A-Rod Calls Marty Foster 'Unprofessional'

It seems that there's some kind of feud developing between the New York Yankees and umpire Marty Foster. You may remember back on July 6 when Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was stunned by a comment Foster made to him. Jeter was called out trying to steal third even though he beat the tag. When he informed Foster of this the umpire replied "He didn't have to tag you. The ball beat you."

That little exchange resulted in Joe Girardi coming out to defend his captain and in his ejection. Well, Foster was behind home plate on Sunday during the Yankees' game against Baltimore when he ejected Girardi again along with Alex Rodriguez, and when asked about the ejection after the game, Rodriguez didn't have the nicest words for Foster.

"I thought in that situation, when we need a win today, for him to take it into his own hands with no warning, I thought it was very unprofessional," A-Rod said.

Rodriguez's beef was the result of a called third strike on him in the fourth inning that he obviously did not agree with. Rodriguez also said after the game that Foster spent his entire at bat chatting with Orioles catcher Chad Moeller and that the only thing Rodriguez said to Foster was to "keep talking to Moeller."

That's a story that doesn't match Foster's description of the situation. According to the man in blue, he let Rodriguez have his say while leaving the field, but when Alex kept going into the next inning he decided he'd had enough and tossed him.

I'm guessing that the truth lies somewhere in between, but after publicly calling Foster "unprofessional" I think Alex and the Yankees better hope he doesn't work any of their playoff games this October.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-14-2009 @ 6:50PM

carmelusp said...

Oh my, I can't believe I would ever defend or support A-Roid, but in this matter, he's right! Foster acted a fool with Jeter and should have been on his best behavior, i.e., don't become part of the game itself. The best umpiring or officiating is always that which goes on without comment or recognition. We don't pay these crazy prices to see a non-player impact the game in any way. Take a vacation Foster, until next March!

9-14-2009 @ 10:54PM

DONATO COLANTONIO said...

OH POOR A -ROID STRIKE 3 U OUT U BIG BABY THE YANKEES GOING TO LOSE IN THE FRIST ROUND FOR THE 5 TH YEA IN A ROW IT GOING TO HAPPEN THE BRONX WHAT A HELL HOLE PEPOLE ARE DUMB TO BE PROUD TO BE FROM THE BRONX LOSERS

9-15-2009 @ 3:32AM

tonytiger18 said...

Hey Donato,
You are complete fool. I can't believe that you are Italian. I hope that you speak and write Italian better than English, if you speak Italian at all. Lei e verimento un fesso !!!

If you know anything about the game and especially this umpire, you would know that this guy is always "baiting" players.
The ball that he called strike three on was from the replay at least eight inches off the plate, not even close to being a strike.

He missed the call and he knew it.
He was chirping during the at bat with Moeller, something that an umpire normally doesn't do.

This is the same guy that threw out Jeter for a call that he missed at third base.Jeter was clearly safe and the third baseman NEVER tagged him, but Foster said: He doesn't have to tag you when the ball beats you to the bag.

This guy should be reviewed for competency or maybe for his agenda.

So Donato, come up to the Bronx and introduce yourself to some real Italians. Have some espresso and a canoli, perhaps we can teach you to be a little more respectful to your superiors.

9-26-2009 @ 7:38PM

waaaaazuuuuup said...

where the hell do you live???? what do you know about the bronx? you watch to many movies..i live in queens but i have hundreds of friends and family from the bronx.. i gotta tell you a hell hole its not... just like every city in the united states there are ereas that are bad. but the bronx doesent have that many terrible ereas. talk baseball.. because other than that you dont know what the hell you talking about.. bronx rocks and so do the yankees....

9-14-2009 @ 11:40PM

nft4098780 said...

The rule says you can not argue third strike calls. I don't like the rule but there it is..."A-rod" is wrong and yet again acting selfishly(How much are the Yankees ahead by?). Foster's comment to Jeter one hopes was in jest, otherwise why is this man an umpire?

9-15-2009 @ 4:31PM

psu74dl said...

their is no real rule on the books about arguing balls and strikes it has always been know as the unwritten rule. It was clearly a ball as shown by FOX,ESPN & MLB Network and the actions of the umpire were wrong aswell and very unprofessional. Umpires are human they are going to miss some pitches but in that situation you better have your head out of your butt and make sure you get the call right. Either way the Yankees got PO'd and won the game and they will win it all because they are without a doubt the best team in baseball this season ...

9-15-2009 @ 6:33PM

Larry said...

THe rule is a MANAGER cannot argue a ball/strike call. No rule prohibits a player from doing so, within reason.

9-14-2009 @ 11:57PM

Bracha Tova said...

The umpire is very unprofessional.
He sounds to me like one of those annoying govt workers who was given too much power.

9-15-2009 @ 12:00AM

sinminrah said...

A-fraud is calling someone unprofessional. Is this the same A-fraud who slapped the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's hand while running to first base in the 2004 ACLS. Is this the same A-fraud who ran up behind the Toronto 3rd baseman two years ago and yelled "Huh" while he was trying to field a popup? A-fraud is the last person to be throwing the "unprofessional" stone at anyone.

9-15-2009 @ 6:48PM

Idiot, A-Rod made a perfectly LEGAL play, the Umpire blew that call. It's much like a chicken ass basketball ref calling a foul on the wrist when a defender hits the hand on the ball. As long as one doesn't gab the ball or glove, any attempt to knock the ball loose is legal in the processing of being put out.

9-15-2009 @ 3:54AM

Umpires control a game with their calls.They should be professional.

