Umpires tight-lipped over ejections

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By Maureen Mullen and Danny Picard
CSNNE.com

BOSTON -- After Saturdays 14-inning Red Sox win over the As at Fenway Park, umpiring crew chief Brian Gorman declined to discuss home-plate umpire Tony Randazzos ninth-inning ejections of Jason Varitek and Jonathan Papelbon.

We cant comment right now because the reports not written, Gorman said, when asked if he could provide some clarification on the ejections. So, we still got to write the report and any comment should be made after the report is filed with the league office in New York. Any ejection, we have to file a report to the league within the next two hours after the game.

Asked if there was any way an explanation could be given as to what Varitek and Papelbon were ejected for, Gorman replied:

Not until the report is written.

Varitek was ejected first, immediately after Oaklands fifthrun of the game crossed the plate. He admitted after the game that he wasarguing balls and strikes from a previous at-bat.

Actually you can't really do that and I lost my coolthere, said Varitek. Weve still got to maintain our poise out there and Ilost mine today.

It's hard to go into detail, but I just felt like therewere a few pitches with Papelbon that changed the course of that entireinning, added Varitek. I could've handled things a little different.

Conor Jackson tied the game in the next at-bat, and afterthat, Papelbon was ejected after comments he made about a called strike againstRyan Sweeney.

Papelbon liked the call, obviously, but said afterwards he was confused with the strike zone, and that his comments were directedtowards new catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, not Randazzo.

Randazzo walked out from behind home plate, and saidsomething to Papelbon, who then came off the mound, yelling at Randazzo whilewalking towards him. That forced Randazzo to eject Papelbon.

From my perspective, I had my back turned and then I turnedaround and Randazzos got his hands up, said Papelbon. I wasnt eventalking to him. I was talking to Salty. I said Salty, hey, come out here. Ineed to know where thats at. Because I felt like some of the pitches that Iwas not getting were strikes, and then I threw one that I felt like was a ball,and then he called it a strike.

Pap said he was talking to Salty, said manager Terry Francona. Thatswhat set him off. I thought Tony got a little aggressive there, and Pap, oncehe charges him . . . I cant get out there quick enough. I wish I could.

Asked if there would be an opportunity for some clarification Sunday, Gorman said Major League Baseballs executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre, who oversees disciplinary matters, wants the umpires to withhold comment.

We believe that Joe Torre wants us to reserve all comments, and questions should be directed to the league, Gorman said.

It was the first ejection of Papelbons career. For Varitek, it was his fifth ejection, and his first since May 28, 2009, in Minnesota.

Maureen Mullen is on Twitter at http:twitter.commaureenamullen

Danny Picard is on twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard

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