Blue Jays' Gibbons on Bautista's ejection: 'Say your piece and get the hell out of there'

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista didn't appear to agree with home plate umpire Bill Welke on Sunday afternoon. 

The five-time All-Star showed his displeasure after being rung up on a borderline strike-three call and was ejected for voicing his thoughts in the sixth inning of a one-run game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Manager John Gibbons was none too pleased with the actions of one of his veteran leaders. 

“The bottom line is we needed him in the game,” Gibbons said following the game, via the Toronto Star. “Say your piece and get the hell out of there. We’re trying to get in the playoffs, we need you on the field. 

"He’s a marked man in this game. [Plate ump] Bill Welke? I thought he had a pretty good [strike] zone today. It was steady, he was calling strikes. He was looking to call strikes. But we need you in the game.”

The ejection would prove costly for the reeling Jays as Bautista's replacement, Nolan Reimold, misplayed a ball in the 10th inning that set up the eventual winning run for the Rays. before striking out to end the game with a pair of men on. 

Bautista, who has a history of questioning umpires, wasn't overly apologetic following the loss that dropped them 5 1/2 games back in the wildcard race. 

“If you want to stick to facts, the facts are that because I did say something, anything at all, I did get tossed,” Bautista said.

He was asked if he blames himself for his ejection.

“I guess you would say yes. But again, I feel like what I said was nowhere near warranting getting ejected. But if you want to get the other side of the story, you’re going to have to talk to Welke.”