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MLB umpires are bad at their jobs way too often. Just look at what Angel Hernandez does almost every time he calls a game for proof of that.
But what Dan Bellino did yesterday to Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner was absolutely ridiculous and uncalled for and the dude shouldn’t be allowed on the field again for quite some time.
If you missed it, Bumgarner was mad at some calls in the first inning yesterday in Miami and as he walked to the dugout after the third out he had some things to yell into the air. Then Bellino, who was umping first base, came over to do the inspection for foreign substances and he made it all about himself. Instead of doing his job respectfully, he just stared at Bumgarner while he felt around his hand for substances and let him go. Bumgarner rightfully had something to say to Bellino after that – just as Bellino probably had hoped would happen – and Bumgarner was ejected by Bellino, who just could wait to throw him out of the game.
That was such a clown move by Bellino and one that should make every MLB umpire feel embarrassed to be associated with the guy. MLB should be angry that one of their umpires treated a player like that and upstaged a game just because he had to make things personal.
Look at this and tell me it wasn’t a clown move:
The difference between MadBum's and Hernandez's hand checks is striking. pic.twitter.com/CRPOuRXBUE
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 4, 2022
Bellino had this to say after the game:
“Well, there really wasn’t a conversation there, as the (MLB commissioner’s) report will note,” Bellino said. “He just made some inappropriate comments and was removed from the game.”
Yeah, he made those comments because of the disrespectful way you acted towards him, dude. You baited him into it, which was very easy to see.
Bumgarner was the mature one after the game, saying:
“I know why I got thrown out, yes. But you guys (have) seen the video. I don’t know if I could say anything that would make the situation better,” he said. “So what I’m gonna say is I’m extremely proud of our team coming back and winning because I put us in a big hole there. You know, obviously you didn’t go into the game with the intention of throwing one inning, and so for them to be able to fight, and everyone picked me up today for what happened. That’s pretty cool. Very proud.”
Bellino shouldn’t work another game for a long time. And when he does come back he should be booed by every fan in every stadium that he works at. An umpire just can’t act the way Bellino did yesterday and get away with it with no repercussions. Being an umpire means acting like an adult, not a child, and that’s something that Bellino clearly needs to learn.
Do the right thing, MLB, and tell this child that he has to take a time out for a while and that he has to spend that time thinking about what he has done because he obviously forgot how a real umpire should act.
What happened yesterday in Miami was a joke and it will be even more of a joke if Bellino is allowed to carry on with his life like nothing happened.
What a clown.
Quick hits: Way-too-early 2023 NFL mock draft… Boone blows up on umps… More bad calls in Mets-Braves… And more.
– The 2022 NFL Draft is over and it’s never to early to look at next year’s draft. For that, I present to you Christian D’Andrea’s very early 2023 mock draft.
– Speaking of bad umps, this video shows the NSFW things Aaron Boone said to one while being ejected after an Aaron Judge strike out call.
– Did someone say something about bad umps?? Look at what happened to Marcel Ozuna yesterday against the Mets and tell me robot umps aren’t desperately needed.
– These sad photos of small crowds in Oakland should embarrass MLB.
