Major League Baseball announced today that Joe West has been suspended for one game without pay for grabbing Jonathan Papelbon’s jersey during his game-ending display on Sunday. Joe Torre’s comment:
“Joe West handled himself appropriately in ejecting Papelbon after the player’s lewd gesture to the fans. I fully understand that Joe was reacting to a player who was acting aggressively, and can understand his frustration with the situation. However, Joe knows that an umpire cannot initiate physical contact with a player just as a player cannot initiate physical contact with an umpire. I spoke to Joe about the incident, and he admitted that there was a better way to handle the situation. I consider this matter closed.”
He’ll serve his suspension tonight. He was slated to work the Yankees-Rays game.
