MLB Fines Attention-Seeking Umpire Joe West: Major League Baseball umpire Joe West sent out his publicist to solicit more media coverage of his April statement that the Yankees and Red Sox speed of play was "pathetic and embarrassing," Jeff Passan reports for Yahoo Sports. On Friday the league fined West, one of its most tenured umpires and a country singer, for that move and his ejections of Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle and manager Ozzie Guillen. "I think he's too worried about promoting his CD and I think he likes seeing his name in the papers a little bit too much instead of worrying about the rules," Buehrle said.
How the hell was this guy hired back in the first place?
posted by dirigibleman at 01:38 AM on May 30, 2010
However much they might fine him, it's not enough. The best move MLB could make is to reassign Mr. West to AAA and tell him he can move back to the majors as soon as he demonstrated that he understood the function of an umpire and had achieved some respect for the game of baseball.
posted by Howard_T at 02:08 PM on May 29, 2010