Dodgers: Justin Turner Suspended For Altercation with Umpire
Dodgers All-Star third baseman Justin Turner has been suspended for one game following his run in with veteran umpire Rob Drake. Joe Torre, Chief Baseball Officer for Major League Baseball, made the announcement Tuesday.
On Monday night in San Diego, Turner was caught looking at strike 3 to end the game, but his night wasn’t over in his eyes.
Turner followed Drake as he walked off the field and argued on behalf of himself and his team for a wildly inconsistent strike zone. Turner incidentally bumped into Drake and found himself suspended on Tuesday morning.
Justin Turner suspended one game and fined for making contact with plate umpire last night. He’s appealing and suspension is held in abeyance until a hearing is held.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 27, 2019
It should be noted that upon viewing the incident, Drake stepped into Turner while the third baseman was attempting to exchange words with the umpire.
Before Tuesday’s game, LA manager Dave Roberts shared his thoughts on the suspension.
I was a little taken aback… it’s two professionals Rob and Justin, and Justin’s track record speaks for itself — and obviously Rob felt differently. But the way I saw it, there was contact initiated by Rob — as far as walking to the umpire’s room. It wasn’t trying to be super aggressive on Justin’s part.
While Los Angeles already had Turner scheduled for a planned day off on Tuesday, he is still appealing the suspension. Beyond the suspension — and subsequent appeal — Turner was also fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for the incident.
More from the official release from MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for making contact with home plate Umpire Rob Drake during the bottom of the ninth inning of Monday’s game vs. the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego. Joe Torre, Chief Baseball Officer for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.
Turner’s suspension had been scheduled to be served tonight, when the Dodgers continue their series against the Padres. However, he has elected to file an appeal. Thus, the discipline issued to Turner will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.
IMHO that spineless home plate umpire, Rob Drake should also be disciplined for his un professional and inaccurate calls of balls and strikes. How about suspending an umpire and fining him when it’s justified.
They should all be disciplined for being terrible at their jobs like in any other job
I agree they are only human and make lots of mistakes
If players must be held accountable for their actions, then so should umpires, because they are not above the game themselves.
Wrong argument.
Balls & strikes should be automated.
As it is now everyone can see when the ump blows it and everyone wants the call to be right, so ….
The umpire should not be allowed to influence a game.
Wtf.. that is a bs suspension why don’t umpires ever get suspended for obvious bad calls. It’s Torre just being pissy with the Dodgers, the players have to be very careful going through Sept. we have a lot more to lose then most.
It does make me wonder if Torre would have issued any kind of suspension or fine against a player on any other team.
Good he’s a jerkoff for not protecting with two strikes in a one run game just because he wanted to prove his dumb point
Justin is the calmest player on the field and for him to question the last call I think is perfectly ok. That up was all over the place last night but then there seems to be a lot of bad umpires lately. And I’m not just saying about when it’s the Dodgers. I watch the Cardinals ( hubby favorite team) and Yankees ( sons favorite team). They are just terrible all around.
Your sons a bandwagon crybaby
JT complains a lot and he’s usually wrong.
Sorry, but it’s true.
Turner does have a great eye & he puts in long hours to be the player he is, no doubt. But I’ve noticed as the seasons have added up, he does complain a lot more these days. Automated calls, like the DH & the t-shirt cannon, should have no place in baseball. Sure the umps miss some calls, but they are usually right. Tell the ump “Bad call!” and walk away. It’s not like you’re gonna change his mind. yelling & blocking his exit from the field.
MLB needs however to look at some of these bad calls on video because both teams on the field are seeing these as well, and if there is a consistency of bad calls then some corrective measures should be looked into.
Drake should be fired, not suspended. He’s worse than worthless, he’s of negative worth.