Alfonseca Suspended for Bumping an Umpire

Punishments were handed down today to three members of the Cubs for their roles in arguments with the umpires during their game with the Cardinals this past week. My least favorite six-fingered relief pitcher got suspended for seven games.

I'm of three (3) minds on the subject.

The first mind: This is the noble, idealistice mind. The one, I know, that can't always apply, what with living in the real world, and all.

Alfonseca showed a real lack of class, and the seven-game suspension is a good thing. You don't touch the umpire. For whatever reason. You can yell at them. Scream at them. Call them any name you can think of. But don't touch them. And as such, Alfonseca needed to be brought into line just a bit.

Seven games? I don't know. Seems a little bit harsh, to me. But it's one way to send a message.

As an addendum to all that: If we're going to do this whole untouchable umpire thing, then there needs to be a little more visible policing of the umpires, in regards to their actions on the field, both in play-calling and overall demeanor. If I'm a player, I'd like to know that the umpires will be held accountable for their actions. How Klemm missed that ball hitting the chalk the other night, I'll never know. Because if something's 8 feet from you, and you're looking right at it, you need to be able to see it. And Klemm missed it.

As it is now, you can't even say a bad word about the umpiring without some form of formal reprimand. We need to get Sandy Alderson on this stuff, now.

Likewise, I'm a little sick of seeing these confrontational umpires. Sammy got run yesterday, and (to me), it was obvious that he was cursing himself. As someone who curses himself frequently, I understand the body language. But Bill Hohn, the home plate umpire, went chasing after Sammy to make an issue of it. That's distracting play from the field. The umpire should never halt play to take up an issue with a player. If the player (or manager) halts play, then he's fair game to be run. But never should the umpire halt play like that to argue with a player. Never.

Hohn should be docked pay, or something. There's no call for it. People pay to see players. Not umpires.

My second mind:

As out of line as my least favorite Six-Fingered Relief Pitcher was, it's good to see the Cubs actually fired up about something. I don't know if that's the possibility of post-season play looming or if it's Dusty's influence, or a combination of many things....but it makes me happy to see the Cubs not backing down, and actually making a little noise when it comes to something.

If I were Dusty Baker (and given my penchant for chewing on toothpicks, I might be), a part of me would be a little pride in seeing one of my relievers so pumped that he makes an issue with an umpire over a play in which he had no involvement. It means he cares....and that's something you sometimes don't see in this journeyman profession of Major League Baseball.

The Third Mind:

Now I've just spent a bit of time patting Alfonseca on the back, and as much as I don't relish the prospect of missing a reliever going down the stretch....

I can think of worse things for the Cub bullpen than missing Alfonseca for a few games. I'm sure there are other pitchers we have we can use for a bit of long relief...players who won't give up 5 runs in two innings.

He is, after all, my least favorite six-fingered relief pitcher.