Russell Martin Ejected from NY Yankees Game Against Rays for Joking with Umpire

Major League Baseball umpires need to take a deep breath and relax.

At least that’s what New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin felt and stated leading up to him getting tossed by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber in Monday night’s 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Following the game Martin recalled the events leading up to his premature departure.

"

I asked the umpire on my way back from talking to Phil [Hughes] if he had stretched before the game. He said, "What?" He turned around, walked around me and said, "Excuse me?" I asked, "Did you stretch before the game? Because I feel like you are kind of tight right now." And he tossed me. He threw me out of the game. I was like, "What happened? I thought this was supposed to be fun. I thought this was a game." That’s what I told him, just like that. I didn’t say it in a way that was condescending or anything like that, I was just trying to loosen things up a bit because I felt like he wasn’t really having a good time.

"

Wow, really, Paul Schrieber?

When will the day come that baseball umpires realize they are not the stars of the game? Baseball is the one sport of the major sports in this country that the officials seem to think they have something owed to them.

It is one thing if a player is challenging the authority or being blatantly disrespectful. However, a simple joke between player and umpire about some pre-game calisthenics is just pure comedy.

Looking at the physical condition of some of the umpires, questioning whether or not they stretched before the game may actually be in the best interest of their health and welfare.

Jamal Wilburg is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand.

Follow his thoughts, insights, and ramblings on Twitter @JWilburg