Jonathan Papelbon in need of a different kind of adjustment

Umpire Joe West could be fined for snatching up a handful of Jonathan Papelbon’s jersey – while Papelbon was still in it – so that West could rid himself of the puerile Phillies reliever and return to his position Sunday afternoon.

He will be criticized for ejecting Papelbon for what Papelbon claimed was a simple jockstrap adjustment and most suspect was not that at all, but rather a gesture that often comes with the phrase, “Yeah, I gotchure boos right here, pally.”

West could even be suspended, presumably, because there are rules against umpires putting their hands on players and other field personnel, no matter the level of the abuse.

He shouldn’t be fined and he shouldn’t be suspended, because good for Joe West.

He may wear this one in the wallet, but from the moment he trudged from his place near second base to the Phillies’ dugout, to his clear and unemotional ejection of Papelbon, to his efforts to disengage from the nuclear Papelbon and his heavy slog back to second base, he was right.

Somebody had to stand for a little dignity out there. Somebody had to remind Papelbon that his jockstrap adjustment could have waited another six feet, at which point he could have adjusted all he wanted in the privacy of his dugout (though admittedly without the same effect). Somebody had to show Papelbon that not everyone is his to offend, abuse or bully.

Papelbon had blown a save, spectacularly. The Philly crowd let him know how it felt about that. Papelbon looked directly into the crowd and grandly adjusted himself.

On Monday, MLB suspended Papelbon for seven games and fined him, so clearly the league was not buying the “adjustment” defense. Nobody believed it anyway.

West did not lose his cool. He did not make a show of running Papelbon from a game he’d probably seen the last of anyway. He simply walked over to the Phillies’ bench and, in so many words, told Papelbon that sort of behavior was not OK on a field on which he – West – was the crew chief.

West was within his authority as an umpire to do so. Then, when Papelbon could hardly be restrained in his disagreement, West was again within his authority, this time as a grown man attempting to leave the situation, to physically remove Papelbon from his grill.

Cowboy Joe, as he is known, is 61 years old. He has been a major league umpire since 1976. He resigned in 1999 as part of a labor dispute, was rehired in 2002, and has worked the postseason somewhat regularly since. He is the game’s longest tenured umpire. That’s not to say he’s an exceptional umpire, but, generally, he’s plenty good enough.

When West ejected Papelbon on Sunday, however, it was as an adult. Plenty in the crowd at Citizens Bank Park would have done the same, particularly the ones standing beside their children. It was West, though, who wore the umpire’s outfit, and West who was therefore in charge, and West who would not stand for a uniformed ballplayer to hoist his junk in response to a crowd that would voice its (quite valid) opinion.

The guess here is it bothered West the man at least as much as it annoyed West the blue. Good for him.

It has been suggested that discipline for Papelbon should come from the Phillies, and not from an umpire. According to reports out of Philadelphia, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg met with Papelbon on Monday, and Papelbon continued to deny his gesture was intended as lewd. The ball club, Sandberg said, would not discipline the pitcher. That, he said, was a league issue. Asked by reporters if he believed Papelbon’s story, Sandberg responded, “It’s not my job or position to believe him.”

The Phillies released a statement supporting the league’s action. So, good, apparently it was someone’s job or position to believe – or not believe – Papelbon.

Yes, West pushed Papelbon aside. Papelbon was out of control. West attempted to leave the conversation. Papelbon obstructed him and had appeared earlier to initiate contact with West.

In these situations, nobody should be touching anybody. And, maybe, in ordinary circumstances, the precedent must be protected first. That probably doesn’t bode well for West.

But, whatever his intent or motivation, whatever his punishment, if any, his stand for decency, self-control and accountability is noted here. He was right.

As for Papelbon, don’t look at this opinion as an attack on your actions. Think of it as a polite request to adjust your attitude next.

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