Umpire touches player - Leyland goes nuts

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4166378

MINNEAPOLIS -- Umpire Paul Schrieber has apologized for making contact with Detroit Tigers slugger Magglio Ordonez during a confrontation Wednesday night.

In the seventh inning against Minnesota, Schreiber called Ordonez out on strikes. Ordonez argued that the pitch was low. As Schrieber spoke to him, the umpire placed his hand on Ordonez's back and steered him toward the dugout.

Schrieber read a brief statement before the Tigers-Twins series finale on Thursday. He said he "should not have placed my hands on him, period. For doing so, I apologize to both Magglio Ordonez and the Detroit Tigers."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland was ejected for coming to Ordonez's defense, screaming in Schrieber's face. His ejection came in seconds. Before the game Thursday, Leyland and Ordonez said they did not think Schrieber's act had malicious intent.

"Did you see what happened? OK, then you write what you saw," Leyland said angrily following the game, according to MLB.com. "I don't have to say a word. You write what you saw. And I hope you all got the guts to write what you saw.

"I don't need to say anything. Write what you saw. I don't need to say a word. If you watched the ... game, then write what you saw."

Usually, players, managers and coaches are suspended if they make contact with an umpire.

A three-run home run by Miguel Cabrera that had given Detroit an 8-7 lead preceded Ordonez's strikeout. Minnesota won the game 14-10 in 13 innings on Joe Crede's walk-off grand slam.

Ordonez was not available for comment after the game.