04/18/24
July 28, 2013
David Ortiz Ejected After Crushing Dugout Phone: After arguing a 3-0 strike call on with umpire Tim Timmons, David Ortiz struck out, flipped out, took out his anger on a dugout phone and was thrown out in a 7-3 Boston Red Sox win over the Baltimore Orioles Saturday. The phone, crushed by Ortiz swinging his bat and sending pieces flying, still worked afterwards. "It rang," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Somebody called down."
"I got 17 years in the league and I don't think I deserve to be disrespected like that ..." Umpires feel the same way.
posted by jjzucal at 05:46 PM on July 28, 2013
The fact that he barely missed his $100million teammate with the bat (and the shrapnel from the exploding phone/bat) makes me think that this outbreak was definitely a very stupid one.
posted by grum@work at 06:05 PM on July 28, 2013
Yeah, it happens, although it's not really characteristic of him, so I don't think this is anything to worry about.
And to be fair... the umps have been sucking with impunity for ages, bottling up the majors with overly entitled, untouchable umpires who are well past their prime. They should be rotated out as much as any players, letting fresh young talent come up to replace them after 15-20 years in the league.
posted by hincandenza at 09:13 PM on July 28, 2013
Dustin gave him hell for it. I think they should sew a C on Pedey's jersey.
posted by Scottymac at 09:14 PM on July 28, 2013
Just one point -- from the linked article, Ortiz was ejected before he blew out the phones.
posted by Etrigan at 10:04 PM on July 28, 2013
The call looked nuts in real-time, but the NESN's pitch zone graphic suggested it was borderline. The zone shown here is for all batters, so it's deceptive. Still.
posted by yerfatma at 09:56 AM on July 29, 2013
It took him three whacks to really start dismantling the phone, and the thing was still functional after he was done.
I feel some Lizzie Borden road game fan love coming on.
posted by beaverboard at 11:09 AM on July 29, 2013
They don't play games in Fall River as far as I know.
posted by yerfatma at 03:58 PM on July 29, 2013
Eh, yeah, over the top. Still, would rather see this than someone that really doesn't care. Not saying you must go crazy to prove you care, but I don't mind seeing a player show it either.
He went 4-4 with a home run the next game. Yep.
posted by justgary at 10:33 PM on July 29, 2013
Big Babi.