Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus challenges notions of baseball justice

4:27 PM ET

OAKLAND — The topic of vigilante baseball justice was once again brought to the front lines following Noah Syndergaard’s ejection in Saturday night’s Mets-Dodgers game. It has proven to be a polarizing topic, as was evidenced by umpire Adam Hamari’s decision to toss Syndergaard from the game after he threw behind Chase Utley.

Some felt that it was the literal — and thus, correct — interpretation of the rulebook. Some felt the rule so inconsistently enforced that he should have been issued a warning instead. Some felt that if the 23-year-old pitcher was going to risk an ejection, he should have just plunked Utley, especially with what we know in retrospect (Utley went on to hit two home runs and collect five RBIs in the Dogers’ 9-1 rout of the Mets).

But perhaps that last point deserves a bit more nuanced of a discussion. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus thought so when asked, “Why not just hit Utley if you’re so …

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