The MLB Umpires Association tweeted a strongly-worded rebuke of the length of punishment San Diego Padres star infielder Manny Machado received for arguing with an ump, and Major League Baseball returned the favor a few hours later.
Machado was suspended one game for arguing balls and strikes with a home plate umpire and throwing his bat at the backstop in anger last Saturday.
The MLBUA tweeted a statement with several makeshift hashtags, including #LeadByExample, #Inaction, #TemperTantrum and #MakeanExampleof, the last one seeming to imply the umpires’ union wanted MLB to “make an example of” Machado by issuing a longer suspension.
“Violence in the workplace is not tolerated, and offenders are dealt with severely and even made examples of for the good of it’s (sic) employees, as well as the company itself,” the statement read in part. “Is this truly what MLB wants to teach our youth?”
#Disappointed #LeadByExample #NotAppreciated #Violence #TemperTantrum #Inaction #NotTolerated #MakeanExampleof #OneGameSuspension #RepeatOffender #Nonsense #MLBUA @MLB @Padres @Buster_ESPN pic.twitter.com/pkcW5O1SnB
— Major League Baseball Umpires Association (@MLBUA) June 18, 2019
MLB issued a statement in response to the umpires, saying it was inappropriate for the association to comment on Machado’s suspension, as well as to compare Machado’s outburst to “violence in the workplace.”
I’ve covered baseball for a long time. This is a first. The commissioner’s office issuing a formal response to a tweet from the Umpires Association. One of the strangest baseball stories of this century! pic.twitter.com/ezcQT1E67q
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) June 18, 2019
Machado is appealing the suspension.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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