TORONTO _ After unleashing a Twitter rant criticizing umpire Andy Fletcher's work behind the plate Thursday, Rays outfielder Carlos Gomez doubled down on his comments, saying he was even more upset about how Fletcher treated him when questioning a third-strike call, then ejecting him.
"He's the one who should have been thrown out last night because he's the only one who didn't do his job," Gomez said before Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
Gomez said he told Fletcher that the pitch ending a key sixth-inning pinch-hit appearance with the bases loaded was inside and that video would prove it. Gomez indicated Fletcher squared up to him, said "but right now it's a strike," and was dismissive, "basically then he told me to go on" into the dugout.
"That's what made me (ticked) off, made me frustrated, the way he acted to me," Gomez said.
Revisiting that point a few minutes later, Gomez said it was the way Fletcher "got in my face" in defending the call that was the trigger point.
"What does that mean? I'm a man. You do that to me in the street I'm going to slap the (crap) out of you," he said.
Fletcher declined before Friday's game, via a Blue Jays representative, to address Gomez's comments. Major League Baseball officials typically review all criticisms of umpires and could decide if Gomez's tweets and comments warrant a fine and/or suspension.
Gomez heavily criticized Fletcher's ball-and-strike calling, saying he "missed more than 30 pitches, guaranteed" and that his work exemplifies the need to implement an electronic strike-zone system.
"They know that I never complain about strike or balls," Gomez said. "But the way they've been calling (stuff) now, they need to put in the electronic strike zone. They have to because they've been inconsistent the whole year long. I'm not the only one."
Gomez said he was particularly upset because he had a chance in that at-bat to extend what was then a 3-2 Rays lead, and given that they ended up losing 9-8 (after blowing a six-run lead in the ninth), the disputed call might have cost the Rays a win and him money in future earnings.
"I'm not going to let you do that," said Gomez, whose $4 million salary this year pushed his career earnings to around $50 million. "I'm rich, but I'm not stupid."
Manager Kevin Cash said he hadn't looked at the replay of the pitch in question, but Gomez's public criticism was "probably not the best way to go about it."
Gomez, 32, earlier this year criticized MLB's drug-testing program for not being random and had a violent dugout outburst during a game, smashing a cooler. But he also has been complimented by Cash and players for providing strong leadership and helping create a casual and positive atmosphere in the clubhouse.
