OUR FANHOUSE TOOLBAR INTEGRATES THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS INTO YOUR WEB BROWSER AND INSTALLS IN SECONDS.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE TOOLBAR HERE.

MLB

Angels Fume at Beckett, Umpires

Posted Apr 12, 2009 8:47PM By Jeff Fletcher (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Angels, Red Sox

Text SizeAAA

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A series full of drama and emotion got a little more entertaining today, when Josh Beckett whistled a ball past Bobby Abreu's head, inciting a bench-clearing incident that resulted in four Angels getting ejected.

Even after it was all over and the Angels had pulled out another dramatic 5-4 victory, taking two of three in the series, there were some unhappy folks in the winning clubhouse.

"That was as flagrant as anything I've seen in this game, and it's unfortunate," said manager Mike Scioscia, who had to watch the last eight innings of the game on television after he got the boot.

Angels reliever Justin Speier, who also got ejected, said there was no doubt that Beckett was in the wrong.

"To throw it at someone's head is a show of disrespect, to us and to the game," Speier said. "I was beside myself and livid because you just don't do that. He could say whatever he wants to say, but the fact of the matter is (Jason) Varitek was set up down and away and he threw the ball right at Abreu's head, and that's unacceptable."

Beckett's defense: "I've never hit anybody in the head. It's not like it's on my list of (stuff) to get done. People can think what they want to think."

The whole thing began in the bottom of the first, with one out and the speedy Chone Figgins at second. Beckett was being deliberate in his delivery, keeping an eye on Figgins. Abreu got tired of waiting, so he asked plate ump Paul Schreiber for time. Schreiber called time, but by the time Beckett realized that, he was already into his delivery.

"When I finally go to where I'm looking at the plate, I'm already halfway through my delivery," Beckett said. "I'm not going to stop there and possibly hurt myself. It could have gone anywhere."

But it didn't go anywhere. It buzzed past Abreu's coconut.

Fiery Scuffle at Angels Game

    Los Angeles Angels' Bobby Abreu, second from right, is held back by home plate umpire Paul Schreiber after Boston Red Sox's starting pitcher Josh Beckett threw a high pitch during the first inning of a baseball game. Angel's Torri Hunter, left, and Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, right, join in the bench clearing incident, Sunday , April 12, 2009, in Anaheim, Calif.

    Lori Shepler, AP

    Torii Hunter #48 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gestures at umpire Joe West while being restrained by first base coach Alfredo Griffin in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Angel Stadium on April 12, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Red Sox 5-4.

    Jeff Gross, Getty Images

    Los Angeles Angels' Bobby Abreu is held back by the umpire and Angels manager Mike Scioscia as the benches clear after Boston Red Sox's Josh Beckett threw a high pitch that hit the backstop during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 12, 2009, in Anaheim, Calif.

    Lori Shepler, AP

    Torii Hunter #48 is restrained by teammate Howie Kendrick #47 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox on April 12, 2009 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Red Sox 5-4.

    Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images

    Bobby Abreu #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is restrained by home plate umpire Paul Schreiber from catcher Jason Varitek #33 and pitcher Josh Beckett #19 of the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Angel Stadium on April 12, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Red Sox 5-4.

    Jeff Gross, Getty Images


"I don't know if he was just trying to throw in or whatever, but it was close," Abreu said. "I don't say he's trying to hurt me. I've known him for a long time, but it doesn't look good."

After that, both teams spilled onto the field. Order seemed to be restored temporarily, but then something re-incited the incident. Depending on who you ask, it was either because of Beckett or because of the umpires.

"It was frustrating because here's a guy who made a big mistake and threw at Abreu's head and then has the gall to charge Abreu and start talking smack to Abreu and start talking smack to our manager," Speier said. "He made three mistakes today."

Torii Hunter, who also got ejected, had this account: "I was trying to handle the situation and help everyone out. I was trying to calm down Mickey (Hatcher, Angels hitting coach, who also got ejected). I was holding a lot of guys back. There were some words that were said that were outragous and it wasn't from the Red Sox. I freaking lost it."

Scioscia also said "I don't think it was handled well by the umpires."

Crew chief Joe West defended his umpires, saying that the Angels got ejected because they "were the aggressors."

"I'm disappointed that, on Easter Sunday, we had to have some bad blood," West said. "I feel bad about that. No one likes those kinds of situations. All that can happen is somebody could get hurt. They need to be more responsible and they need to realize you're out there to win a contest, you're not out there to be a chauvinist."

Of course, one natural thing to wonder from all of this is whether the Angels came into the game with some raw emotions, dealing with the death of Nick Adenhart. Everyone in the Angels clubhouse quickly dismissed that idea.

"It's been an emotional week for everybody," Speier said. "It's unfortunate but the fact of the matter is this situation would have played out just the way it played out with or without Nick's death. The fact of the matter is it was uncalled for what (Beckett) did and he should be penalized and reprimanded for what he did."

All the extra-curricular activity on the field detracted from what was otherwise an intense, well-played finish to an entertaining series. Boston's Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew hit back-to-back homers moments after the on-field incident. Then the Angels came back and scored three runs to take the lead, two on a hit by Abreu. The Angels were up 4-2 in the fifth, and the Red Sox constantly threatened after that. Over the final four innings they had had 10 baserunners, and left eight of them.

The Red Sox are back in Anaheim May 12-14. Put it on your calendar.

Tags: bobby+abreu, BobbyAbreu, josh+beckett, JoshBeckett, justin+speier, JustinSpeier, mickey+hatcher, MickeyHatcher, mike+scioscia, MikeScioscia, nick+adenhart, NickAdenhart, torii+hunter, ToriiHunter

Related Articles

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

| 1 | 2 |



Complete World Series Coverage

2009 World Series -- FanHouse Illustration
FanHouse's coverage of the 2009 Fall Classic.

Baseball's Forgotten Crusader

Curt Flood -- FanHouse Illustration
Four decades ago, Curt Flood made enormous sacrifices and changed the national pastime forever.