Adrian Beltre isn't a fan of the league's decision to hand a three-game suspension to umpire Joe West.
West was handed the ban for referring to Beltre as the league's biggest complainer in an interview back in June. But Beltre, who felt there was a disconnect in how the quotes were received, doesn't understand why the veteran umpire was punished at all.
"I don't think the suspension was necessary," Beltre said after Tuesday's contest against the New York Mets, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas News. "I know he was kidding. I didn't think it was a big deal.
"It's sad that it happened. I guess it was just some miscommunication."
During the interview, West singled out Beltre - in what appeared to be a playful manner - for being the most vehement opposer of his strike zone.
"Every pitch you call that's a strike, he says, 'Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!'" West said. "I had a game with him recently and the pitch was right down the middle. He tells me, 'That ball is outside.'
"I told him, 'You may be a great ballplayer, but you're the worst umpire in the league. You stink.'"
According to the umpires' union, the World Umpires Association, West was suspended due to an "appearance of a lack of impartiality," though Rangers manager Jeff Banister didn't agree with that assessment of the 64-year-old.
"I respect Joe," Banister told Grant. "He's a tremendous umpire, a future Hall of Famer. I think there are times when we say things and the context of what we say may look different.
"It's just a situation where a decision was made and you live with it and move on. There's nothing that would give me any thought about any (umpire) not being impartial."
