I get the emotion but regardless of how bad an umpire might be, intentionally drilling him with a pitch is a classless move.
Are used to think that, but now I kind of go back-and-forth based on what a professional umpire told me. This guy that I know is not one of the main guys in the big leagues he primarily does minor league games, but since he lives in Central Maryland, if they know that a crew that’s doing a nationals, Orioles or Phillies game needs a guy he gets sent there as a replacement or emergency guy in the locker room.
He said, as long as he’s been umpiring, which is 30+ years, he’s seeing more and more guys these days make a game about them. He’s definitely old school and would go toe to toe screaming at earl Weaver but he’ll tell you there are guys now that Think people came to the ball park to watch them umpire. One of the guys he worked with who was the Homeplate umpire, actually cussed out the ball boy because he didn’t think he was bringing him in the balls fast enough. He said the same guy also told the home team manager that letting his guys dance after an extra base hit and pointer the crowd was disrespecting the game. The manager then told him to shut up and let these 18 year old Hispanic kids do what they wanted. The home plate umpire then rung the next batter up on a pitch that was a foot outside and everybody in the stadium, including the other umpires knew it was to get back at the manager.
www.espn.com
