CHAOS: An Atlantic League Umpire Throws His Own Shoe While Arguing With Players After A Bizarre Game-Winner
There's a lot going on here and let me try to lay it out for you. Atlantic League game between the Lancaster Barnstormers (fuck em, go York Revolution) and the High Point Rockers. Barnstormers at the plate here in extra innings. Former MLB player Logan Morrison playing first for the Rockers.
Got it?
From there we see the play develop. A double play that ended up not being a double play, guy on third scores the game-winner. That's where chaos ensues.
[Our Sports] - Morrison, beginning to celebrate what he thought to be the end of the inning, tossed the ball and his glove into the air and began to argue with first base umpire P.J. McConnville. Eventually, the entire Rockers team began to swarm the three-man crew, and, at one point, third base umpire Nate Caldwell's shoe came off, which Caldwell then threw. Peeples, trying to intervene, also got tossed as the crowd of players headed toward the right field gate continued to swell, and the argument continued.
So it wasn't even the guy who made the call! Now according to that article both teams were fighting with the umps all game. Not shocking. But throwing your own shoe? That's a crazy person move. Walking on grass in socks SUCKS. It's the worst. Barefoot or sneakers are the only way to walk on grass.
Plus you have to get your shoe then. It makes no sense. I have no idea what Caldwell was trying to accomplish here. I'm guessing he wanted to prove he was tripped by Morrison. I do gotta give Caldwell credit though - as much as it pains me. Athletic feat by kicking the shoe off in the air like that. That's an A+ feeling. Every guy has done that move, it's below shooting your clothes into the hamper like a basketball, but an athletic feat still.
Still, throwing your own shoe? Crazy move man.
Oh and he was out. He was out by a good step. If you get the call wrong, you can't throw people out. You gotta take your insults.