Mattingly doesn’t expect blowback
CLEVELAND The blowncallonanappeal of a check swing in Friday’s Marlins-Indiansgame, and DonMattingly’s strong reaction to the umpires handling of it, got the attention of Major League Baseball officials.
Mattingly said Saturday that he had been contacted byMLB, andhe doesn’t expect to be disciplined for remarks critical of the umps, which included, “This one was embarrassing. … When I saw it, it really made me sick to my stomach.”
About the possibility of being fined for criticizing the umpires, Mattingly said: “I haven’t heard that. What did I do? I didn’t do anything.”
He added: “There’ve been conversations. I’ve talked to the league and that’s pretty much where I’d like to leave it. There’s no reason to keep it going.” The controversy opened the door to a three-run inning thatMattingly contended altered the course of the game Clevelandwould win 6-2.
Indians TV analyst Rich Manning was incredulous when third-base ump Andy Fletcher ruled Jason Kipnis didn’t swing, saying, “That’s ridiculous.”
Kipnis initially headed for the dugout.
What compounded the mistake was that theMarlinshadCarlosSantana out at second on a stolen-base attempt. Fletcher’s ruling gave Santana and Kipnis new life, and both would score.
Later, Fletcher complained to third baseman Martin Prado about Marlins coaches making frequent visits to the mound as they attempted to keep the game within reach in the late innings.
That led to first-base coach Perry Hill being ejected by first-base umpireMark Ripperger.
“I didn’t curse at him, I just said if he doesn’t want to be here, tell him to leave, and you can work with a three-man crew. What’s wrong with that?” said Hill, whowas ejected once before, in 2009 while he coached the Pirates.
Hill’s ejection added to Mattingly’s postgame displeasure, but Saturday he said: “There’re things that obviouslywe’re going to be at odds. ... But in general [umpires] do a good job. It’s an emotional time of year. There’s been a lot of hours put in trying to get somewhere, so you’re fighting for that.” Worth thewait
Outfielder Destin Hoodwaited eight years in the minor leagues for his first call-up to the majors. He didn’t wait long for his first hits, getting two of them in an eventful debut Friday.
Making it more special, Hood’s parents were present to witness it. His mother already put in a claim on the ball he hit for an opposite-field double in the fifth inning for his breakthrough hit.
“My mom wants to put it in her house. I said, Mom, I think it’s got to go in mine. There’s already a discussion.
“A huge burden is lifted off. You just feel like all the hard work, all the times you questioned yourself, it’s worth it on one day in the big leagues,” Hoodsaid. Dietrich clan
Derek Dietrich also had plenty of family support for his first big-league gamein hishometownSaturday, including grandmother Giovanna Demeter. Dietrich’s grandfather, Steve Demeter, played a few games for the Indians in 1960.
In his first at-bat against the Indians, Dietrich hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the first inning.