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Heavy dollars
Rojas faces fine and suspension after ejection in 8th
Posted: Saturday October 09, 1999 05:36 PM
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Rojas gets in the face of left field umpire Charlie Williams, after Darryl Hamilton's close call with the foul line. AP |
NEW YORK (AP) - Mets third-base coach Cookie Rojas shoved umpire Charlie Williams in the chest after being ejected in the eighth inning of New York's clinching 4-3 playoff victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Rojas was incensed after Williams, the left-field umpire, ruled that Darryl Hamilton's looping drive landed foul with two runners on and the game tied at 3.
Replays showed that Williams, who was rated the worst umpire in the NL by players last year, made the correct call. The Mets went on to win in the 10th inning.
Rojas ran from the coach's box to shallow left field to confront Williams and was immediately ejected. As the argument grew heated, manager Bobby Valentine sprinted out of the dugout to try to restrain Rojas.
The coach was arguing face-to-face with the umpire when Valentine arrived. He shielded Rojas from Williams, but Rojas fought through and pushed Valentine into Williams.
First-base coach Mookie Wilson also tried to help restrain Rojas. It didn't work, as Rojas broke free and pushed Williams with two hands in the chest. Rojas will likely be suspended.
Valentine, Wilson and Robin Ventura -- who was on second base -- finally restrained Rojas, who left the field to chants of "Cookie, Cookie."
Valentine finished out the inning as third base coach -- the second time this season he has replaced Rojas for an inning following an ejection. Bruce Benedict took over in the ninth inning.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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