Umpires across baseball today will be wearing white wristbands in a show of unity against verbal attacks from players.
The protest comes following Ian Kinslers comments directed towards Angel Hernandez. Kinsler was ejected after arguing about balls and strikes and appeared to tell Hernandez you’re (expletive) terrible at your job.” His comments did not stop there as after the game he said that Hernandez”needs to find another job” because “no one wants (him) behind the plate anymore.”
#WUA issued the following statement in response to escalating verbal attacks: pic.twitter.com/wGLIoLOUq0
— MLB World Umpires (@MLBaseballUmps) August 19, 2017
Kinsler was fined for his comments but not suspended. Earlier this year Joe West was suspended three days for comments about Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre. West who recently called his 5000th game said of Beltre in an interview that he was the worst complainer:
“It’s got to be Adrian Beltre. Every pitch you call that’s a strike, he says, “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!’ I had a game with him recently and the pitch was right down the middle. He tells me, ‘That ball is outside.’
“I told him, ‘You may be a great ballplayer, but you’re the worst umpire in the league. You stink.”
