Stros manager Phil Garner was ejected in the Stros’ win last night over the Phillies as home plate umpire Greg Gibson was putting the squeeze on Roy O, who gave up a career-high six walks and balked in a run. After Oswalt balked in the run, Garner had had enough and chewed out Gibson pretty well. Maybe it worked because a line of Stros pitchers (including Brad Lidge) held the Phils without any runs the rest of the way.
But Garner’s rhubarb with Gibson was rather tame in comparison to those that the late Billy Martin used to engage in with various umpires during his rough and tumble career of managing the Twins, Yankees, A’s and Rangers. Martin’s hair trigger temper led the Oakland A’s to feature him in the clever commercial below to sell tickets for the club’s opening home game of the 1981 season. Martin had much to be content about that season as A’s started out 8-0 on their way to an early-season record of 20-3. They went on to win their division in that strike-shortened split season before losing to the Yankees in the ALCS. Enjoy.