and the average Pujols dinger is that Pujols doesn’t even drop his bat right away. Gomez sheds the bat right away because he’s accustomed to sprinting out of the box on a ball in play, Pujols takes his tarred maple friend with him a couple steps. If Gomez hadn’t dropped his bat yet psychologically it wouldn’t seem like he was being a showman because the first couple of steps would be an extension of his swing.

/imo

Oh, yeah…

if Bush would have knocked out that pompous ass as soon as he started aggressively coming at him and dropping F bombs right in his face.

then we could get the pleasantries out of the way early and be done with it. I would imagine that if he gets plunked in the 1st they will warn both benches.

It’s easily the best way to publicly humiliate someone with the thin guise of wanting to “help” the guy.

I would be happy with a 2-game suspension, but I would be giddy for a mandated anger management course.

But, I’ve never seen an umpire act so ridiculous before. I mean, he’s the one who is supposed to keep control in that situation and not be so immature about his own calls that he needs to get in the face of another player. Maybe something else was also on his mind that night and who knows what Bush said prompting him to feel the need to defend himself in a such a manner.

In a way I’m hesitant to completely say Rapuano was such an ass in the situation because I have no idea what Bush said other than to say that I’ve never seen another umpire do that. Also say that in their profession I can only imagine that they’ve (umpires) have heard much worse before. And, unfortunately, they’re in a position where they have to, in a way, take the high road and to be the mature ones in the situation and that, perhaps, he’s in the wrong job position if he can’t act in a certain manner.

that’s a free baserunner. Good work, Gomez.

or does it seem like the Brewers have (intentionally or otherwise) made enemies of several umpires in the last few years? I don’t typically watch non-Brewer games, but have umpires pulled this kind of stuff with players of other teams?

And though Bush’s pitch was a ball, Rapuano was way out of line. I’m with Kyle – if Bush said something so inappropriate that you’re tempted to come out and get in his face, just kick him out. What a clown.

As for Gomez, I was expecting a lot worse. As nullacct noted, his celebration was approximately equal to the average Pujols celebration. (Obviously, Gomez is not the player Pujols is, so it’s not really analogous – I’m just looking at the celebrations themselves.) Was it really immature and stupid to do that while your team’s down 12? Um, yeah. Is it also really anal and ridiculous to get upset about that while your team is enjoying a 12-run lead? Yup.

for me is that Bush starts to walk back to the mound. He is walking away and Rapuano follows him. That’s where it goes from being about Bush and switches to the ump.

i didn’t see that part of the game, so watching a replay doesn’t bring in the emotion that built up to that moment. but you’re not allowed to argue balls and strikes.

perhaps bush was doing so explicitly (they’ll usually let you get away with asking where a pitch was) and rapuano thought he was being a nice guy by saying something like “what? i didn’t hear that.” that would give bush a chance to say “nothing”, but perhaps bush continued to say “that was a ball, you $%^&*.” then rapuano walked towards him and it escalated.

Lucroy’s first big-league hit. I had never really seen him before – kid looks like a software engineer.

For those of you who missed Chris Magruder. (or want to see where he got his start before his shitty SNL skits/movie)