"Young Umpire" tosses KC Catcher & Manager

[SnareDrum]

Got to see Cardinals vs Royals yesterday at "The K" and I was just hoping my Royals wouldn't suck (my other fave team is the Cubs so I must be glutton for punishment!) Minor league fill-in Angel Campos is behind the plate on Joe West's crew. KC pitching giving up 13 BB's compared to 1 for the Cards so yeah, catcher Matt Treanor was probably a little peeved. What the video doesn't show is Campos coming around in front of Treanor and saying something before going back behind the plate. You can tell Treanor and Campos are talking and the mic behind the plate actually picks up a little something. Then with Treanor in his crouch, whoooosh! Manager Ned Yost, a good old-time baseball guy, comes out and then he's gone. Joe comes in and really doesn't do anything except escort Ned off. On the vid, and the following one where Yost talks about it, there's some very interesting insight on it all. http://mlb.mlb.com/v...ent_id=15095195

Later in the game, a Card batter was HBP on the hand on a bunt attempt. KC bench coach comes out and wants Campos to ask Chad Fairchild at first if there was an attempt to swing. Campos refused and Joe West comes in. After a long discussion during which Campos drifts away, Joe turns and asks Fairchild and gets the "no swing". I've never seen any other umpire that's not the PU do that.

http://www.kansascit...un-in-with.html is a not-so-bad article on what happened from Treanor's side, and some of those unwritten baseball rules.

A PU coming in front of a catcher to "talk" was a strange sight, and a catcher getting tossed from the crouch was stranger still. Guess Campos had enough, but still a strange sight.

[yawetag]

A PU coming in front of a catcher to "talk" was a strange sight

Not too strange. Usually you deal with a chatty catcher by coming around and cleaning the plate. While your head is down, you explain to him how it's going to be.

In fact, knowing Campos did this first, it makes the ejection even better. Campos already gave him a chance to shut up, and he didn't.

[SnareDrum]

A PU coming in front of a catcher to "talk" was a strange sight

Not too strange. Usually you deal with a chatty catcher by coming around and cleaning the plate. While your head is down, you explain to him how it's going to be.

In fact, knowing Campos did this first, it makes the ejection even better. Campos already gave him a chance to shut up, and he didn't.

But of course, you team won! But all kidding aside...

Yeah, the plate sweep is my method too, and usually the final warning before the thumb. You could see their facemasks bouncing so I knew they were having a nice little chat. But Campos came around (no plate brushing) after the BB to Rasmus and went face-to-face before going back, and that's something I've NEVER seen. When it happened, I said "Uh-oh, this won't turn out good."

After the game, Treanor said he felt that Campos had shown him up, and the ex-player in me can kinda' see his point. Agreed though, any chance given to shut up should be taken.

[Mr Umpire]

This is nothing new for KC catchers (I believe Kendall from last year was on KC). This was done and became a big issue last year (I'm sure but it might have been in '09). Kendall and Yost were tossed then as well. Esterbrook was the umpire I think. Maybe the umpires need a little thicker skin but the catchers need to learn to shut it as well. So many have forgotten their role is to play while the umpire umpires. And, they are attempting to persuade the AAA umpires and finding out that they won't put up with their pathetic tactics.

It may not look good but that is b/c the catcher is trying to make him look bad by using the "I never turned around to him" weak argument. He said enough to earn it I'm sure. He just didn't want to look like the aggressor (He was probably being). He just found out that AAA won't put up with it. I have no doubt it was well worth it and earned.