Yankees catcher Russell Martin said he was “mystified” by the behavior of home-plate umpire Laz Diaz during Wednesday’s 6-5 victory over the Angels, saying that Diaz would not permit him to throw new baseballs to the mound during the game.
Martin said that he likes to throw the ball to keep his arm loose following foul balls but was told by Diaz — a full-time Major League umpire since 1999 — that it would not be allowed because it is, as Martin said, “a privilege that I have to earn.”
“At the end of the game, after I got hit in the neck [by a foul tip], I was like, ‘Can I throw the ball back now?’” Martin said. “He was like, still, ‘No.’ I was like, ‘You’re such a [jerk].’ Like, for real, unbelievable.”
We just penned a post about how home plate umpires are terrible at calling balls and strikes. This is just icing on the cake for our argument.
43 Comments
Hawk Harrelson May 31, 2012 13:32
Dadgummit, I told you these umpires were conspiring against my beloved Sox. Mercy, that HBP wasn’t intentional, strap it down, we got a whole lot o’ chuckin’ to do. Good guys coming up next……………
Jim Leyritz's Cellmate May 31, 2012 13:33
I don’t give a shit how he is as a player, but I flat out love Russell Martin quotes.
Brian S. May 31, 2012 14:53
He definitely has personality. He’s also a great pitch framer and has good patience (14% BB rate). If only he could hit a baseball.
Fucker May 31, 2012 14:56
According to the crew of mongoloid commenters on this site, the only important stat for a catcher is OBP.
Russell Martin May 31, 2012 23:03
Don’t forget, I also hate the Red Sox!
DormantUlcer May 31, 2012 13:39
I wanna know why the homeplate umpire has the final word when it comes to check swings, call for appeal or not. Like, how the fuck do you have a better view of that than the first/third base ump? If you’re looking at the bat, then you’re not looking at the ball, and looking at the ball if your fucking job, homeslice.
Jay Destro May 31, 2012 14:09
I want to kiss you. Maybe cuddle. Call me.
Jay Destro May 31, 2012 16:37
I can do it too, dipshit!
Cephster May 31, 2012 20:15
Can I join?
Bexy May 31, 2012 23:14
Cuddle party <3 we'll all snuggle on the couch and watch the Andy Pettitte Yankeeography. Actually, you all need to sit on the floor because I will most likely take up all the couches LOL
Jay Destro June 1, 2012 15:35
I would give all of you anal.
Moshe Mandel May 31, 2012 13:48
I eat jelly doughnuts everyday.
Sensitive RAB Guy May 31, 2012 21:49
kosher?
Bennie Kaw Bawk Jr, MTA's BIGGEST FAN May 31, 2012 22:50
I’ll ask my dad
Slot June 1, 2012 11:13
You should tell your dad
Sensitive RAB Guy May 31, 2012 21:49
kosher?
"Country" Joe West May 31, 2012 13:49
We are just trying to speed up the game.
CB Bucknor May 31, 2012 13:52
I’ve managed to incorporate the moonwalk into my punchout move. How do you guys like it?
Ki m Last May 31, 2012 14:09
Speed lumps.
Mike Asxia May 31, 2012 23:06
Call me for the weekend writer job, stud! Send me a resume of your stealing credentials and a picture of your penis and get ready for a wild time in mom’s basement. ;)
SeligSays May 31, 2012 13:53
Russ is not a pro-Israel guy, because he’s black and Canadian, so therefore he’s an anti-semite and I told the umps to give him a hard time. We run the world hahahaha.
Beyonce May 31, 2012 23:00
Who run the world? Girls.
Joe Páwlikowski May 31, 2012 14:07
Russel can lick my taint any day of the week. Yowza.
Laz Diaz May 31, 2012 22:54
Russell doesn’t have the privilege to do such a thing.
Brian S. May 31, 2012 14:22
String em up like negroes in the 30′s.
Brian S. May 31, 2012 14:56
He actually didn’t even call him a jerk; I think he called him a dick. Also the asshole above me is a fake Brian S. if you couldn’t figure that out.
Brian S. May 31, 2012 22:56
WTF I’m the REAL Brian S. Who the fuck are you?
Brian S. June 1, 2012 15:37
Hi!
Paul Rodriguez in a Verizon Commercial May 31, 2012 15:23
Hey man, can I get a job as an umpire? I can be a dick if you want me to. I have acting experience.
MBillo May 31, 2012 15:44
Just wait.. This is just the beginning. We’ve all heard the saying ‘where there’s smoke there’s fire’. I’d be willing to bet that there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.
Mitt Romney May 31, 2012 16:00
I would fire all the umpires. There’s too much regulation in baseball. It’s all part of President Obama’s war on run creators.
Negrodamus May 31, 2012 18:52
Awesome.
TSJC June 1, 2012 15:37
No ones getting a brutha out of the Black house.
The Truth May 31, 2012 16:25
After watching Monday’s shit show in Boston shouldn’t clueless Bud step in? He probably won’t since he literally has to be shamed into doing something about a problem that has been festering since Eric Gregg helped the Marlins get to the World Series in 1997.
Really?!?!?! May 31, 2012 19:35
I actually thought this was funny. Aside from any perceived incompetence or fancy stats, rule #1 is you can’t argue balls and strikes. I guess he could have run Martin for that, but he didn’t, and he didn’t make a spectacle of it either.
I bet you this kind of shit happens more than we ever know, and it’s really not that big a deal. Just like pitch tracking… give it a rest.
The umpires aren’t costing us games… otherwise “No, they just need better umpires” should’ve been one of your RISP poll choices.
Little League Umpires June 1, 2012 15:43
You guys are the reason I can’t sleep at night.
Paul Rodriguez in a Verizon Commercial May 31, 2012 23:27
I am Brian S.
Brian S. June 1, 2012 15:38
So am I.
Mendoza June 1, 2012 00:52
When he can hit over .200 then he can throw balls to the mound.
Leather Bound Books June 1, 2012 05:41
Interesting would have been if Martin had done it anyway (when he got hit by the foul tip) and then gotten ejected. I would have loved to see the ensuing argument about how some obese fucker is running a personal power plot.
Joe Páwlikowski June 1, 2012 15:39
Can’t Nunez catch? I have 87k words on this later. Stay tuned.
Mike Asxia June 2, 2012 11:47
No creampies? Uhh, I mean… pie charts?
Shogun of Harlem June 2, 2012 15:28
Dont catchers have to throw the ball back to the mound after every pitch….help a brotha out and explain this!