Ump touches Ordonez; Leyland angered

[jimpiano]

Schrieber apologized and the incident is over.

From the MLB site:

The incident happened in the seventh inning Wednesday, right after Miguel Cabrera's three-run homer had put the Tigers in front. Ordonez took a called third strike he thought was inside, and stood in the batter's box for an extra couple seconds to get in a word with Schrieber.

Schrieber placed his left hand in the middle of Ordonez's back and tried to direct him towards the first-base dugout.

"He just pushed me in stride, and that's it," Ordonez said Thursday morning. "It's over. I don't think he had any bad intention to push me."

Schrieber read a prepared statement before Thursday's game.

"In yesterday's game, after I called Magglio Ordonez out on strikes, I inadvertently placed my hand on his back and ushered him away from home plate," Schrieber said, "so that I would not have to eject him for arguing balls and strikes. I should not have placed my hands on him, period. For doing so, I apologize to both Magglio Ordonez and the Detroit Tigers."

It was not clear if an umpire touching a player is a rules violation or a cause for disciplinary action. The Official Baseball Rules has a section called, "General Instructions to Umpires," which includes the following paragraph:

"You are the only official representative of baseball on the ball field. It is often a trying position which requires the exercise of much patience and good judgment, but do not forget that the first essential in working out of a bad situation is to keep your own temper and self-control."

Crew chief Joe West, who was umpiring at third base when the incident occurred, emphasized that Schrieber was trying to avoid a larger conflict.

"He shouldn't have done it," West said, "but he was trying to keep the man in the game."

Schrieber's umpiring career included several seasons in the Minor Leagues, including games when Ordonez was coming up more than a decade ago.

When asked later how much force was behind Schrieber's hand, Ordonez said, "He didn't push. He went [with a hand outstretched] like, 'Hey.' You can't do that. But like I said, he didn't have any bad intentions, like [with a pushing motion], 'Get out of here.'

"I don't have a problem. I think when you're in the game, the excitement [takes over]. I don't think he had any intention to push me."

Ordonez didn't have a problem. Still, if it was the other way around, with player putting a hand on an umpire?

"I'd be home [suspended]," Ordonez said with a smile.

It was the supposed push, Leyland said, not the called third strike, that brought Leyland storming out of the dugout.

"I never said a word about the pitch," Leyland said. "I never even went out, because I thought Magglio was going to stand there for a second and say the pitch was inside. There was really nothing going on. And when I saw him put his hand on him and kind of push him towards the dugout, I lost it. He can't do that."

The view was similar from the other dugout.

"I know Mr. Leyland was very fired up about that, to say the least," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It didn't look too kosher, let's put it that way. I think it was meant to be harmless, but it's really not."

[Arnold A.]

This is what happens when you try to be a "nice" guy. We all know where nice guys finish.

I bet Mr. Schreiber will not be as hesitant to eject in the future.