Thanks everyone for your comments. I'll note a couple things on the SF-SD game. First it was clear Hirschbeck was in pain. He paused here and there, usually not for long, but at least once Stan Conte came out to help (or at least check on him). As to the game's finale, watching the Sports Center highlights later, it looked like Santiago said "That was a foul tip" to Hirschbeck as he headed toward the dugout, and he was ejected for that. (Of course he may have said something else--there wasn't a mic.) Santiago definitely made the ejection worth his while arguing afterward though! Baker claims Hirschbeck bumped Santiago, not the other way around, but that claim is probably to be expected. I was at the game but I missed the alleged bump. Tensions were already high before the alleged foul tip, because there were two bad calls immediately preceding it. First a runner was thrown out at first, and then the pinch runner who replaced him was thrown out at second, but both times they were called safe. By the time the game was over, I think all three who were ejected deserved to be. But at the same time Hirschbeck was smiling and seemed to enjoy the confrontation. I didn't see the Ranger game, but since the pitcher didn't actually hit the batter I don't think he should've been ejected. I'd give the pitcher the benefit of the doubt that he didn't warm up enough, and just eject him if he was warned and the batter was hit. Maybe that's why I'm a fan and not an umpire.
One other note, an ump's call or lack of call can definitely mean the difference of the game. In a recent SF-LA game a Dodger fan reached over the field and put his glove in front of Goodwin's to catch a foul ball. Had the umpire ruled it an out, the Giants would have won. I admit that was a little hard to see though. (Certainly harder then the "home run" in Arizona earlier this year.) Thanks for listening to my rant everyone. Sorry for going off topic. I'll be hoping for the best this weekend. Karl