Major Leaguer Hits Ump in Face

Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba gets mad after strikeout
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 26, 2011 4:55 PM CST

For any non-baseball fans out there, this is a huge no-no. Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba was playing in the Venezuelan League on Friday when he struck out badly and began yelling at the home plate umpire—probably over a strike call earlier in the at-bat. The two of them jaw for a good 15 seconds before Torrealba smacks the ump flat in the face mask, the Sporting News reports. The blow even sends the umpire stumbling backward.

The Rangers say they're looking into it. "(We're) aware, but we haven't got much info yet," Rangers manager Jon Daniels says. Possible disciplinary measures will depend "on circumstances.” Maybe Torrealba is mad because he's in the second year of a $6.25-million contract, and has seen his playing time wane with the rise of red-hot Mike Napoli. One baseball writer can barely disguise his contempt on Yahoo: "Whatever explanation and apology Torrealba comes up will simply not be good enough." (More baseball stories.)

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