David Zalubowski / AP
San Diego Padres shortstop Manny Machado yells at home plate umpire Bill Welke, who had called Machado out on strikes during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, June 15, 2019, in Denver.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 | 6:19 p.m.
SAN DIEGO — Major League Baseball says it was inappropriate for the umpire's union to comment on the one-game suspension levied against San Diego Padres star Manny Machado for his conduct following his ejection for arguing a called third strike Saturday at Colorado.
The MLB Umpires Association said in a tweet Tuesday that Machado was suspended for contact with an umpire "and VIOLENTLY throwing his bat against the backstop with absolutely no regard to anyone's safety." The tweet added that "Violence in the workplace is not tolerated" and asked "Is this truly what MLB wants to teach our youth?"
MLB said in a statement that MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre "considered all the facts and circumstances of Machado's conduct, including precedent, in determining the appropriate level of discipline" and it does "not believe it is appropriate for the union representing Major League Umpires to comment on the discipline of players represented by the Players Association." MLB also says it is "inappropriate" to compare Machado's outburst to the "extraordinarily serious issue of workplace violence."
Machado is appealing his suspension and claims he did not touch plate ump Bill Welke during their argument.
