Umpire Joe West suspended one game for grabbing Papelbon
Major League Baseball has suspended umpire Joe West for one game without pay after he grabbed Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon during the team's game against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 14.
West will serve the suspension Wednesday night instead of working his assigned game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Phillies entered the ninth inning of the game against Miami with a 4-1 lead, and Papelbon proceeded to give up four runs on four hits. Amid a chorus of boos at the end of the inning, Papelbon grabbed his crotch on the way to the dugout and was ejected by West. West and Papelbon got into a face-to-face argument after which West grabbed Papelbon's jersey.
Papelbon was suspended seven games for his actions.
MLB Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations Joe Torre said that West was appropriate when he ejected Papelbon and considered the matter closed.
"However, Joe knows that an umpire cannot initiate physical contact with a player just as a player cannon initiate physical contact with an umpire. I spoke to Joe about the incident, and he admitted that there was a better way to handle the situation," Torre said.
- Scooby Axson
