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Umpire Joe West suspended one game for grabbing Jonathan Papelbon
Major League Baseball didn't waste any time suspending Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon seven games for making what they determined to be a lewd gesture, as well as a not so swift or elegant exit on Sunday afternoon. However, punishment for umpire Joe West, who ejected Papelbon for the gesture and later grabbed him by the uniform to extract him from their heated confrontation, was a little slower to come.
That changed on Wednesday, as the league officially announced West will be suspended one game for initiating contact with Papelbon.
Joe Torre, MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations, issued the following statement in regards to West's suspension.
“Joe West handled himself appropriately in ejecting Papelbon after the player’s lewd gesture to the fans. I fully understand that Joe was reacting to a player who was acting aggressively, and can understand his frustration with the situation. However, Joe knows that an umpire cannot initiate physical contact with a player just as a player cannot initiate physical contact with an umpire. I spoke to Joe about the incident, and he admitted that there was a better way to handle the situation. I consider this matter closed.”
Unfortunately "there was a better way to handle it" comes up frequently when West is involved in these situations. Over his 36 seasons, which makes him the longest-serving active umpire in the league, he's been known to pick fights, ruffle feathers and escalate confrontations.
This time, though, West obviously crossed a line that's not acceptable for players, coaches or umpires. It's simple, you can't initiate contact, regardless of the circumstances, and though his actions were clearly not intended to be volatile, West is probably lucky his suspension didn't near Papelbon's in length.
This marks the second time West has been suspended during his career. He was given a three-game ban in 1983 for shoving then Atlanta Braves manager Joe Torre, who followed him into the hallway outside the umpire's dressing room during a postgame confrontation.
Oh, the irony there, as now it's Torre laying down the law on the West.
West will serve his suspension on Wednesday. He was slated to work the Yankees-Rays game in St. Petersburg, which based on last night's hostilities between managers Joe Girardi and Joe Maddon, might be a game right up West's alley.
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is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
