Devil Rays prospect throws bat at plate umpire [Archive]

miami_fan

04-26-2006, 09:13 PM

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Durham Bulls outfielder Delmon Young threw a bat into the chest of the home plate umpire after being called out on strikes in the first inning of Wednesday night's game at Pawtucket.

Young argued with the umpire after taking a third strike on a 1-and-2 pitch. The umpire ejected Young, who then threw his bat and hit the umpire in the chest.

Replacement umpires have been working all minor league games this season because the regular umpires are on strike. Bill Wanless, a spokesman for the Pawtucket Red Sox, said minor league teams are not releasing the names of umpires while the regulars are on strike.

Young, 20, is the younger brother of Detroit Tigers outfielder Dmitri Young. He was voted the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' minor league player of the year last season and the 2005 minor league player of the year by Baseball America.

The Devils Rays selected Young with the first overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft.

So how many games does he get for this one? 25? 50?

ISiddiqui

04-26-2006, 09:13 PM

Dammmn... and he's their top prospect.

Solecismic

04-26-2006, 09:23 PM

http://redsoxminors.mostvaluablenetwork.com/general/bulls-player-throws-bat-at-umpire/

You have to wonder if Young is going to lose the entire season. This is just completely unacceptible.

Captain2711

04-26-2006, 09:23 PM

No Delmon, your supposed to swing the bat at the pitch over the plate not at the umpire's chest.

SackAttack

04-26-2006, 09:31 PM

http://redsoxminors.mostvaluablenetwork.com/general/bulls-player-throws-bat-at-umpire/

You have to wonder if Young is going to lose the entire season. This is just completely unacceptible.

Agreed.

Although in reading that article I don't know if the contact was intentional. He threw the bat, which he shouldn't have done, but it doesn't look like they were jaw-to-jaw and he threw it at the umpire.

I'd say minimum 25-50, but as you say I wouldn't be surprised to see him lose a season.

Ksyrup

04-26-2006, 09:35 PM

The Devil Rays have the worst luck EVER!

bosshogg23

04-26-2006, 09:35 PM

I dont think he will lose the whole season, or even half the season.
I would put the max at about 25 games.

Not trying to argue either way but I dont see the punishment being extremely severe.

Joe

04-26-2006, 10:02 PM

if there's ever a player that should be banned from baseball for life, it's this worthless piece of shit.

Eaglesfan27

04-26-2006, 10:08 PM

I'll be disappointed if he isn't suspended for at least the season. Terrible disrespect for the umpire not to mention potentially dangerous.

st.cronin

04-26-2006, 10:34 PM

I think he should spend some time in jail.

bosshogg23

04-26-2006, 10:38 PM

Aside from what everyone wants to happen, what do people think WILL happen?

Eaglesfan27

04-26-2006, 10:41 PM

Aside from what everyone wants to happen, what do people think WILL happen?

My guess is a suspension in the range of 30-40 games.

sterlingice

04-26-2006, 10:58 PM

The Devil Rays have the worst luck EVER!

A pile of pitchers with last names like Stodolka, Griffin, George, Snyder, Reichert, Rosado, Austin, et al, would beg to differ ;)

SI

Groundhog

04-26-2006, 11:01 PM

Straight to the gallows with 'im.

BishopMVP

04-26-2006, 11:54 PM

“The closest thing I can think of is the Izzy Alcanatra incident [where the one-time Red Sox prospect drop-kicked Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons catcher Jeremy Salazar before charging the mound to go after Blas Cedeno and drew a six-game suspension and a hefty fine], but never to an umpire,” :) hxxp://youtube.com/watch?v=qVg48ADCL10&search=baseball%20fight #4

Bert Campaneris threw a bat at a pitcher 35 years ago, so I don't know if that helps.

JeffR

04-26-2006, 11:55 PM

if there's ever a player that should be banned from baseball for life, it's this worthless piece of shit.

I think you're looking for the Barry Bonds thread, Mr. President.

nilodor

04-27-2006, 12:06 AM

The way they were describing the incident it sounded like he was yelling with the bat in his hand, made some wild flail with his arm and smacked the umpire with the bat. But there was no video of the incident with the story so who knows.

Brillig

04-27-2006, 12:44 AM

From http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060426&content_id=1420691&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

"He stood there, looking back for a long period of time, maybe 30 seconds," Pawtucket broadcaster Dan Hoard recalled. "It was borderline, but not ridiculous from the vantage point of the broadcasting booth. I've learned since, from the Pawtucket catcher (Corky Miller), that the umpire told him to go back and he wouldn't go."
Young finally took a step or two toward his dugout when the umpire ejected him from the game. The timing of the ejection made it seem like Young said something to the umpire as he began his retreat, but Hoard said Miller told him Young was silent at the time.
Young then took a couple of steps and threw the bat at the umpire. According to The Associated Press, Young flipped the bat underhand. It sailed end over end and hit the umpire in the chest. "It wasn't with force, but I'd say that was his intent," Hoard said. "He went back to the dugout and disappeared. That was the end of his night and the end of his playing for some time."

