Felger & Mazz: 'Selfish' For Ortiz To Get Ejected On Sunday
BOSTON (CBS) -- David Ortiz got an early trip to the clubhouse on Sunday afternoon, following his ejection in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes.
For Felger & Massarotti, they've seen too many Big Papi tantrums at the plate.
Ortiz's latest ejection -- the 11th of his career -- came as the Red Sox trailed the Baltimore Orioles 5-3. Ortiz was already upset with Jerry Meals (Sunday's third base umpire) for calling a previous check swing a strike, so when it happened again in the fifth inning, he lost it.
Home plate umpire John Tumpane wasn't amused with Ortiz's antics, and sent him to the showers early.
"Ortiz is absolutely in the wrong, whether the call is right or wrong," said Mazz, noting the check swing call could have gone either way. "Ortiz throws a nutty every time he doesn't get a call, or at least it feels that way. His reputation has clearly been forged with the umpires. I read this this morning and my eyes almost popped out of my head: He's been tossed 11 times in his career – as a DH.
"With all due respect, this is always where he gets in trouble," said Mazz. "He expects preferential treatment because he's David Ortiz. When he doesn't get it, he gets mad and he ends up costing his team."
Daniel Nava finished Ortiz's at-bat, bouncing out to third base. Baltimore scored three runs in the top of the sixth, and went on to win 8-3.
"It was typical selfish and high maintenance; Ortiz being Ortiz," said Felger. "The pitches didn't ring him up – it's one thing if it's the third strike. And I'm not saying umpires aren't touchy, becaue they are.
"Is this something new to you, David? That umpires blow close calls and are touchy? That justifies you getting tossed from a close game?" questioned Felger. "All because it's you, and feel like you got screwed out of a pitch? You're going to hurt your team because of it? Please. Selfish."
