Major League Baseball wants managers to stop arguing balls and strikes, warning in a memo that it is “detrimental to the game.”
Joe Torre, the chief baseball officer for MLB, sent a memo Friday to managers, general managers and assistant general managers.
“This highly inappropriate conduct is detrimental to the game and must stop immediately,” stated the memo, which was obtained Saturday by the Associated Press.
Torre, a Hall of Fame manager, said in the memo that managers are increasingly relying on technology from the clubhouse or video room to argue from the dugout.
“Although disagreements over ball and strike calls are natural, the prevalence of manager ejections simply cannot continue,” Torre wrote. “This conduct not only delays the game, but it also has the propensity to undermine the integrity of the umpires on the field.”
Torre warned that any manager or coach ejected for arguing balls and strikes “hereafter will be disciplined, including at least a fine.”
–The Cleveland Indians placed right-handed relief pitcher Tommy Hunter on the 15-day disabled list with a non-baseball related injury.
Hunter, 30, is beginning his second stint on the disabled list, retroactive to July 10, this season. He reportedly fell on some stairs while carrying his son during the All-Star break. Hunter has posted a record of 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 21 relief appearances over 21 2/3 innings.
The team also recalled right-hander Cody Anderson from Triple-A Columbus.
Anderson, 25, is beginning his fifth stint with Cleveland in 2016. He is 1-4 with a 7.48 ERA in nine games (eight starts over 43 1/3 innings. He also has posted a mark of 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA in six starts over 25 innings for Columbus.
–Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Jameson Taillon is expected to return from the disabled list to start Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, manager Clint Hurdle said.
Taillon (2-1, 3.86 ERA) was sidelined by right shoulder fatigue and placed on the disabled list on July 5, retroactive to June 30.
–The way Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) recovers from his 60-pitch simulated game Saturday will determine when he returns to the rotation, manager Dave Roberts said.
“Everything with Clayton is on the table, but after that last live (batting practice), just making sure his body feels 100 percent and ready to come back,” Roberts said.
Kershaw has been sidelined since June 25.
–The Detroit Tigers activated left fielder Justin Upton off the bereavement list and optioned right fielder Steven Moya to Triple-A Toledo.
Moya had four hits in his last 30 at-bats and also struggled to field his position.
“Part of it is he didn’t want to make a mistake,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “As a result, you become a little cautious.”
–Arizona Diamondbacks catcher/outfielder Chris Herrmann (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled list, a day after he was forced into action as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning of a 2-1 victory in 12 innings over the Dodgers.
Infielder/outfielder Mike Freeman was purchased from Triple-A Reno to fill the roster spot. Freeman made his debut in majors in right field Sunday after 2,600 minor league at-bats over seven seasons.
–The Oakland Athletics acquired minor league left-hander Ross Detwiler from Cleveland for cash and assigned him to Triple-A Nashville.
Detwiler is 21-37 with a 4.21 ERA in 180 career major league appearances, including 76 starts. He was 2-4 with a 4.60 ERA for Triple-A Columbus this year.
–The Cincinnati Reds optioned struggling left-hander John Lamb to Triple-A Louisville and recalled outfielder Kyle Waldrop.
Lamb allowed nine earned runs in two innings on Saturday.
–Tampa Bay Rays infielder Steve Pearce, who has been sidelined since June 21 with a hamstring strain, started his rehab assignment with Class A Charlotte on Saturday.
Pearce went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk as a designated hitter. He was expected to play at first base in Sunday night’s game.