Umps ‘blew it’ with ejections, King says
Rockies reliever Ray King wasn’t only angry about his ejection, but also the four others that marred the Colorado’s victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Giants starter Matt Morris was thrown out by home plate umpire Travis Reininger, a Triple-A reserve, in the first inning – and that was just the beginning of the early exits.
“With the ejections early, the umpires lost control of the game and it changed the game,” King said.
Crew chief Derryl Cousins defended Reininger, saying the umpires weren’t going to let things get out of hand a day after Jose Mesa renewed his long-running feud with Omar Vizquel by plunking the shortstop with a pitch.
The game featured four hit batters and five ejections, including both managers.
Morris was tossed after plunking Eli Marrero in the first. He had been warned by Reininger after he struck Matt Holliday two batters earlier. Giants manager Felipe Alou drew an automatic ejection and San Francisco pitching coach Dave Righetti was tossed for throwing his pitch counter onto the field and yelling at Reininger.
In the eighth, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and King were ejected after the left-hander hit Vizquel with a pitch, putting runners at the corners with one out and the Rockies clinging to a 2-1 lead.
Mesa and Vizquel played together in Cleveland but their friendship ended when Vizquel criticized Mesa in his 2002 autobiography for blowing the save in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series against Florida, and Mesa vowed never to forget the criticism.
King said it was obvious Holliday was hit on purpose, but not so Marrero. “They shouldn’t have thrown Morris out right there,” King said. “They blew it.”
Helton better
Rockies slugger Todd Helton seems to be improving, although the stomach ailment that landed him in the hospital and on the disabled list Friday remained a mystery 48 hours later.
Helton is expected to be released from Rose Medical Center today after another battery of tests. Team trainer Keith Dugger, a former Spokane Indians trainer, said doctors “haven’t officially eliminated anything” but reiterated that Helton’s condition isn’t considered life-threatening.
Bochy defends female trainer
Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez’s comments that women “don’t belong in the dugout” drew criticism from Padres manager Bruce Bochy, who supported the female member of his training staff and said he was surprised it even came up.
“Kelly is a part of this ballclub,” Bochy said of Kelly Calabrese, a massage therapist who has been with the Padres since 2004. “I didn’t think gender was even an issue anymore.”
Clearing the bases
The Red Sox and their former first baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz, agreed to end their legal fight over ownership of the ball from the final out of the 2004 World Series by sending it to the Hall of Fame. …Oakland closer Huston Street’s strained chest muscle is taking longer to heal than he might have expected. He may not return until Friday. … The Padres activated center fielder Mike Cameron from the 15-day disabled list.