Magglio Ordonez-Shoving Up Apologizes … That’s A Good Start

Major League Baseball umpire Paul Schrieber has apologized for shoving Detroit Tigers player Magglio Ordonez during Wednesday night’s game in Minnesota at the Metrodome. The incident led to the ejection of Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who angrily objected to the shove. The shove was not exactly vicious, but neither have some of the ones players have been punished for in the past.

Here is an excerpt from the ESPN story:

Schrieber read a brief statement before the Tigers-Twins series finale on Thursday. He said he “should not have placed my hands on him, period. For doing so, I apologize to both Magglio Ordonez and the Detroit Tigers.”

That is a good start, but as I pointed out in my earlier blog entry, it is not enough. If MLB is to have any credibility, it has to respond in a fashion similar to the way it would if a player shoved an umpire. Also, any punishment Schrieber receives should be above board and made public … as it would be for any player in a similar situation.

ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4166378

UPDATE: I read another part of this statement from Schrieber:

“In yesterday’s game, after I called Magglio Ordoñez out on strikes, I inadvertently placed my hand on his back to usher him away from home plate so that I would not have to eject him for arguing balls and strikes.
“I should not have placed my hand on him. For doing so, I apologize to both Magglio Ordoñez and the Detroit Tigers.”

So, now he is saying it was inadvertant? Not buying that one Paul. He needs an even longer suspension now and a heftier fine. I don’t think it was malicious, but would that be enough of a defense for a player who had shoved an umpire? I doubt it.

Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090514/SPORTS02/90514071/Umpire+apologizes+for+touching+Magglio+Ordonez

Major League Baseball Umpire Out Of Line For Pushing Magglio Ordonez

Major League Baseball needs to come down harshly on umpire Paul Schrieber for pushing Detroit Tigers player Magglio Ordonez. We know that there is low to zero tolerance for players pushing or excessively touching umpires. But, if that is the case, then the same should be true for umpires pushing or unnecessarily touching players – as Schrieber did during Wednesday night’s game in Minnesota against the Twins. Ordonez was stunned and Detroit manager Jim Leyland was justifiably irate about an umpire basically shoving his player out of the way as if to tell him to move along and get to the dugout. Schrieber was out of line and he should get a suspension (and/or fine) that is the same as what a player would get if the situation was reversed.

If the MLB commissioner’s office does nothing with this incident or in any way attempts to cover it up, then the sports leadership will prove itself to be corrupt, inconsistent and incompetent. Will MLB step up and do what needs to be done or will it follow its own history and that of the National Hockey League and put into motion a cover up that will stink almost as bad as the original crime?

Here is an excerpt from a column in the Detroit News (written by Tony Paul):

If Paul Schrieber isn’t suspended for at least five games, Major League Baseball will have some serious splainin’ to do. Any player, manager or hot-dog vendor who puts his pine tar/cigarette/mustard-stained hands on an umpire pays an oh-so-stiff penalty, so the home-plate umpire at the Metrodome Wednesday night should be shown no leniency for what went down.

Good points by Tony Paul. Schrieber’s suspension and/or fine should be equivalent to what a player would get for shoving an umpire out of the way. Watch the video and notice the arrogance of Schrieber who threw Leyland out of the game after arguing with the Detroit skipper (what he could be arguing is beyond me since he was the one who committed the act that led to the argument).

Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090514/OPINION03/905140446/1361/Commentary–Ump-way-out-of-line-in-treatment-of-Magglio-Ordonez