David Price is not known as a hot head. In fact, the Tampa Rays pitcher is usually considered one of those guys who just goes out and does his job.
He did his job on Sunday, striking out nine in an 8-3 win over the Chicago Whitesox. That victory was the first of the season for the newly anointed ace of the staff.
After the game, the All-Star hurler took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with umpire Tom Hallion.
Hallion had ejected Rays’ pitcher Jeremy Hellickson in today’s game for what the ump said was arguing calls from the bench. David Price claims that the situation was a bit more … blue than the umpire’s report.
The situation began when the Tampa pitcher thought he had stuck out DeWayne Wise looking. Hallion called it a ball and the pitcher expressed his surprise.
At some point, he claims that the umpire yelled , ‘Throw the ball over the [expletive] plate.” The Rays’ star said that the entire bench heard it, and that’s when they starting going crazy.
This is apparently also when Hellickson was ejected from the game. After the game, a reporter told Hallion what was claimed and he responded that it was a lie.
The umpire’s comments about lying is apparently what started the Twitter barrage.
1. I am not a liar 2. I would not make that stuff up 3. My own dad doesn’t speak to me that way 4. Again I am not a liar #accountability
— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) April 28, 2013
The situation only seems to have escalated once a Tampa beat reporter was actually able to get some inflammatory comments from the ump onto the social media site.
Umpire Tom Hallion, to pool reporter, on #Rays @ davidprice14 ‘s laim he cursed him: “I’ll come right out bluntly and say he’s a liar,’
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 28, 2013
At this point, other Rays jumped into the discussion, and it was no longer a he said-he said situation.
There’s only one person lying about all this and his name starts with a T and rhymes with pom
— Jeremy Hellickson(@JHell58) April 28, 2013
Lies! lies i tell you! RT @ tbtimes_rays : Umpire Hallion said to Price:”I said, “Just throw the ball.” That’s all I said to him’
— Matt Moore(@MattyMoe55) April 28, 2013
In the end, the smoke isn’t likely to really clear in this situation. We likely won’t ever know the entire story.
David Price will likely get himself a nice suspension for his part of this situation.
