Major League Baseball has suspended Bob Davidson one game for "repeated violations of the Office of the Commissioner's stanards for situation handling."
While MLB says this is a culmination of several incidents (and they're not wrong) it would appear Tuesday's incident with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel put it over the top. Manuel was also suspended a game, but for just the one incident, not repeated violations.
Against the Astros, Davidson obstructed Philadelphia catcher Brian Schneider's attempts to pick up a dropped third strike from Cliff Lee and then when he was confronted by Manuel, he had several choice words for the Phillies manager that any amateur lip-reader could easily make out.
Davidson has the reputation as one of the game's worst umpires and has earned the nickname Balkin' Bob because of his penchant for calling balks. Last season he ranked fourth on a players' poll of worst umpires by Sports Illustrated.
While one game isn't as much as we'd like to see Davidson get for his lack of professional behavior, it's at least a start for what many fans see as the rising arrogance of Major League Baseball umpires. Sure, some will yell that he should be fired, but it's at least a start.
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