GLENDALE, Calif. -- I'm sure most 90 Percenters have seen the Yanks/Rays brawl three or four times by now, but what Shelley Duncan's studs-up slide into the crotch of the Rays SS may have distracted everyone from was the tremendous efforts off the Umpire Crew that day.
2B Umpire Charlie Reliford calls Duncan out. He looks the runner in the face and tosses him a split second later. This look is key. Even when it's fairly obvious what's happening, the Umps want to give players the benefit of the doubt. But Duncan was very composed after that ridiculous slide. He didn't go in awkward. He knew what he was doing.
I also saw an angle shot from what must have been team camera right behind first base. In that shot, you can see Jerry Crawford, the 1st Base Ump, taking a keen interest in what Duncan is doing making the turn to 2nd on what was little more than routine single. Not surprisingly, when things got ugly a few seconds later, Crawford was already near the 2nd Base cutout to keep players apart (very impressive for a Spring Training game where tempers are rarely seen much less felt.) And he tossed his share in the melee. Here's the full Ump'n recap below...that's a lot of paperwork to the league office. (Left out in all this was 3B Ump Wally Bell who apparently didn't get to throw anyone out...I'll bet he was looking around for anyone he could find for the rest of the game.)
EjectionsNew York Yankees pitcher Heath Phillips ejected by HP umpire Chad Fairchild. (1st); New York Yankees first baseman Shelley Duncan ejected by 2B umpire Charlie Reliford. (2nd); New York Yankees Third Base Coach Bobby Meacham ejected by 1B umpire Jerry Crawford. (2nd); Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Jonny Gomes ejected by 1B umpire Jerry Crawford. (2nd); New York Yankees Batting Coach Kevin Long ejected by 1B umpire Jerry Crawford. (2nd).
