Comments on: BRAVO! Umpire Bob Davidson suspended for a game, MLB announces it loud and clear

By: vallewho

vallewho — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:16:27 +0000

I get the on-field authority thing, but MLB needed to assert their authority as to who controls the overall game of baseball. It goes to the integrity of the game that they so much like to talk about.Their previous lack of action on these matters only signaled that the (umps) union was running the show.

By: adenzeno

adenzeno — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:10:14 +0000

For a minute, when Iread Joe West my mind said Joe Buck…..then again…

By: proudliberal85392

proudliberal85392 — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:23:23 +0000

Where’s Ron Luciano when you need him?

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:47:59 +0000

You must be new here. Read a few of the other threads…like the Ricketts one…or any of the ones about Braun’s suspension. In other words, no, unlike other blogs, these guys actually allow comments through, no matter whether they agree or not.

By: theocre

theocre — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:17:59 +0000

So you only publish comments that agree with article?

By: spellingcops

spellingcops — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:59:40 +0000

Wasn’t that Milton Bradley?

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:18:48 +0000

Poor Davidson. Will no one speak up for him? Every accused is entitled to a rigorous defense. I would do it, if only in the interest of fairness, but I promised my dog I’d play a game of Ouija Scrabble with him if it rained, and guess what? It’s raining, so….

By: pjmarn6

pjmarn6 — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:35:08 +0000

It is hard to go after umpires when MLB turns a blind eye to thousands of baseball players using stimulants to bilk the public out of billions of dollars and at the same time fattening their own wallets.
I am just waiting to see what cooperstown, clowns who vote into the hall of FLAMERS AND FAKES, the scumbags who souped themselves up to bring in the millions of dollars in salaries.

Briefly, and autoracing is no way my sport, but I read how the cars engines are regulated somehow so that they don’t soup them up too much. I really didn’t want to study it but that is exactly what happened in baseball. The players souped themselves up to do feats that the normal body cannot do and then demanded and got huge salaries while the owners, managers, trainers turned a blind eye and winked as ticket and concession prices went into orbit.

Now a few umpires yelling and screaming is absolutely nothing compared to what MLB allowed and encouraged the players to do.

Its like the farce of tv wrestling, let the umpires go at it and let the crowd at the coliseums boo and yell at the continuing farce.

By: meaz23

meaz23 — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:37:52 +0000

He should have been suspended many times before and for more games this time. It’s about time an umpire was suspended for abusing his power.

By: nofunleague

nofunleague — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:21:53 +0000

They do but their union has prevented disclosure in the past. why this one came out is strange

By: theocre

theocre — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:04:07 +0000

Just fire them on a missed call and see how many officials are left. When in doubt blame the ump.

By: sportsguyinindy

sportsguyinindy — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:46:22 +0000

I am sorry, I was kinda wrong. Mike Winters was suspended in 2003 and Brian Runge was suspended in 2008.

By: sportsguyinindy

sportsguyinindy — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:38:20 +0000

The last umpire to be suspended was Mike Winters back on the last weekend of the 2008 season in San Diego when he caused a runner (i forget the name) to have a torn ACL. Curius enough, a season later he promoted to crew chief.

By: bosoxfan1950

bosoxfan1950 — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:01:40 +0000

IMHO, MLB announcing publicly a one-game suspension of an umpire, while being a step in the right direction, is a bit like suspending a MLB starting pitcher for 5 games. Both are woefully inadequate.
If there is to be some semblance of “let the punishment fit the crime,” make it a 10-game suspension for an umpire and a 50-game suspension for a starter who hits a batter with a 90+ mph fastball. I have no idea how much umpires are paid, but if you want to get their attention, again IMHO, by attacking their wallet, make them feel the pinch! Ditto starters!
Its bad enough that MLB is replete with player prima donas, we also have to endure the umpires acting as prima donas, too?

By: bostonbruinsfan33

bostonbruinsfan33 — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:35:28 +0000

So officials in pro sports are (finally) starting to be held accountable for their actions. If we started doing this more often and I was able to start a fund that collected fine money from umpires and referees, I’d have enough to send to charity at the end of the regular season (the charity would be chosen by the players)!!!

By: jjschiller

jjschiller — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:33 +0000

Lawyers are kind of expected to be partisan, aren’t they?

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:50:38 +0000

I’d imagine umps getting suspended here and there, but MLB doesn’t reveal it. They may just give the ump a day off. MLB made an example of Davidson.

By: yourrealitybites

yourrealitybites — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:28:41 +0000

This guy (and Joe West) is an embarassment to the game of baseball. The people who represent any business are a reflection of its owners and management. Condoning this behavior by simply tolerating it year after year, calls into question the integrity of baseball’s brass.

By: timpaz

timpaz — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:02:06 +0000

If the commissioners office had any guts they would fire this arrogant ass and Cowboy Joe West with him, they are a disgrace to the profession

By: dasher521

dasher521 — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:56:59 +0000

As a mentor of mine used to say, “You know, there are more horse’s asses than there are horses.” Joe West is the top offender of the umpires who think the game is about them. When he resigned, I don’t understand why he was taken back when more qualified umpires were not taken back. Davidson is Number 2. I’ve seen Jerry Layne be aggressive as well.

Now they ought to make Davidson face a press conference after the game.

By: leerosenthall

leerosenthall — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:50:48 +0000

More like Doofus Hernandez.

By: sabatimus

sabatimus — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:40:35 +0000

If he’s committing repeated violations, over years (which is the truth), shouldn’t he just be fired? I’ve seen him go after and bait so many players and managers. One game is a joke. Fire him, and let the WUA cry foul (no pun intended) if they want to.

By: skids003

skids003 — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:39:07 +0000

I officiate multiple sports, and i do agree, this guy is over the top. That saying, “parent, teacher, coach, cop, officials”. How about adding lawyers Craig, aren’t they supposed to be bastions of society?

By: leftywildcat

leftywildcat — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:13:35 +0000

He ought to be f***ing suspended one f***ing game for each f***ing time he said”F***!”

By: hiltonandastoria

hiltonandastoria — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:02:13 +0000

He’s everything an Ump should not be, if you were training new Ump you would never allow one like him to reach the bigs.

So….Why is he still an ump?

He should be removed from the game permanently

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:55:43 +0000

Demon? Is that the name of one of the Rebel Angels who followed Lucifer and Satan?

By: sisqsage

sisqsage — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:51:22 +0000

Davidson’s terrible reputation fueled much of this incident. He didn’t really do much that is bad on this play, but when you are a hated and disrespected ump, a manager/team will jump on you at any opportunity.
Bob, of course, made it worse by being…..Bob.

Shouldn’t they make this guy retire already? He looks really over the hill, not even counting the nonstop unprofessional behavior.
Looks like he needs a new razor too.

By: mybrunoblog

mybrunoblog — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:47:29 +0000

Is this move unprecedented? I don’t ever recall an umpire being suspended. Anyone know?

By: aceshigh11

aceshigh11 — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:47:27 +0000

One game may seem light, but perhaps just embarrassment of being suspended will send the message…it might humble him.

Then again…everything I’ve seen of this guy suggests that most likely not.

By: aceshigh11

aceshigh11 — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:46:10 +0000

Demon Hernandez?