I'd say kicked for the rest of the season sounds about right in terms of punishment fitting the crime. The only comparable incident that comes to mind is the infamous Latrell Sprewell, who lost most of a season if I recall...

molson

04-27-2006, 01:49 AM

What kind of psycho do you have to be to do something like that? I mean, I guess I can kind of understand a split second thing where you didn't realize what you were doing - but this guy throws a bat at an umpire more than 30 seconds after the call is made? When he went back to the duggout, was he thinking, "ya, that'll show him".

BishopMVP

04-27-2006, 01:52 AM

From the "underhand flip" 'without much force', I foresee less than a full season - 30-50 games sounds right.

Schmidty

04-27-2006, 02:03 AM

10 games - at most. Guaranteed.

Ksyrup

04-27-2006, 07:27 AM

The only comparable incident that comes to mind is the infamous Latrell Sprewell, who lost most of a season if I recall...

You're kidding, right?

That's more comparable to Izzy, or Carl Everett a few years ago, or even Roberto Alomar? Attacking and choking your own coach during practice compares to this?

Ryche

04-27-2006, 08:09 AM

I see wrestlers shove and strike refs all the time and the worse they get is a disqualification for their match.

The closest example I can think of is Orlando Brown shoving that ref and getting suspended indefinitely. And he at least had some justification. I'm pretty sure Young's season is over.

rkmsuf

04-27-2006, 08:12 AM

he should be dragged through a trough of urine and then given a whip round.

Maple Leafs

04-27-2006, 08:35 AM

I remember striking out when I was a kid and trying to fling the bat into the ground, but it slipped and instead I helicoptored it into my bench and almost killed a few kids.

Good times.

JonInMiddleGA

04-27-2006, 08:56 AM

Guessing? 25 games.

Critch

04-27-2006, 08:59 AM

Is there no video of the incident?

Toddzilla

04-27-2006, 09:17 AM

BrianD

04-27-2006, 09:31 AM

I have zero tolerance for physical abuse of the umpires...severity of the "attack" doesn't matter. I would toss the guy for the season to make it known that this isn't even a little bit ok.

Samdari

04-27-2006, 09:57 AM

severity of the "attack" doesn't matter.

Yeah, it does, just like real life.

You simply cannot compare this to if he had, say taken his bat in hand and beaten the umpire with it. They are completely different crimes.

I think he should be suspended the rest of the season. I think he will be suspended 15-30 games. Does anyone know if being suspended from this league would keep him from playing in MLB games, were he to get called up late in the year in a desperate attempt to get people to the Devil Rays games?

watravaler

04-27-2006, 10:08 AM

The bat was tossed underhand with all the force of a little girl throwing a teddy bear. I'll be surprised if he gets more than 15 games.

BrianD

04-27-2006, 10:19 AM

Yeah, it does, just like real life.

You simply cannot compare this to if he had, say taken his bat in hand and beaten the umpire with it. They are completely different crimes.

I think he should be suspended the rest of the season. I think he will be suspended 15-30 games. Does anyone know if being suspended from this league would keep him from playing in MLB games, were he to get called up late in the year in a desperate attempt to get people to the Devil Rays games?

So the severity of the attack does matter and you think he should get the same punishment that I suggested? :)

Had he beat the umpire with bat in hand, I would assume he would be looking at a lifetime ban from the game and possible prison time.

BrianD

04-27-2006, 10:22 AM

The bat was tossed underhand with all the force of a little girl throwing a teddy bear. I'll be surprised if he gets more than 15 games.

This is where I am saying that severity doesn't (shouldn't) matter. If you give him a light punishment because he threw with the force of a little girl, the next time (him or someone else) the bat will be thrown with the force of a medium-sized girl, and it will slowly escalate from there until a real punishment is given out. Umpires shouldn't have to worry about their physical safety even a little bit. If the umpires screw up, it should be up to the league to punish them. Players should never touch them.

Samdari

04-27-2006, 10:24 AM

So the severity of the attack does matter and you think he should get the same punishment that I suggested? :)

Had he beat the umpire with bat in hand, I would assume he would be looking at a lifetime ban from the game and possible prison time.

I don't think he should get the same punishment because you said it. Surprisingly I came up with it on my own.

So you don't think severity should matter, but you think his ban length should be longer if the attack had been more severe?

