If you’re an avid reader of my columns, then this is probably something you’ve never seen in print. Although I don’t write about what is going on in the world of Major League Baseball, I have an opinion about several topics including, but not limited to player abuse by umpires, over spending by franchises, the greats of the game, and PEDs.
I’ve always had a problem with basketball officials trying to upstage the players in the NBA and become bigger than the game. I would often watch a game and see a player make a facial gesture toward the official or say something to an opposing player, only to have the official issue a technical foul for taunting or “showing up” an official. Really? Like the fans in the $250 seats came to see Ronnie Nunn, Haywood Workman, or Violet Palmer (NBA Referees) running up and down the floor. After all, isn’t this professional basketball? Shouldn’t the players be afforded some sort of leverage? As I’ve said in the past on several occasions, professional football players have it the best, because their officials actually officiate the game. They don’t feel like their being disrespected because a Quarterback draws the defense off sides. When a linebacker drills a running back for no gain and celebrates, he isn’t hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. When a basketball player rejects another player’s shot and celebrates, why is it deemed unsportsmanlike conduct? He did his job the same way the linebacker did except he used less force.
Courtesy: Yahoo Sports
Over the length of this season in baseball, I’ve seen more players ejected in one week, than I have seen in an entire season. That’s just absurd! Last week when I saw A.J. Pierzynski get tossed over something he said to the home plate umpire that lasted probably 5 seconds, for me that was the absolute last straw! He didn’t get in the Umpire’s face, nor did he exhibit the traditional dirt kicking ritual that so many have in the past. When Baseball Tonight’s, Curt Schilling, echoed my exact sentiments about Major League Umpires, I truly felt vindicated and at peace with my disdain for the umpires this season.
Obviously the powers that be felt the same as Curt and myself and have taken the necessary steps to rectify this ongoing problem. The only problem I have with this is that Major League Baseball always let the problem fester too long, before they take action.
The Pierzynski incident wasn’t the first time an umpire has gotten out of line and made a terrible decision impacting the game. Just a few days ago in Boston, Ryan Dempster should’ve been given a warning when he started his shenanigans against A-Rod. Instead, he was given the chance to plunk the Yankee slugger and almost incited a bench clearing brawl. Whether or not Rodriguez deserved to be hit, Dempster isn’t the law and shouldn’t have been compelled to take matters into his own hands.
Protocols and procedures need to be put in place to extinguish these types of incidents. An official should absolutely have the power to toss pitchers when they cross the line. We can’t afford to have situations like the Jason Heyward incident the other night, where the Atlanta Braves slugger was hit in the face with a pitch and had his jaw broken. He’s now facing season ending surgery to say the least. The late Kirby Puckett was also at the end of a collision between a 90 plus mph fastball and his face. Although he survived, he suffered complications from the hit like lost vision in one eye, constant migraine headaches, and PCS (post concussion syndrome).
As much as everyone feels that the millions that these players make per season is too much, there isn’t a price tag you can put on a player’s well being. I’m sure none of you would want your health to be compromised at work just because of how much money you earn. We’re all human and should be treated equally when in the workplace. Stay tuned for the finale.
