D-backs’ Madison Bumgarner: Ejection had greater impact on others

PHOENIX — To Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner, umpire Dan Bellino’s issued apology Friday did not mean much.

Bellino tossed Bumgarner following an exchange of words during what was a lengthy substance check after the first inning Wednesday in Miami.

The veteran pitcher said Saturday that he is not holding a grudge but declined the opportunity for Bellino to apologize to him personally.

(2/3) Bellino: “When I began my MLB career almost 15 years ago, I received some good advice. I was told to umpire every game as if my children were sitting in the front row. I fell short of those expectations this week.”

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 7, 2022

Bumgarner stood up for his teammate, instead, saying that right-hander Corbin Martin deserved an apology more than anyone.

Martin, who was called up from Triple-A Reno on April 23, came in for four innings in which he threw a season-high 76 pitches. His contribution helped Arizona win the game 8-7, but he was sent back down to Triple-A on Friday.

The D-backs reinstated infielder Josh Rojas and closer Mark Melancon from the injured list, while Martin would be unavailable for a few days after the extended work.

“I don’t need an apology, Corbin Martin needs an apology,” Bumgarner told reporters Saturday. “He was forced to come in and throw four innings. And then, unfortunately, needed too many days off where we’re down a pitcher. So now he’s in Triple-A. So that affected him in a much bigger way.”

Bumgarner said he was proud of the team for coming back to win the game.

He stated that he is serious when on the mound and wants to do everything he can to help the team win, but he is in a position to withstand the umpire’s decision to toss him more than others.

He doesn’t want to see that happen again.

“I’ve moved on, and I’m worried about my next start,” Bumgarner said.

“Like I said, my main concern was after we got out of that, our player getting sent down because he has to have too many days off where we can’t bear that with the bullpen right now, so that and making sure that doesn’t happen again to someone else. I feel like I owe that to the players around the league.”

He pointed out that such a decision to toss a player early in a game can be costly to those who have innings-based incentives or are arbitration eligible.

D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall on Thursday told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta it was the “most bizarre ejection I’ve ever seen in all my years in baseball.”

Bellino stated in his apology issued to ESPN that he fell short of expectations and takes responsibility.

As for how the the ejection affects Bumgarner’s pitching routine, he believes normal rest time is the plan.

“Our starters are definitely on a good deal right now, and everybody’s throwing the ball good,” Bumgarner said. “So I imagine we don’t want to mess with that too much.”

The D-backs are back in action Saturday at Chase Field against the Colorado Rockies.

First pitch is at 5:10 p.m., and you can tune in on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. 

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