Umpire Joe West suspended 3 games for calling Beltre complainer

After dubbing Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre a complainer, umpire Joe West was suspended three games by MLB on Tuesday, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

"It's got to be Adrian Beltre," MLB's longest-tenured umpire told Bob Nightengale of USA Today when asked to identify the league's biggest complainer in an interview published June 20.

"Every pitch you call that's a strike, he says, 'Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!'" West continued. "I told him, 'You may be a great ballplayer, but you're the worst umpire in the league. You stink.'"

The World Umpires Association, which represents West, announced it will protest the suspension.

"Joe West is the most senior umpire in our ranks, having served MLB since 1976, under six different baseball commissioners," the WUA said in a statement. "Joe has upheld the rules of fair play for more than 5,000 Major League Baseball games, and is on his way to the record for most career games ever worked by an MLB umpire. He should be on the field today."

The USA Today article, which was a pre-emptive celebration of the legendary umpire's 5,000th career game, added that West is on "friendly terms" with Beltre.