Angry Umpire Demands That Jon Lester Fight Him

Yesterday’s game between the Dodgers and Cubs was delayed for several minutes when home plate umpire Andy Fletcher decided to go full Ump Show in the second inning, stalking Cubs starter Jon Lester back to the mound in order to establish his authority or whatever.

I mean, what the hell, man? Pitchers bark after close calls all the time, but it’s not every day you see an umpire respond by demanding an argument, or having to be held back by the damn catcher. After the game, Lester said he wasn’t even yelling at Fletcher (via Chicago Tribune):

“I didn’t say anything directed at him,” Lester said. “I don’t know why (Fletcher) was so upset. I had my head down when I was yelling. He went AWOL. I don’t know what was going on. It has nothing to do with umpire’s strike zone.”

Don’t worry, Jon, everyone else is just as confused as you are.

[ Tribune]