There is no question that umpire Joe West is the best at what he does. There is also no question that he should be seriously punished for his behavior last week in a Chicago White Sox game. He made the greatest sin of any sports official, he got himself noticed.
West called a balk and was challenged by White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen. He retaliated with a balk call on the very next pitch.
The number one rule of umpiring is to act behind the scenes. The crowd should never notice the official. When West called what I will call a retaliation balk call he became the most noticed part of the game.
West is not the only one at fault. Ozzie Guillen had no business on the field and he certainly had no right using profanity in his references to West. West should not have reacted by calling a balk on the next pitch, but Guillen got what he earned which was a trip to the showers.
I don't know how you punish umpires but the major leagues need to find a way. Joe West is one of the best but he needs to realize he is there to call the game not be a part of it.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
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