go their way in the top of the fifth, when Nolan McLean picked off Wenceel Pérez.

The Tigers need a breakthrough. They need a defibralator or CPR or something to jolt them awake. They should take this bad replay, this ejection, this overturned call and run with it. They need to want some vengeance. They just need anything that might get them going again.

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