MLB, ump’s union spar over Machado suspension
Main League Baseball known as the MLB Umpires Affiliation’s impassioned social media put up on San Diego Padres star Manny Machado’s one-game suspension “inappropriate” in a press release Tuesday.
It was in response to the MLBUA calling Machado’s ban for making contact with an umpire throughout San Diego’s recreation Saturday in opposition to the Colorado Rockies a “slap within the face.”
“One recreation..one single recreation. What sort of precedent is that setting? It’s NOT okay to throw a mood tantrum and bodily contact somebody of authority, simply since you do not agree. Violence in all workplaces shouldn’t be tolerated. Interval,” the MLBUA mentioned in its Fb put up Tuesday.
The MLBUA went on to name the suspension a “shame” and mentioned any bodily contact with an umpire can’t be tolerated.
“Main League Baseball has to at all times lead by instance in all instances of violent habits, on and off the sphere,” the MLBUA wrote. “With that being mentioned, the MLBUA is awfully disillusioned in Main League Baseball for its disciplinary ‘inaction’ handed right down to Manny Machado.”
The Twitter put up was accompanied by a string of hashtags: #Upset, #LeadByExample, #NotAppreciated, #Violence, #TemperTantrum, #Inaction, #NotTolerated, #MakeanExampleof, #OneGameSuspension, #RepeatOffender and #Nonsense.
MLB mentioned the punishment, imposed Monday by chief baseball officer Joe Torre, was for “aggressively arguing and making contact” with plate umpire Invoice Welke.
“Mr. Machado is interesting his suspension and we don’t consider it’s applicable for the union representing Main League Umpires to touch upon the self-discipline of gamers represented by the [Major League Baseball] Gamers Affiliation, simply as it could not be applicable for the Gamers Affiliation to touch upon disciplinary selections made with respect to umpires,” MLB mentioned in its assertion later Tuesday. “We additionally consider it’s inappropriate to match this incident to the terribly severe problem of office violence.”
Machado denies that he made contact with the umpire.
“Actually, you realize, I am simply ready for my attraction, ready for MLB and Joe Torre to get again to me. Actually simply ready for my listening to to plead my case, and that is all we’ll fear about,” Machado mentioned earlier than Tuesday evening’s recreation in opposition to Milwaukee. “I’ve obtained MLB and the Padres and possession behind me on this. We’re simply all on the identical web page and we’ll transfer ahead from this.”
Machado declined remark when requested if he thought the umpires’ social media posts had been unprofessional. He chuckled when requested if he felt he was being focused.
“Actually, baseball’s been happening for lots of years, been happening for 100 some years and it is going to proceed to maintain going and we go on the market and we play baseball and we get pleasure from ourselves day-after-day,” he responded. “At this level, we’re simply ready for my listening to. MLB put one thing in place to deal with issues like this.”
Machado, 26, is batting .264 with 14 house runs and 40 RBIs for the Padres after signing a $300 million, 10-year contract in spring coaching.
Info from The Related Press was used on this report.