Tim Anderson suspended after making contact with umpire while arguing ejection

Chicago White Sox star shortstop Tim Anderson was suspended for three games after making contact with an umpire while arguing an ejection. On Friday during the White Sox’s game against the Oakland A’s, Anderson did not like a called strike that he felt was too high. Anderson proceeded to argue with home plate umpire Nick Mahrley about the call for an extended period of time, visibly upset.

The umpire made the decision to toss Anderson from the game, prompting the Tuscaloosa-native to confront the umpire directly — making contact with the brim of his helmet against the umpire’s head. Although the situation defused itself fairly quickly on the field, Anderson received a three-game suspension for making contact with an umpire.

Tim Anderson suspended

“White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has been suspended for 3 games after making contact with home plate umpire Nick Mahrley in Friday night’s game against Oakland,” explained ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. “He’s appealing so he can play until there’s a hearing. Anderson is in the lineup tonight.”

Anderson’s appeal is a standard practice for players who receive suspensions from the league, and he would be allowed to play games to delay the punishment if it’s upheld by the appeal hearing.

Critics of Anderson’s actions highlight that his actions cost him team in a big way, even if he doesn’t receive a further suspension. The White Sox were trailing the A’s 5-3 when he was ejected for the game, against a team that many felt the White Sox should be able to handle easily. Additionally, the pitch that Anderson argued was not particularly far outside of the zone — with the broadcast’s pitch tracker putting the ball just along the wall of the strike zone.

Anderson’s previous altercation with Josh Donaldson

Friday’s altercation with the umpire wasn’t the first time that Anderson made headlines for verbal battles on the field this season. Earlier in the year, Anderson got into a very public spat with Josh Donaldson of the New York Yankees. Anderson and Donaldson started a bench-clearing war of words on the field, with Anderson later revealing he believed Donaldson had made a racial remark towards him.

Anderson stated that Donaldson called him “Jackie” on the field as a reference to MLB legend Jackie Robinson — something that he took as a racially charged joke.

Donaldson later explained that he did call him “Jackie,” but that it was a reference to an earlier quote from Anderson where he called himself a modern-day Jackie Robinson. Donaldson maintained that he didn’t mean any racist intent and believed it was an inside-joke, but Anderson did not feel the same way.