New York, NY - Major League Baseball fined Detroit Tigers designated hitter/outfielder Gary Sheffield an undisclosed amount for his recent remarks regarding umpires.
Sheffield had a suspension reduced to two games for his actions in an 11-5 loss to Cleveland on May 31st. Home plate umpire Greg Gibson gave Sheffield the boot when the DH broke his bat on a groundout, tossing its remains to the ground in Gibson’s direction one pitch after arguing a called strike from Indians starter C.C. Sabathia.
Sheffield, partly down the first-base line already, got tossed, then ran back toward the umpire. Detroit manager Jim Leyland and catcher Ivan Rodriguez left the dugout to restrain Sheffield, who displayed his displeasure by poking a finger and yelling at Gibson, at which point coaches Gene Lamont and Andy Van Slyke also came out to help escort the irate Sheffield off the field.
Sheffield later called the umpiring system “corrupt” and commissioner Bud Selig responded on Wednesday with the fine.
“Our highly professional umpires protect the integrity of the game on the field. Attacks on their professionalism and character will not be tolerated,” Selig said.
