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View Full Version : D-Rays' prospect throws bat at umpire



Reds Nd2
04-27-2006, 01:01 PM
This isn't Reds related but thought everyone might be interested.

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/5544858

Associated Press
Posted: 2 hours ago

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) - Durham Bulls outfielder Delmon Young threw a bat into the chest of the home plate umpire after being called out on strikes in the first inning of Wednesday night's game at Pawtucket.

Young took a third strike on a 1-and-2 pitch. When Young delayed leaving the batter's box, the umpire ejected him. Young then flipped his bat underhand. It sailed end over end and hit the umpire in the chest.
Pawtucket catcher Corky Miller said he didn't hear Young say anything to the umpire. "I heard the umpire say, 'You better get going,"' Miller said.

"It was hard to say what was going through his mind. Guys have emotions. But you try to learn how to control them. I'm sure as the bat left his hands he knew it was a bad decision," Miller said.

Young left during the game and wasn't available for comment afterward. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who selected Young with the first overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft, said they would have no comment until they review the situation.

Replacement umpires have been working all minor league games this season because the regular umpires are on strike. Bill Wanless, a spokesman for the Pawtucket Red Sox, said minor league teams are not releasing the names of umpires while the regulars are on strike.

"It's an unfortunate incident and there should be no place for actions like that in the game of baseball," the umpire said in a statement released by Pawtucket. "Any official should not be treated like that. He embarrassed himself and his teammates."

Young, 20, is the younger brother of Detroit Tigers outfielder Dmitri Young. He was voted the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' minor league player of the year last season and the 2005 minor league player of the year by Baseball America.

"It was unfortunate and until I speak with the organization and see what they have in mind, maybe I can comment on it later," Durham manager John Tamargo said. "It's a tough situation right now.

"I haven't spoken with (Young) and haven't gotten his side of it. We've had some problems with different umpires and it's tough. But I can't say any more."

According to International League policy, the umpire will file a report with president Randy Mobley on Thursday. Mobley will read it, interview parties involved in the incident and decide what penalty should be assessed.

Doc. Scott
04-27-2006, 01:17 PM
Corky Miller is in the Boston organization? I must have missed that.

I'd expect Young to get a ten-game suspension minimum for that. Maybe thirty days.

Reds Nd2
04-27-2006, 03:45 PM
Corky Miller is in the Boston organization? I must have missed that.

I'd expect Young to get a ten-game suspension minimum for that. Maybe thirty days.

I didn't see the thread on the other forum, but yea' I think Randy Mobley's going to lower the hammer on Young this time.

Seattle released Corky in April. I think one of Boston's catchers at Pawtucket is on the 40 day disabled list, so I guess that's why they picked him up.

Caseyfan21
04-27-2006, 11:24 PM
I would encourage everyone to watch the video of this over at mlb.com (it's free). You can see Delmon leave the picture and then a bat just come flying out of nowhere at the ump. If that bat had hit the umpire in the head he honestly might not even be alive. All the articles made it sound like his just flipped it but after watching the video that is definately a hard throw, not a flip.

I would venture that minimum he's out the rest of the year and could face legal action from the umpire for battery.

dougdirt
04-27-2006, 11:28 PM
caseydan, I think when the articles say he "flipped the bat" that he was walking away, and out of frustration was swinging the bat with his legs as he walked and let it go with a little force.

When I first saw the video I waas shocked as I also didnt expect the force of the throw from the articles....its going to be interesting to see what comes down with this....

KronoRed
04-27-2006, 11:30 PM
I would encourage everyone to watch the video of this over at mlb.com (it's free). You can see Delmon leave the picture and then a bat just come flying out of nowhere at the ump. If that bat had hit the umpire in the head he honestly might not even be alive. All the articles made it sound like his just flipped it but after watching the video that is definately a hard throw, not a flip.

Exactly, that wasn't a kicking dirt type thing, that was a powerful toss meant to do harm, ump also had his face mask off, could have been real bloody.

Caseyfan21
04-27-2006, 11:47 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2423307

He has been suspended indefinately according to this ESPN article. You can also listen to the talking heads give their opinions. Also interesting was that over 70% of the 50,000 readers said that throwing a bat at an ump should be an automatic season suspension.

Buster Olney said that a key factor in the suspension was whether the bat throw was a toss or a flip. Give me a break. I think that the final result should be the only thing that is looked at. Who care how he did it or what his intent was? The fact is he chose to throw it, it struck the umpire while traveling at a fast velocity, and it had the potential to cause serious harm.

Add those three factors up and Delmon will have a whole lot of summer to refine his bat flipping technique in the comfort of his own home.