Brett Lawrie Ejected: Blue Jays' 3B Throws Helmet That Hits Umpire Bill Miller After Called Strike (VIDEO)

By Joe Lucia, The Outside Corner

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie went nuts after a called third strike tonight. The pitch was pretty far off the plate, and Lawrie was completely in the right for being pissed off about the call. But then, he spiked his helmet...and the helmet hit home plate umpire Bill Miller. Not good. Lawrie will likely face a suspension for that one.

The situation that the call was made in was absolutely terrible for Lawrie and the Blue Jays, in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out in a one run game. If Lawrie got on base, the Blue Jays would have had at least a hope at a rally.

Things eventually got worse (somehow) in Toronto, as a fan threw a beer at Miller as the umpires were exiting the field after the game.

Really? I mean, really Toronto? What a disastrous situation all-around. And of course, after the game, Miller and the umpires refused comment multiple times. What a mess.

[h/t: Cork Gaines, Drunk Jays Fans]

Also on HuffPost:

From our partners

• The 50 Worst Sports Movies - Bleacher Report
• 20 Reasons Baseball Is The Worst - Bleacher Report
• Sports Stars Of The '90s: Where Are They Now? - Bleacher Report

Comments

[Cantinflas]

10:23 AM on 05/18/2012

These guys need a beer summit.

[I AM THAT]

07:24 PM on 05/17/2012

The ump was a chump....and the Mad Hatter was a bad batter.

[SonnyBono]

05:24 PM on 05/17/2012

Hey this little temper tantrum was much ado about nothing - my own personal all time favorite is George Brett coming out of the dugout like a missile when he was called out after hitting a home run in the famous pine tar incident - anyone surprised that Billy Martin of the Yankees was the cause of it all? I have seen many sports fights where the guy really wants someone to hold him back but in this case I believe that if the two guys had not held George - he would have done some serious damage to someone.

[chefe42]

11:45 AM on 05/17/2012

Sure he shouldn't have thrown his helmet towards the umpire, but that third strike call was out of pure spite. He knew it wasn't a strike and still called it, just to show up Lawrie for trying to take 1st on a walk. The arrogant umpires feel that they can just toy around with a games outcome with their god-like complexes, just because they can with no repercussions. One game can make a difference in the outcome of a teams season, and these umpires get away with murder. There needs to be a committee that reviews and fines the umpires for their inability to do their simple jobs. A job that really requires no skill other than standing and squatting down. They should be held accountable for their actions as well, and have a three strikes and they're out of the MLB forever system. Sounds harsh, but these guys need to be held in check and act like professionals just like the players are supposed to be.

[Cantinflas]

10:26 AM on 05/18/2012

Have you ever ired where 100 mph fast balls are being thrown, not to mention wicked and fast curves and sliders?

[Cantinflas]

10:29 AM on 05/18/2012

ired" should be umpired.

[hindesky]

10:51 PM on 05/16/2012

Roided muscle head should get 20 game suspension at minimum. Only rookie punks do stuff like this, an example needs to be made for punks like him.

[George Picard]

07:03 AM on 05/17/2012

4 games sounds about right, he didnt throw it at the Ump. it bounced up and hit the ump

Also the umprie should be questioned, those were two of the wosrt strike calls I have seen since the Naked Gun movie.

[boomcat44]

10:36 PM on 05/16/2012

A second-year player shouldn't be making this kind of fuss. My guess is that he's not finding the second time around as easy as the first, and is maybe a little flustered. In any case, he gets the 4 game suspension, and that's that.
Aside from that, the kid broke an unwritten rule; NEVER show up the umpire. He went toward first BEFORE the call was made. Not once, but TWICE. Anybody will tell you that's a no-no. Especially for a young player like this kid. When he did it the first time, the odds of the next pitch being called a strike was going to be pretty high, just on general principle. The kid should have been swinging.
He learned a couple of lessons.

[noahmarder]

10:54 PM on 05/17/2012

You're missing the point. The umpire's job is to call the strike zone, no matter what he thinks of the batter (and pitcher). Whether the batter should have waited for the umpire's call before going to first is immaterial. Any umpire who purposely misses a call to "punish" a player should himself be punished. Habitual offenders should be banned for life. Umpires like this make a total mockery of the game.

[boomcat44]

11:44 PM on 05/17/2012

No, you're missing the point. This has always been part of the game. It's a part of the game that EVERY player learns, sooner or later. It's all about RESPECT.
Any veteran player could have told the kid not to take that last pitch if it was even close to being close. Now you may not like it, but that's the way it is. It's the same as if you show up a pitcher by taking time to admire a HR. The next time up, you get plunked.
It's NOT about purposely "missing" a call.
It's about RESPECT.
It was what the veteran players would call, a "teachable moment"
Now the upshot of this is simple; he's a known commodity now. The pitchers can take advantage of his temper and immaturity, because they know the umps will be looking at this kid to see if he's learned anything.
That's just the way it is.

[Scott In FL]

09:25 PM on 05/16/2012

The pitch wasn't that far off the plate. An inch or two at most. The Tampa Bay Rays players have been called out for worse pitches in worse situations (playoff games). They didn't throw tantrums like little babies when that happened to them. And ANYBODY who has watched baseball knows that, besides the Cleveland Indians, if any team has a right to be upset about getting the worst calls from umpires, it is the Rays.

