David Ortiz was not happy with home plate umpire Tim Timmons Saturday night and a dugout phone paid for it with its life.
The incident started when Ortiz took exception with a 3-0 pitch he thought was high. He tossed his bat toward the dugout, ready to take his walk. But instead Timmons called it a strike. Ortiz was not happy, but he sauntered over, grabbed his bat and stepped back into the box. The next pitch was on the outside edge, called a strike, which again Ortiz did not seem enthused about. On the 3-2 pitch, Ortiz whiffed on an inside breaking ball.
And then the crap hit the fan.
Ortiz glared at Timmons and said a few (likely uncouth) words to him as he walked back to the dugout.
It was at that point the dugout phone looked at Ortiz the wrong way and he smashed it to pieces with his bat. Ortiz was tossed for the display and he came back out and started shouting at Timmons. He was held back by manager John Farrell and bench coach Torey Lovullo. Even Shane Victorino came out and tried to direct Ortiz back to the dugout.
Dustin Pedroia, who nearly had his head taken off by Ortiz as he smashed the phone, then started shouting at Ortiz. Pedroia said after the game he was trying to keep Ortiz from making it worse and getting suspended.
For a guy who doesn’t usually lose his cool, it was a pretty epic meltdown by Ortiz.
Paul O’Neill would be proud.
Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports. To be fair, it was a ball.
