"I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes." -- Leo Durocher, player and manager
Manager Brad Ausum
On Saturday, Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus let off some steam, ripping into the World Umpires Association for singling out his second baseman Ian Kinsler.
The union, in a statement, criticized Major League Baseball for not sticking up for umpires who have been harshly criticized by players, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports. It specifically mentioned Kinsler, who was ejected from a game against the Texas Rangers this past week after he questioned the judgment of Umpire Angel Hernadez, who was behind the plate. After the ejection, Kinsler issued some stinging statements, questioning the competency of Hernandez.
He was fined, but not suspended, which angered the umpires' union. It thought the punishment was too lenient.
Ausmus blasted the umpires's union for singling out Kinsler, and according to the Detroit News, said:
“To single out one player is completely wrong and goes against what the sport is. It's a team sport. There are often arguments between players and umpires, managers and umpires, coaches and umpires, and it's part of the game. To single out one player as a union is completely uncalled for.
“I've been a part of many arguments, and there are many things said both ways, player to umpire and umpire to player. To act like anyone's innocent in a particular argument is not only unfounded, it's a lie.”
Two of the four umpires at Saturday game against the Dodgers wore white wristbands in protest of the league’s action against Kinsler.
The World Umpires Association released a statement about the white wristbands before the game.
“This week, a player publicly and harshly impugned the character and integrity of Angel Hernandez — a veteran umpire who has dedicated his career to baseball and the community,” the WUA said in a statement. “The verbal attack on Angel Hernandez denigrated the entire MLB umpiring staff and is unacceptable.
“The Office of the Commissioner has failed to address this and other escalating attacks on umpires. The player who denigrated Hernandez publicly said he thought he would be suspended. Instead, got far more lenient treatment. He shrugged this off and told reporters he has ‘no regrets’ about his offensive statements calling for an end to Hernandez’s career.”
Crew chief Bill Miller, one of the two umpires who wore the white wristband, said:
“This is in support of major-league umpires. We're directing all questions to our attorney so that everything comes from one mouth.”
He said the focus of the union’s protest wasn’t solely on Kinsler, even though Kinsler was singled out in the statement.
“He's not the focus of the situation,” Miller said, according to the News. “That's just part of the puzzle. We've have had several instances where umpires have been called out or challenged. Ejections seem to be up, and we just feel like we need to band together and let people know that we are human beings.”
After being ejected from the game against the Texas Rangers, Kinsler said:
"I’m surprised at how bad an umpire he is. I don’t know how, for as many years he’s been in the league, that he can be that bad. He needs to reevaluate his career choice, he really does. Bottom line.”
