Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Nationals played against the New York Yankees on Wednesday Night, in a matchup of two first-place teams. During the third-inning, there was an incident that involved Nationals manager, Matt Williams, right fielder Bryce Harper, and umpire Marvin Hudson.
It looked like Harper didn’t like the strike call for strike one by Hudson, made a little comment, and stepped out of the box. As Harper began to step back in, Williams started to give Hudson a piece of his mind from the dugout and Hudson started yelling back at Williams, so Harper backed out of the box again. Hudson then started screaming at Harper to get back in the box, and Harper said something back to Hudson as he got back in the batter’s box, and then backed out once again to get away from the situation. Then Hudson decided to eject Harper.
Harper never does anything that warrants being ejected, especially in a game with a playoff-type atmosphere. Hudson clearly baited Harper, and for that reason, should be suspended. An umpire should never be the aggressor in an argument without being provoked. As soon as Williams let him know that he didn’t like the call, Hudson snapped and took the whole incident to another level.
Hudson said after the game, “He didn’t like the pitch, and I let him have his say going and coming. The dugout didn’t like it, and one thing led to another and I had to run him. I had to eject him.” This is an incredibly vague explanation on his reason for ejecting Harper. It sounds like his main issue was with Williams and the Nationals’ dugout but he took it out on Harper, which was an incredibly unprofessional decision.
I understand that umpires take a lot of heat on the field, some of it unwarranted, and the only bullet in their pocket is the ability to eject, but there needs to be an understanding that baseball is entertainment, and everyone is there to watch the best players in the world compete, not to see them ejected in the third inning.
Jason Fletcher is a MLB Featured Writer For www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.
