We’re still more than two weeks away from the start of the MLB regular season, but umpire Joe West is already in midseason form.
During Wednesday night’s Grapefruit League game between the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves, West ejected A.J. Pierzynski after the Braves catcher started complaining about a low pitch that was called a ball. The 62-year-old umpire refrained from getting animated, being that it is spring training and all.
“You need a new catcher,” West casually told the Braves dugout after stopping play. “You need a new catcher. He’s gone.”
West is known for being quick to toss people out and some (cough cough, LB, cough cough) even think he should have retired years ago. Of course, Pierzynski is also one of the best in baseball at getting under an umpire’s skin, as evidenced by this childish insult that got him tossed from a game last year.
Both West and Pierzynski were simply honing their best skill sets.