BrianD

04-27-2006, 11:00 AM

I don't think he should get the same punishment because you said it. Surprisingly I came up with it on my own.

So you don't think severity should matter, but you think his ban length should be longer if the attack had been more severe?

I think we are talking about different ends of the spectrum. I don't care how hard he threw the bat, or where he intended to hit the umpire. I don't even care if he meant to make a statement by throwing the bat near the umpire and accidentally hit him. Like I said, I have zero tolerance for this kind of thing. Strike an umpire, lose the season.

Your example of the player beating the umpire with the bat takes us from outside the rules of the game to outside the laws of society. Obviously severity will matter once you get to a certain point.

NYFAN

04-27-2006, 11:53 AM

I feel like intent should be a factor in this. Without seeing it, who the heck knows what really happened. He could have been walking away, tossed the bat without looking, and hit the ump who was in a different position than where he was when the player walked away. We just don't know.

The player is at fault, and a minimum 25 game ban should take place - even if what was completely accidental (unless the ref jumped into it...). If it was intentional to throw it in the ref's direction, then it should be a minimum of 3/4 of a season.

Poli

04-27-2006, 12:06 PM

He should go to Djibouti for 7 months.

stevew

04-27-2006, 12:18 PM

The Devil Rays are really a classless/clueless organization anyways. Some day MLB will wake up and move these guys somewhere, and get them new ownership.

sooner333

04-27-2006, 01:08 PM

Come on guys...it's not like its a real umpire!!!

but actually, probably the 25-50 games sounds right...maybe closer to 25-30.

NYFAN

04-27-2006, 02:33 PM

here is an interesting tidbit from ESPN.com. Last year he was suspended a few games for bumping chests with a plate umpire. This could go back to intention, and a pattern of behavior. Look for this kid to get a pretty big suspension - I would be surprised if it's under 50 games.

TazFTW

04-27-2006, 02:50 PM

They just showed the video on ESPNEWS, that bat had some velocity.

BrianD

04-27-2006, 03:17 PM

I have a bit more tolerance for a chest bump since it can be hard to determine intent or even who initiated the contact, but the escalation is disturbing.

Has anyone ever challenged a lifetime ban in the courts to know if it would hold up?

gstelmack

04-27-2006, 04:39 PM

They just showed the video on ESPNEWS, that bat had some velocity.

Agreed, and when it hit him and flipped again the umpire almost took the end of the bat in the face while his mask was off. They're about 15-20 feet apart when it happens. He is so gone for the year...

Solecismic

04-27-2006, 04:56 PM

After seeing the video clip, no way should he return this season.

molson

04-27-2006, 05:16 PM

The video can be accessed from the front page of ESPN.com now, if anyone wants to see.

Even though Young is mostly out of camera range when he flips the bat, you can clearly see that he turns his head towards the umpire right as he flips the bat towards him. It's pretty obvious it was intentional.

A full season suspension still seems like too much, considering it's April. That would be essentially equivalent to Ron Artest's suspension, and this wasn't as bad as that. I'd guess 60 games.

miami_fan

04-27-2006, 06:56 PM

Based on the video, I could see justification for a season long ban. More than likely, he will lose 2/3 of the season

QuikSand

04-27-2006, 07:02 PM

More than likely, he will lose 2/3 of the season

Now we're talking.

SackAttack

04-28-2006, 12:57 AM

Finally saw the video.

Apparently he's been "suspended indefinitely," which really needs to become a season ban. As somebody else pointed out, that wasn't a flipped bat that happened to hit the umpire.

That had some velocity on it, and it was targeted. A liner, if you'll pardon me, rather than a can o' corn.

He can say he didn't mean to do it and that he's sorry, but given that it's not his first suspension for improper behavior towards an umpire, and the severity of his actions, he needs to sit for the season.

Franklinnoble

04-28-2006, 01:02 AM

Dude plays in the Devil Rays system. Hasn't he suffered enough already?

Karlifornia

04-28-2006, 01:10 AM

I think you're looking for the Barry Bonds thread, Mr. President.

Wow, you're comparing someone who allegedly did something probably over 1/2 of the league has done at some point, and you're going to compare him to someone throwing a bat at an umpire? Geez.

Klinglerware

04-28-2006, 01:13 AM

Let's see if the striking umpires union is going to leverage this as much as they can to demonstrate unfair working conditions, even if the target was a scab...

http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/01/14/news/news08.txt

Roberts said another concern the union wants addressed in the new contract are sanctions for bad behavior by ballplayers and managers on the field.

In the majors, instances of bumping, spitting or pushing umpires remain on a player’s long-term disciplinary record and repeat offenders face increasingly severe penalties. Not so, Roberts said, in the minors, where infractions don’t follow a player from league to league.

