[ChuckElias]

Anybody see Grady Little get thrown out of the Dodgers game last night? He went out to talk to his pitcher. Then the home plate umpire said something to Grady from the home plate area. Grady didn't hear it and yelled to the umpire to repeat it. Either the umpire wouldn't repeat it, or Grady didn't hear it the second time. So he leaves the mound and walks to home plate to talk to the plate ump. When he's done, he goes back to the mound to finish talking to his pitcher. He finishes and goes back to the dugout.

At that point, the opposing manager comes out and argues that the pitcher has to be removed b/c Grady made two trips to the mound. The umpires have a pow-wow and agree. They require the Dodgers to change pitchers.

Grady argues and, of course, is tossed. Pretty sneaky of the other manager, but good for him for knowing the rule. The ump could've prevented the situation by walking out to the mound to talk to Grady, but oh well. And on talk radio tonight, the ump is getting bashed for just that reason.

I heard this line tonight. "Players win games. Coaches and managers lose them. Referees and umpires ruin them."

Cute. Kinda funny, too. Too bad so many people believe it.