June 08, 2006

Give him the same thing a player or coach would get if they made contact with an official. I think a MLB executive should have came out onto the field and pointed to the damn showers, so this idiot could have gotten a taste of how it feels when refs/umps throw a player out of the game. I know it's a different sport and all, but I can't help being reminded of Vince Carter getting thrown out of a game for a playful tap. Billy Martin would have pulled the refs shirt over his head and went Bob Probert on him.

posted by Bishop at 05:28 AM on June 08, 2006

I'm amazed that umps don't lose their cool more often when the Lou Pinella's of the world are going postal on them.

posted by Bill Lumbergh at 07:14 AM on June 08, 2006

I miss probie,what a great brawler.

posted by irishmic2004@sbcglobal.net at 08:18 AM on June 08, 2006

I still put all my dinner reservations under the name Probert. (Tear!!)

posted by Debo270 at 10:05 AM on June 08, 2006

I think it's pretty diplomatic of Hurdle to answer that way. How professional is it to start an all out media war between the umps and the teams? I'm all for sending the umps to the showers, too. Especially after seeing the Cards v. the Astros in Game 2 or 3 or 4 of the NLCS last year. I was so heated at the fluctuating strike zone that I don't remember which game it was. LaRussa, of course, got thrown out, after which Houston agreed that the calling was inconsistent. Edmonds got thrown out as well for commenting a bit later, as the problem didn't seem to be fixed. I'd think that MLB would get it in the umps' heads that they're there to officiate the game, not to get inflated egos about being able to throw guys out of the game. Don't get me wrong, if I ever got the opportunity to throw a multimillionaire out on his ear, I'd do it, but not during a game without just cause. I'd love to see an investigation by the MLB calling in all of the first few rows of the stadium as witnesses.

posted by Thisguy at 11:29 AM on June 08, 2006

Nearly all Rockies games are televised regionally. This incident just happened to occur during one of the few games that aren't televised. Judging by their record (I know, a crazy stat to consider) and team ERA, the Rockies are not nearly as "pathetic" as some have indicated. Anyone who follows the Rockies knows that Hurdle is undoubtedly a class act. This blue was out of control.

posted by uncle eddie at 12:55 PM on June 08, 2006

nbw, There is not a single person on this site who did not know what Bishop meant. His comment was hardly retarded while yours is just silly.

posted by Termite at 01:40 PM on June 08, 2006

Wow thats pathetic. No cameras? You would think that the stadium would at least have security cameras that would monitor the field, or scouts for something taking footage of the game. Thats a serious problem.

posted by redsoxrgay at 01:59 PM on June 08, 2006

As an umpire, admittedly at a lot lower level (Babe Ruth, High School, etc.), I will say that it is sometimes difficult to keep a level head. About all you can do with a manager, coach, or player is to give him the hook, turn your back, and walk away. Then, if there is contact made, it's not the umpire's fault. Having said that, there are some major league umpires who seem to want confrontation. The best of them remain unseen for 9 innings.

posted by Howard_T at 02:29 PM on June 08, 2006

I can't imagine something like this would happen on Cowboy Joe West's crew. I was joking about how pathetic it was that this game wasn't on TV, then i saw my Phillies won't be on TV on Saturday thank to FOX. This game was a day game, so that could be a big reason why it wasn't on TV, but you'd think someone would have been taping it, at least for highlights or something. I guess they didn't want waste any digital tape.

posted by SummersEve at 02:34 PM on June 08, 2006

Here I am tron7.... Not having seen the (non-existent) footage of what really happened, we have only the reports to go on. If Randazzo went up the line, he was in the wrong. God knows that umpires have enough to deal with and do notneed to go looking for trouble. That said, it *can* be hard to just let it go sometimes. If someone has been sniping at you all day long, and you realize it is the last chance to set him straight, you might just be tempted to put your self where you do not belong. Think "I have been good about ignoring the trolls, but enough is enough." Even those of us here at SpoFi go where angels fear to tread from time to time. This in no way justifies anything that Randazzo may have done, he has been around long enough to know better (6 and a half years in the show). I would think that he will get spoken to, not only by Cowboy Joe, but by the Commisioner's office as well. No, it will not likely be made public, whatever the consequences are (and with that I *do* agree). But, I would not look for him to work a second Mid-summer classic this year....

posted by elovrich at 03:55 PM on June 08, 2006

I'd like to see some video of this. I mean, did he push him or bump him or take a swing, it's not really clear. What makes this a big deal is that the umpire is supposed to be in charge of a game and for the umpire to be the catalyst for an altercation is doubly uncalled for. The only reasoning for allowing this to happen is pride on the umpire's part. An umpire's calls greatly affect the outcome of a game and thus the player's job. While the player's actions affect only the umpire's ego. I'm not trying to say player's are crrect in starting an altercation either, just that they have more on the line than an umpire.

posted by tron7 at 05:10 PM on June 08, 2006

I am new to posting at this site, but have been reading for a while. I have had the opprotunity to spend time with Tony when he was in the Texas League and he did a lot to help improve my umpiring ability and move up in the college ranks. With that said, there has to be more than what the media has given us. You do not make it to the bigs as an ump with a short fuse or a chip on your shoulder, especially since the changes happened in 1999. Mr. Hurdle was a gentleman when he played in KC and he continues to be one in this situation. I am sure that there will be conversations between Tony and Hurdle sometime soon, maybe with or without MLB. Either way, both will take the field again understanding that it is a new day and a new game. Last thing, props to TBH for mentioning big #7, and to the MLB umps for wearing the black armbands in memory. RIP and God Bless Eric Gregg.

posted by reftheump at 06:31 AM on June 09, 2006

Sic 'em, Bishop!!

posted by ctal1999 at 11:30 AM on June 09, 2006

It is part perception and part truth actually... At the lowest levels, (Rookie ball and short-A) which an umpire typically works their first year or two, it is quite common for an umpire to have 20+ incident reports to file, and remember, this is in a shortened season. Part of this is attributable to the fact the they have quick trigger fingers, part is that they are more sensitive to the criticism and bench-jokeying that they hear (still having rabbit-ears at this level is not uncommon), and part is due to the fact that the players, managers and coaches are also either in their first years, or trying to make a name for themselves. As an umpire (and the players) move up the ladder, each becomes more confident in the umpire's abilities and there are fewer ejections, again partly due to better behavior on both sides, and thicker skin from having been in the crucible. By the time an umpire reaches AAA, and especially those who are just waiting for a spot to open up in the Show, the umpires have their reputations established; wide zone or not, easy to approach with a legitimate beef or not, quick on the trigger or not, and the players and managers can guage their reactions accordingly. As has been said many times, the best umpire is the one that you have to check the boxscore the next day to see who was working the game. Besides, no one *wants* to have to do all that paperwork....

posted by elovrich at 09:39 PM on June 09, 2006