‘‘We feel that Minor League Baseball hinders our ability to do our job properly, and wants you to accept more abuse rather than eject somebody when it’s justified,’’ Roberts said.

Franklinnoble

04-28-2006, 02:12 AM

I didn't realize Dean Houston played baseball...

Toddzilla

04-28-2006, 07:47 AM

Now that the video is out, Young is so cooked. 120-days.

Logan

04-28-2006, 11:09 AM

I think it's kind of funny how for the rest of his career, he'll be arguing called 3rd strikes of pitches 4 feet over his head.

JeeberD

04-28-2006, 11:41 AM

Nah, no way that regular umps are gonna hold hitting a scab ump against him...

Toddzilla

04-29-2006, 03:15 AM

From the SP Times:

A formal punishment could be handed out today, and it is expected to include a hefty suspension without pay, possibly up to three weeks. The Rays could tack on an additional term, making it possible Young, their 20-year-old top prospect, could be out up to a month.
A few weeks? Up to a month? Are you fucking kidding me? If that is the best that baseball and the DRays can do, then there's no hope for humanity. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

GreenMonster

04-29-2006, 08:57 AM

Dammmn... and he's their top prospect.

He isn't just the D-Rays top prospect, last year he was named the #1 prospect in all of baseball, almost 2 years in a row.. He was the #1 pick in the draft also..

Franklinnoble

04-29-2006, 10:50 AM

From the SP Times:

A few weeks? Up to a month? Are you fucking kidding me? If that is the best that baseball and the DRays can do, then there's no hope for humanity. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Agreed... dude needs to sit for the rest of the season, and get a little counseling.

molson

05-09-2006, 01:44 PM

They sure kept this guy waiting - but the verdict is finally out. 50 Games

KWhit

05-09-2006, 02:10 PM

Good. Longer suspension than I was expecting. I was hoping that it would be a year, but figured it would be a lot shorter.

Young Drachma

05-09-2006, 02:29 PM

Sounds about right.

Samdari

05-09-2006, 03:12 PM

dude needs to sit for the rest of the season

Keep railing, but that was never going to happen. Guy is the Rays best (only?) hope for selling tickets in September.

Joe

05-09-2006, 05:40 PM

he should be banned

Sweed

05-09-2006, 06:07 PM

Do you suppose that he'll get the close calls to go in his favor when he gets back?

And the ump rings him up, strike three! That pitch appeared to me to be "just a bit outside" :D

Klinglerware

05-10-2006, 11:53 AM

Somewhat interesting point on Mike and Mike this morning--since D. Young's suspension is 50 games and a first offense for testing positive for steroids gets you 50 games... does this mean that throwing a bat at an umpire and getting caught using steroids for the first time are equivalent offenses?

miami_fan

05-10-2006, 11:57 AM

Honolulu_Blue

05-10-2006, 12:07 PM

This is a shame. I am in one of those complex Keeper Leagues that has a minor league draft and all that. Delmon Young is my number one prospect and pretty much my only minor leaguer of note. Considering how craptacular my team is playing, we could have used him.

Damn youse, Delmon. Damn youse!

B & B

05-10-2006, 04:27 PM

This is a shame. I am in one of those complex Keeper Leagues that has a minor league draft and all that.

As if keeping up with 160 some odd games with injuries, suspensions and matchup problems wasnt enough to keep you busy.

This sounds like torture.

McSweeny

05-10-2006, 04:28 PM

no comments about Bernie Williams throwing his helmet at the umpire last night?

molson

05-10-2006, 04:34 PM

no comments about Bernie Williams throwing his helmet at the umpire last night?

Thank did kind of put this in perspective - if Williams hit the umpire, he'd probably be looking at 50 games too. Whereas if Young had missed, this wouldn't be a story. Better Aim = Longer Suspension.

McSweeny

05-10-2006, 04:48 PM

Thank did kind of put this in perspective - if Williams hit the umpire, he'd probably be looking at 50 games too. Whereas if Young had missed, this wouldn't be a story. Better Aim = Longer Suspension.

of course David Ortiz received a 5 game suspension for tossing a bat in the general direction of an umpire a couple years back. I kinda doubt Bernie will even get a fine

Honolulu_Blue

05-10-2006, 05:36 PM

As if keeping up with 160 some odd games with injuries, suspensions and matchup problems wasnt enough to keep you busy.

This sounds like torture.

Esepcially for someone who really doesn't care all that much or know all that much about baseball. Drafting minor leaguers is quite painful. I have no idea who these guys are. I just go to baseballamerica.com, check the "hot list" and pick the "hottest" prospect not already chosen.

I joined the league for my brother because it's with some of his clients. I stay active enough so I am not a drain on the league, but my team is just pathetic.