If an umpire has an agenda that no fan is aware of, the outcome of a game can be manipulated.

This guy in a critical part of game with the bases loaded, two outs, the Yankees losing by a run, calls strike three on a pitch that is way out of the strike zone, at least eight inches from the replay.

Arod didn't argue the call, but he did say to Foster that you should be focused and not talk to the catcher during an at bat and just maybe you wouldn't have missed that call.

At the top of the next inning not after the at bat, Foster threw out Arod.He also threw out Gerardi for defending Arod.
It is the second time this year that Gerardi got thrown out. You guessed it -- both times by Foster!!!!

The first time was after he threw out Jeter for his blatantly stupid comment about the third baseman doesn't have to tag you out because the ball beat you to the bag.
This umpire is probably a New Englander or he is just plain incompetent with a big Ego.

By the way, Arroyo the drug user and rat who leaked out the news about all his teammates using "SOME STUFF" during the 2004 season is anything but a role model.

10-05-2009 @ 1:13PM

missmouse13 said...

whether or not the umpire made a bad call the rules state a player cant argue a pitched ball. A-rod knows this, im sure he was frustrated with the call as he should have been, but im sure in the history of baseball, there have been alot of bad calls, and the great ones dealt with it as a part of the game.How many pitchers were upset they got a ball called to a-rod when it should have been called a strike, I think in his career he has had his share of bad calls in his favor. A-rod its part of the game.

9-15-2009 @ 6:19AM

Mark said...

Tony , your comment that he must be a new englander is ignorant and unfair to us that are from that part of the country and are true fans of the game.

The fact is this guy is a horrible umpire and not only should he not be umping any playoff games , perhaps an investigation needs to be conducted to see if a suspension is in order. Kind of makes you wonder if got a situation like had with that NBA referee.

9-15-2009 @ 12:29PM

Hey Mark,
You are right, it is unfair to make negative generic comments about a group.

Sometimes when I read dumb comments from Bosox fans like Sinminrah or Adam or even the ever recently muted Sandytarrdesign, I respond in kind.

The issue here is not what Arod has done in the past, but the credibility and professionalism of umpires in general. They are very key to the outcome of a game. An intentional missed call can influence the outcome of a game. Even a call that was blown can be a difference.

Then, this ump has the audacity to throw out a player a half of an inning later and his manger as well.
The old time umps would turn around and walk away from an upset player and let him have his say within a reasonable limit.
Today's umps are very different, they have egos that are bigger than the game --- no room for that in the game.

9-15-2009 @ 10:30AM

Adam said...

This is the same A-Rod who... 1. Slapped the ball from Arroyo's glove. 2. Put an elbow into Pedroia's groin. 3. Yelled "Hah" when an infielder was trying to catch a ball. 4. Admitted to steroid use. I'll take my advice on professionalism from someone else.

9-15-2009 @ 12:41PM

You can get on Arod if that stokes your fire, but remember that your team won two WS with your most productive players on the juice.

All teams had their share of juicers, but, your team was annoited the team of the decade after 86 years of futility!!!! Your team won with illegally enhanced players that DENIED their involvement, even today the ever credibile and fortright Big Poopie is denying his usage of PED.
He is a farce along with Arroyo, Schilling,Manny and perhaps a slew of others.

At least Arod, in a limited capacity, admitted it and faced the music from brutal fans like your self.

9-15-2009 @ 2:25PM

sawmclm87 said...

Hey Hey tonytiger18 I am impressed with the way you speak your mind. Not only that but you do it with brains. I may be a phillies phan but I enjoy reading posts from those that know the game. Maybe the Ynkees & Phils can put on a WSshow for us in '09? Good Luck!
btw how 'bout Jeter all time hit leader 4 the Yankees...COOL

9-16-2009 @ 1:26AM

Thank you.

9-18-2009 @ 8:06AM

DICK JENSEN said...

IMAGINE A-ROID CALLING SOMEONE UNPROFESSIONAL. DRUG USER, CHEATING, LESS THEN A MAN A-ROID CALLING OUT SOMEONE. WHAT A LOSER!

9-21-2009 @ 3:48PM

wilsons17 said...

I am a Red Sox fan, that said I hate it when an umpire makes a bad call no matter which team he makes it against. It always leaves a bad taste in true sports fans mouth to think a game could be lost because an umpire missed or for some unknown reason blantantly calls a player out. Foster should have kept his mouth shut on the third base call so I believe he either had something against Jeter ( who is a class act in my opinion)OR the Yankees. But over 162 games it usuallly evens out, you win some and lose some calls. Sometimes I wonder if these umpires make calls like these because of the old double play call, if it looks good they give it to you, but we all know and see that they sometimes never step on second or do the slide step and miss the bag before they even have the ball, but it looked good. Who know's? I know I don't. Now balls and stikes are a different story. No two umpires call the same pitch the sameway some see ball some see strike, who's right? they both are, as long as they call it the same against both teams if umps are consistent in thier calls no one can bitch. A-rod or any other batter knows he's calling it a strike and better be swinging if they have 2 strikes on them. I didn't see the pitch so I can only say if it was close then he should have been swinging. I have seen too many close pitches and batters get called out. A-rod was right to complain when he was first called out, but was not very professional for carrying on about in the following innings. as for talking to the catcher I see it all the time. some umps like to talk. do you not see umps talking to players in the field? Roids terrible subject, if anyone shoulf be blamed for this it's Selig and the players union. They knew this was going on and turned a blind eye on it, I hate that it happened for the past 2 decades or more, Imagine if Ruth Arron,Williams,Mantle or any other great could have done on roids.

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