Wigginton banned 3 games for ump contact
July 23, 2010
BALTIMORE (AP)—Orioles first baseman Ty Wigginton(notes) received a three-gamesuspension and an undisclosed fine for “making contact” with an umpire duringan argument in Thursday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins.
Wigginton says he will appeal the ruling, which was rendered by Major LeagueBaseball on Friday.
“The way I look at it, I got thrown out of the game,” Wigginton said.“They chose to suspend me and now I have the right to appeal.”
The punishment stems from a confrontation between Wigginton and umpire GaryDarling following a call at first base.
Darling ruled that J.J. Hardy(notes) got back to the bag on an aborted attempt tosteal second. Wigginton threw off his cap and yelled until he became red in theface, stopping only after interim manager Juan Samuel forcefully pulled himaway.
As he walked off the field after being ejected, Wigginton tossed the ballinto the stands.
Replays showed Darling missed the call, and the umpire confirmed that afterthe game, saying, “He missed him the first time and on a close play, he got himthe second time, it looked like.”
Wigginton’s punishment, according to a release issued by Bob Watson, VicePresident of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, was “for hisinappropriate actions, which included making contact with umpire Gary Darling.”
Wigginton said, “It wasn’t like a definite bump. I feel like if I bumpsomeone, they’re going to move back. … If I did and didn’t realize it, my bad.But I think it was more of a brush if anything.”
The fine, Wigginton said, was “more than I was expecting.”
Wigginton could recall being ejected from a game only once, and said henever has been suspended before. Had Wigginton not appealed, the suspensionwould have started on Friday night.
Samuel and pitching coach Rick Kranitz were also ejected.
Samuel said Wigginton’s tirade probably stemmed from frustration over havinganother call go against the Orioles, who own the worst record in the majors.
“I think it’s the first time I’ve seen Wiggy like that. We thought he wasout and it was one of those that went against us. And there’s just many thathave gone against us,” Samuel said. “I think guys have probably gotten sick ofthat because we are basically not getting a whole lot of breaks.”
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