Aug 27 2009
MLB Umps Hurt; Another Exchanges Words
Two umpires were hurt the other night behind the plate during the same game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Crew chief Jerry Crawford took a foul ball off his mask at home plate and left after the first two innings. His replacement, Tom Hallion, was struck in the chest by a pitch by Scott Kazmir that eluded the batter and catcher several innings later. Travis Snider swung at a two-strike pitch and missed. The ball hit Hallion and knocked him to the ground.
Both umps are reported okay.
Meanwhile, a war of words broke out during a Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants game on Monday night.
Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba and ump Bill Miller had an on-field dispute. Torrealba said Miller called him a derogatory name when the catcher was on the basepaths. He said Miller accussed him of showing up home plate ump Angel Campos with his body language on calls he disagreed with when he was behind the plate.
MLB’s Bob Watson said he likely will impose fines after his investigation, but that no one will be suspended. What if he finds that the umpire used a derogatory word? Will he change his mind? Likely not. Watson ended any chance that anyone, including the umpire, would be suspended in this incident by talking fines only from the start.
MLB needs to get a handle on how to prevent certain umpires from hurting the game with bad calls and their arrogance. MLB better start now before it gets worse.
