Now, let me preface this by explaining that I have been officiating competitive sports since I was 12 years old. That gives me close to 18 years experience, as currently I umpire baseball and fast-pitch softball (ages 9-17), slow pitch softball (adults) and I also referee flag football (adults). I have dealt with all the characters, and there’s a way you handle things and a way you don’t. Consistency is lacking across all sports, but the bottom line is it should be about the game at hand and not the umpire.
Adam Hamari should learn that lesson.
Yes, I am a Mets’ fan, but the situation was handled poorly, to say the least. While Syndergaard was clearly unfazed by the ejection, a warning was never issued. I understand the notion of protecting a player, and everyone in the world knew that Chase Utley was going to be a target eventually from a pitch, but tossing him made the situation get completely out of hand.
What should have happened? Warn both benches after the pitch (which never even hit him). The Mets wouldn’t have pursued it further. Dave Roberts may have had something to say, but it would be dealt with and over, and we wouldn’t even be talking about it. But Adam Hamari decided he was judge, jury and executioner and had a quick hook, which forced Terry Collins to get ejected as well as he needed to stand up for his young superstar.
Being an official really is a thankless job. If you do your job right, nobody notices. You get the occasional thank you, but when you hear from fans, coaches and others, it’s usually to argue. You need to have thick skin.
In terms of the rules? You want to make it a rule to toss someone when they throw behind a player? Fine, but be consistent. Shawn Estes wasn’t tossed when he threw behind Roger Clemens. There’s countless other incidents that went either one way or the other, but the lack of consistency creates confusion, which could lead to rising tempers and ultimately some bad situations.
The bottom line? Adam Hamari was wrong to toss him. He should have warned him, and he didn’t. He ruined a perfectly good baseball game, and the Mets lost, partly because of him.
Stay invisible Adam…it’s a good lesson to learn.
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