Blue Jays' Brett Lawrie slams helmet into umpire

[Deberg_1990]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...ays/54983610/1


Brett Lawrie called it an "unlucky bounce." Major League Baseball is likely to call it an offense worthy of a suspension.

A furious Lawrie slammed his batting helmet to the ground after he took a third strike, and it struck plate umpire Bill Miller in the hip as the ninth inning turned nasty Tuesday night in the Toronto Blue Jays' 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

"That was not my intention at all," Lawrie said. "I've never, ever done anything to go at an umpire before in my life, and I didn't mean to tonight. I apologize for that.

BOX SCORE: Rays 4, Blue Jays 3
VIDEO: Brett Lawrie's epic tantrum
"It's just my passion for the game. I wanted to help my teammates out as best I could. That's the pride I have in this game. I leave my emotions out on the field."

Miller later was hit by a drink thrown by a fan while walking off the field after the game.

The trouble began with one out in the ninth and Lawrie trying to work a walk against Rays closer Fernando Rodney. On a 3-1 pitch, Lawrie started toward first base but was stopped short as Miller called strike two. Rodney stared in at Lawrie, and Miller helped settle the tension.

On a full-count pitch that he thought was ball four, Lawrie again headed toward first base. When Miller called strike three, Lawrie crouched in disbelief. Lawrie dropped his bat, gestured at Miller and shouted, and was ejected.

Lawrie then started toward Miller, wound up with his right arm and threw down his helmet. It bounced at the umpire's feet and ricocheted up into him.

"Upon seeing that he was ejected, he took several steps toward me and fired his helmet. It hit me in the right hip," Miller said.

"That's a bit extreme," Miller said.

Miller said he already has filed his report with MLB about the incident.

Lawrie said he felt Miller made "kind of a late call" on strike three.

Toronto manager John Farrell came out to restrain his 22-year-old third baseman, who's in his first full season in the majors. After Lawrie returned to the dugout, Farrell was ejected for arguing the call.

"The bat was taken completely out of Brett's hands, not only the 3-1 pitch but the 3-2 pitch as well," Farrell said. "Those are not strikes."

Miller was hit by a drink as he left the field. Police and stadium security were seen pointing into the crowd after that incident, and Miller shouted something at the fan before exiting.

[DJ's left nut]

Torre said that he didn't see any intent behind it this morning, so I figured he'd get 3-5.

Seems fair to me. Lawrie has a reputation as a hard worker and a great kid, even if a bit tightly wound.

MLB did the smart thing here by not coming down too hard on a good kid in the name of protecting the 'sanctity' of a shithead ump.

[Deberg_1990]

So does the umpire hold any responsiblity here? We never hear about an ump being disciplined or suspended. IMO arguments are usually a two way street. What if there was a history of bad blood here? IMO the ump shouldnt just get off scott free.

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Lawrie's a hot head. Damn roid rage.

Is it roid rage? Or is it because you look like a twig compared to him?

[Saul Good]

Didn't think this was that big of a deal until I saw the video. Looked intentional to me.

[DJ's left nut]

Watched it again and I'll say this - Bill Miller will think twice before being a shithead again.

When he turned around as the helmet hit him and saw a very very pissed off Brett Lawrie bowing up on him and shouting him down, he gets to looking like a scared old man in a hurry.

Lawrie will sit 4 and he'll deserve it - but that haughty douche Miller will take a lesson away from this as well, IMO. The memory of an enraged Lawrie and the sudden realization that if he wanted to, he could kill Miller with his bare hands right then and there, will not go away quickly.

[Sure-Oz]

Thats my fantasy player **** you miller!111111111111

[The Dawg]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

A) Both calls were garbage given the strike zone the umpire had that night. Hitters only ask for consistency and those calls were anything but. And the high strike above the elbows hasn't been called a strike for years (especially on fastballs) You might get away with putting a curveball there if it drops hard enough after it crosses the plate, but that fastball is never going to get called a strike and hadn't all night.
B) Lawrie needs to chill the hell out.
C) There needs to be a mechanism in place for dealing with umpires. The ump caused that problem through whipping his dick out on a late strike call after the rookie started to first base before Miller was kind enough to give him permission. Miller's also known as a confrontational hothead.

If Lawrie sits 5, Miller should sit 2. You can't let umps get personal like that (especially down 1 run in the 9th) and then be surprised when competitive people take exception to it.

Nice post.