Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie is likely facing a suspension after throwing his helmet in anger and hitting home plate umpire Bill Miller in Toronto Tuesday night.
With a count of three balls and one strike in the bottom of the ninth, Lawrie took back-to-back pitches from Tampa Bay Rays closer Fernando Rodney. Miller called both strikes, sending Lawrie back to the dugout.
Trouble was, when the third strike was called, Lawrie had already taken two steps toward first base, thinking he had drawn a walk. He spun around, took two steps back in the direction of the umpire and threw his batting helmet to the ground. It bounced up and struck Miller.
Lawrie was promptly ejected from the game for the outburst, but is likely to face a further suspension and/or fine because the helmet struck Miller.
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," Lawrie said after the game, according to MLB.com. "It just kind of took an unlucky bounce and I think it got him, so my apologies for that."
The Blue Jays lost to the Rays 4-3. Major League Baseball has made no announcement yet as to how long they'll lose Lawrie's services.
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Angry bird.
I blame Angry Birds.
As in angry Blue Jays? Clever....
Roid rage, catch it!
My sons outgrew these tantrums by age of three. He gets paid as a 'professional athlete', he should behave like one.
Among the reasons I dislike pro sports:
- The players are spoiled, over paid, primadonna's.
- The umpires are poorly trained, biased, and have been found to be 'on the take' more than once. (Remember the NBA official, Denehee (sp?) who was fixing playoff games – including a famous game 7 between Lakers and Kings? He *admitted* fixing this and other games throughout several seasons and playoffs – and has said that corruption is rampant. Why watch a game that is rigged??
That was no strike...
Yeah – missed the strike zone by a foot or more.
Ball 4 easy.
The rules of the game need to be changed. The umpires should be in plexiglass enclosures that don't allow the players to harm them and then just have to take the verbal abuse of the players, coach, and fans. We can't expect for professional athletes to behave in a civil fashion when we put these uneductated thugs on pedestals and pay them millions for God given talents.
From the video you looked angry, you charged toward him like you were going to assault him and by throwing your helmet at him it is assault. In real life you could be charged if your manager didn't pull you off. You should be suspended, drug tested and go to anger management.
Lifetime Suspension
Bad call, maybe. Fixed game, give me a break.
no doubt, mutt romney had something to do with it
it was obama's fault
Blame it on Bush!
CNN, can you guess the word Brett Lawrie is saying in the photograph?
The umpire probally called strike three after the batter showboated on strike 2
Exactly how many pitches did this guy watch go by did he swing at all ?
Count was 3-1 so he at least did not swing at 5 pitches.
those last two strike calls were really, really bad though. i mean, the first of the contested calls was further out from the strike zone than a called ball on the first pitch of the at bat. the second was way high and a little inside. just horrible officiating. that ump deserved it – from the helmet bouncing off the ground then his hip to the beers fans threw at him as he left the field. the mlb should fine him for those calls, he needs to be held accountable.
Threw it on the ground!!!!