Lloyd McClendon vs. Tony Randazzo, Round II

Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon got throw out of a game…again. McClendon was thrown out by umpire Tony Randazzo…again.

Second time in two days. Same manager, same ump. Could this be, I don’t know, a bit personal?

In the first game, McClendon was not happy with Randazzo giving Miguel Cabrera a very late time out. Also, McClendon expressed his concern that Randazzo might be confusing the location of balls and strikes.

Result: Early shower for McClendon.

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Yesterday, the Mariners were up by a comfortable lead of 7-0. Randazzo was the third base umpire, and concluded that Alex Avila checked his swing on a full-count pitch by Tom Wilhelmsen.

Do you know what McClendon did? Ready for this? You might want to sit down.

He waved his hand (Collective gasp from the audience). Oh, the horror.

Now, some of you will assume that in this case the word “wave” is a nice way of saying that he made an obscene gesture. Nope. McClendon claimed it was a wave and Randazzo did not suggest it was anything but that. Crew chief Brian Gorman stated after the game that “Gestures, are just as powerful as words sometimes.”

That is true, Mr. Gorman. However, this was not a gesture. The last time I checked, a simply wave of the hand is not exactly grounds for throwing a manager out of the game.

Now, is a hand wave a more obvious form of disagreement? Sure. However, umpires are supposed to remain calm while managers yell, make “gestures” or occasionally kick dirt on the ump’s shoes.

Keep that fire lit, Mr. McClendon. As for the league, they may want to keep Tony Randazzo away from the Mariners. There seems to be a bit of personal dislike there.

Just an observation.

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