Tuesday, August 6, 2013

HBP: Manny's Foul to Throat, West Warns in Washington

Plate umpire Manny Gonzalez took a foul bunt to the throat and just below the mask Tuesday during the Rockies-Mets game, resulting in his departure after an anxious delay.

Gonzalez, shaken up, leaves COL-NYM in the 6th.
With none out and one on in the top of the 6th inning, Gonzalez was struck by a first pitch bounced bunt off the dirt and into the throat area underneath the hockey-style mask and above the chest protector. The ball appeared to carom off the ground and lodge between the mask and Gonzalez's neck, only becoming displaced after Gonzalez reached in and grabbed the baseball.

After the umpires convened with the Mets medical staff at home plate, 2B Umpire Larry Vanover left to change into his plate gear as Gonzalez was assisted off and field and into the home training room by the trainer and 1B Umpire Tony Randazzo.

According to the Mets broadcast, the injury delay—from the foul bunt to Vanover's announcement of "play"—lasted approximately 15 minutes.

Video: Gonzalez takes foul to throat, removes lodged ball and walks off woozily (NYM)

Harper jaws with Teheran as West holds back F2.
Meanwhile on the east coast, baseball was abuzz over Atlanta F1 Julio Teheran's hit-by-pitch of Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, who was struck in the thigh by a fifth-inning fastball and ignited a bench-clearing huddle along the infield.

As HP Umpire and veteran crew chief Joe West stepped in front of McCann, preventing him from physically engaging Harper, who yelled as he walked down the first base line, 1B Umpire Sam Holbrook ran in from first base to make sure Harper didn't leave the baseline while 2B Umpire Adam Hamari and 3B Umpire Rob Drake likewise stepped in between the Nationals and Braves, both teams having vacated their respective dugouts and bullpens.

Immediately thereafter, West issued warnings to both squads and the game continued without incident, Washington falling to the Braves on—what else—a Bryce Harper strikeout.

Video: Harper hit by a 5th inning pitch, McCann intercepted by West, whose crew separates the teams (WAS)