Just a Bit Outside

Somebody forgot to send umpires Tom Hallion and John Hirschbeck the memo that their job is to prevent fights, not start them. 

On April 28, David Price was on the hill facing the White Sox, in a game that he would eventually get the win for. In the seventh inning, home plate umpire Tom Hallion ruled a pitch a ball, and Price was noticeably displeased. According to Price, Hallion yelled at him to "Throw the ball over the f-----g plate". Hallion refuted the claim, saying that he just told him to throw the ball. Whatever the case may be, the roof lifted off the Rays dugout, and Hallion pointed randomly into the dugout and ejected pitcher Jeremy Hellickson. 

Price, Hellickson, Matt Moore, and Hallion all received fines, though Moore's fine is a head scratcher. He went to Twitter and shredded Hallion, which may have been enough to merit the fine. 

The situation between Hallion and Price was one that could have been easily avoided. There was no reason for Hallion to start a fight, and it appears that it was just the case of an umpire looking for a fight. 

Sunday, in a game between the Nationals and Pirates, Bryce Harper was ejected in the first inning when he attempted to check his swing. Umpire Crew Chief John Hirschbeck ruled that Harper went around, and it was a strikeout. Like Price, Harper appeared slightly displeased, and was immediately ejected. 

According to NBC Sports: 

"Harper check-swung on a 2-2 slider from Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez, which just barely escaped the edge of the strike zone. Home plate umpire Bob Davidson appealed to third base umpire Hirschbeck, who ruled that Harper had swung at the offering. Harper, exasperated, expressed his disagreement with the call some 100 feet away. Hirschbeck immediately threw up his hands and yelled at Harper, like a drunk guy looking for trouble in a bar. He walked towards home plate, continuing to gesticulate and shout as Harper quietly talked to Davidson from the batter’s box. Third base coach Trent Jewett intercepted Hirschbeck as he stomped towards Harper, but it was no matter as Hirschbeck ejected Harper from the game shortly thereafter."

It is no secret in sports that officials want to see some of the limelight. Especially in baseball, umpires want notoriety; after all, everyone wants to be famous. In football, the best offensive linemen are the ones that rarely get mentioned. They do their job, and get off the field. The umpires should do the same.