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Kinsler doesn't care about umpire protest: 'That's their problem'

Patrick Gorski / USA TODAY Sports

Ian Kinsler isn't fazed by umpires protesting "escalating verbal attacks" by wearing white wristbands following the Detroit Tigers second baseman's verbal tirade against Angel Hernandez.

"I hope they wear the white wristbands for the remainder of their careers," Kinsler told Evan Woodbery of MLive following Saturday's game. "I don't care."

"I said what I felt and what I thought," he said of his comments, which called for Hernandez to find a new job. "If they take offense to that, then that's their problem."

Related: 3 reasons MLB messed up and should have suspended Ian Kinsler

The World Umpires Association issued a statement Saturday saying that umpires will wear wristbands "until our concerns are taken seriously," but it also specifically mentioned the incident involving the "player who denigrated Hernandez."

"To single out one player as a union is completely uncalled for," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told Woodbery.

Kinsler was reportedly fined following the altercation, but avoided suspension.

"Not going to put a number on it," Ausmus said of the fine. "It's the biggest I've ever seen. So I don't want to hear that he's not being punished."

"There's now a giant spotlight on Ian Kinsler," he added. "Any missed calls on Ian Kinsler, everyone's going to know about it."

To his credit, Kinsler mentioned a difference in treatment since his bout with Hernandez.

"Yeah," he said when asked by Jason Beck of MLB.com whether he has noticed a change. "My strike zone has been better."

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