This Lawrie kid has anger management issues that need to be addressed - this wasn't just about him refusing to swing the bat on close pitches with his team down a run. Throwing your helmet down at the feet of an umpire is inexcusable in any event. He should have been suspended more than 4 games and should be ordered to go to counseling before he takes his anger out some day on a heckling fan.

[noahmarder]

10:56 PM on 05/17/2012

An umpire who deliberately corrupts the game to penalize a player to whose behavior he took exception is far more deserving of league punishment than is a player who overreacts to such an injustice.

Four games was a fair punishment for the player. The umpire should have gotten at least 10.

[oral surgeon]

09:11 PM on 05/16/2012

boys will be boys...and children will be children...and this man/boy is still acting like a child...deserves to be tossed...maybe back to the little leagues....but they don't tolerate that kind of behavior either....

[GWBear]

09:11 PM on 05/16/2012

All issues of player unprofessionalism aside, baseball really needs to do somthing about the accuscy of umpires. Getting it wrong is uncomfortably common. Getting it wrong big time like this at bat happens a lot more than it should.

Umpires don't like the technology that could augment their own judgement, but then do very little to address the glaring errors. It stinks when the average guy at home sees things more accurately than the umps on the field. The players and fans deserve better. It's the 21st century now. Baseball needs to adapt, especially when the result will be an increase in accuracy, accountabilty, and fairness.

A game so obsessed with stats should insure the stats are right!!

[ipv4]

08:34 PM on 05/16/2012

How about they throw him off the team for a year. That will teach the next yahoo to control their emotions. He looked like a child having a temper tantrum.

[George Picard]

07:04 AM on 05/17/2012

Oh please, go away and stop talking about sports.

[ipv4]

09:34 AM on 05/17/2012

Wow, don't talk about sports because someone is acting like a child? I think you need to go away and grow a pair.

[nightfly4257]

06:28 PM on 05/16/2012

What Bret Lawrie did was unprofessional and deserve a suspension. Having said that it time for MLB get better umpires and teaching them what the strike zone should be. Maybe it time MLB should go a computerized camera system to call balls and strikes.

[dmac]

04:22 PM on 05/16/2012

Miller had been giving the outside strike all game; it was only an issue when it was down to the proverbial wire. I know that doesn't make the last pitch a strike, just saying it had been one all game without drama.

Lawrie is an exciting young player, Miller is an old pro, and each has their (expected) ego problems. Lawrie made a Big Mistake when he took off for first on 3-1 before the call was made. It's always a bad idea to show up the ump. And then Miller drove the lesson home when Lawrie repeated the offense. Does Lawrie expect ML umps to allow him to call his own balls and strikes?

As for the situation, Miller (given that he is a professional) may well have been unaware. Blue's job is to call ball/strike, fair/foul, safe/out; it is not to be concerned that the home team is down by a run in the bottom of the ninth as that has no bearing on what a call should be.

The Jays had 27 outs to win the game; they didn't win or lose based on one Lawrie at-bat. But missing Lawrie for however many games may have an impact on the team. Lawrie is hardly the first player to have a bad call made on him in a crucial situation; but not many players throw things like a spoilt child. The temper tantrum and the suspension are all down to Lawrie.

[godsperfectgift1]

03:40 PM on 05/16/2012

He is a grown man not a child to be hit on! And Lawrie you are a grown man to be able to control your temper and not have a tantrum like a child. Really Lawrie you felt the need to become abusive because of a call?! In the real world when you abuse someone you go to jail. He should have been arrested, charged with battery and ordered to take anger management classes. No should fear abuse in their work environment. Overpaid, whinny baby! Go back to little league because you have not learned what sportsmanship is!

[godsperfectgift1]

06:15 PM on 05/16/2012

Before you throw insults out of that sexist mouth of yours you should know what you are talking about. But let me enlighten you. I am an avid sports fan. There isn't a sport I don't like and keep up with including hockey! I don't watch mindless television it rots your brain! You should know exactly what I'm talking about since your comment makes no sense at all! If you want to reply and leave a comment that has to do with the article or what I said feel free. If not go back to kindergarten because you have not learned children should be seen and not heard!

[ipv4]

08:35 PM on 05/16/2012

Not sure what the hell that has to do with the above post but okay.

[George Picard]

07:05 AM on 05/17/2012

People like you should not be allowed near a sproting event and never should watch them on tv. You would ruin sprots.

[godsperfectgift1]

11:10 AM on 05/17/2012

learn to spell sports first...and hold hands with retekkie! lol! that was a good one!

[RobbyCanuck]

03:27 PM on 05/16/2012

Video replays of the umpire Bill Miller's calls show they were atrocious. MLB had better be looking at that! Miller was playing God, and trying to assert his authoritarian attitude over the game.

I suggest Miller be suspended for his obvious incompetence. I have been an official in Canadian InterUniversity basketball and the game is never about the ref or the umpire.

PS That does not excuse Lawrie, but it is clear to see why he was provoked by Bill Miller's lack of professionalism.

[Grant in Calgary]

04:08 PM on 05/16/2012

I concur. I watched that game and the ump was being petty and making the whole game about him and his supposed pride.

Miller is at 3rd base tonight . . . could be interesting. I wonder if Lawrie will get ejected while playing in the field?

[HossHumard]

03:26 PM on 05/16/2012

Both the last two calls from the ump were bad, bad, bad, and I don't think the player meant to hit the ump.....but, he's gotta be responsible for his actions and will hang.

But the calls were brutal. Neither of the pitches was close to being a strike...maybe the umps were worried about getting to the buffet table before it closed at 10pm? Just wonderin'....