It's understandable that LaTroy Hawkins would be upset after the Astros' loss last night to the Cubs. The 'Stros began the night two games behind division-leading Chicago and with their tough 13-inning loss, which ended on a grand slam by Alfonso Soriano, they lost another game in the standings. Hawkins, meanwhile, was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes and in his frustration after the game accused home plate umpire Mike Everitt of favoring the Cubs with his calls.
The incident came with Aramis Ramirez at the plate, right after Hawkins issued a walk to Derrek Lee. Hawkins was apparently upset with an 0-1 pitch called a ball by Everitt. It seems that Hawkins started things by questioning the call and was tossed when he ignored Everitt's warning to stop. After the game he actually accused him of favoring the Cubs.
From the Houston Chronicle (same link as above), here are Hawkins' words:
"I thought it was a strike," Hawkins said. "And I told (Everitt), 'Come on, I need that pitch.' He don't need any help.' He said, 'Knock it off.' I waved him off, and he threw me out of the game. Maybe he was having a bad day. I thought he had determined who he wanted to win the game anyway."
Hawkins will likely apologize for the accusation in the near future, saying that he was wrapped up in the emotion of the tough loss and didn't mean to actually accuse Everitt of favoring the Cubs. That said, accusing an umpire of "determin[ing] who he wanted to win the game," is pretty serious and it isn't exactly a charge that can just be brushed off. Hawkins probably should've kept that little rant to himself after the game, but he probably did have reason to be arguing Everitt's strike zone. Looking at the GameDay from the game last night, it seems like two of the balls thrown to Lee, plus the ball called on Ramirez that ended up promting the ejection, were all in the strike zone. I don't think there's any chance that Everitt was actually favoring the Cubs, and Hawkins certainly was wrong to accuse him of such, but his strike zone wasn't doing Hawkins any favors.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-29-2009 @ 7:55AM
billcarol88 said...
Well this would be a first that the umpires favoried the Cubs. For so many years they have screwd the Cubs it is unreal. All you have to do is look at the Cubs pitchers strike zone and their hitters strike zone and it is not even close. Look at the Cardinals pitchers and hitters zone. Pujols would be a 270 hitter if he had the Cubs hitters strike zone. De Rosa gose to the cardinals and hits more home runs then normal, when you have to throw the ball right down the middle anyone could hit 330 and a bunch of homeruns.
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7-29-2009 @ 2:03PM
gr8fulbc said...
This is one of the dumbest things I've ever read. Surely the success of the Cardinals' pitchers has nothing to do with good coaching. It's totally the umpires. And surely Mark DeRosa's home runs have nothing to do with the fact that he has a lot more protection in that line up with Albert Pujols (and others), who would hit .330 with a bunch of home runs wherever he played. Nope, it's totally the umpires and the strike zone. I'm a lifelong Cub fan, and while I will agree to a small extent that some players on the Cubs such as Milton Bradley seem to get a bit hosed by the strike zone, but saying that the umpires have some conspiracy to screw the Cubs' pitchers and hitters with the strike zone is just plain hilarious.
7-29-2009 @ 2:13PM
billcarol88 said...
your opinion is welcome but i still have my right to my opinion. glad you are a lifelong Cubs fan. i would imagine i have been a lifelong Cubs fan longer then you. I am still allowed my opinion to how i think the umpires have shafted the Cubs.
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7-29-2009 @ 8:51PM
vipar1 said...
I have grown tired of umps who think they are bigger than the game. We have all the technical know-how to replace the ump behind the plate with a computer setup that can call accurate balls & strikes. If baseball purists will not allow this, we could at least have the scoreboard show obvious errors by the homeplate ump on ball & strike calls. It's time we held these guys accountable and stop letting their union rule the game.
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7-31-2009 @ 11:19AM
DaDdyMoMmY said...
that is a great idea!!!
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8-07-2009 @ 10:29PM
mssmittyoes said...
the only thing i have to say is..i was at the game that night sitting not far from home plate and yes the pitch was a STRIKE!!!! I think the umpire should've taken himself out the game after getting hit in the facemask by a fly ball in the bottom of the 7th inning...lol...Clearly his vision was impaired from that incident because he starting making bad calls shortly afterwards... check out the footage, i'm sure it can be found online...
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