FanHouse RonKulpa

That's Torii Hunter, in a much, much happier place than he was in on Tuesday night, when he was ejected following an animated eruption targeted at home plate umpire Ron Kulpa. From the Star-Tribune:

Why did Hunter erupt? The Twins weren't happy with what Kulpa said to Hunter after he was called out on strikes in the seventh inning as well as what Kulpa said to Punto in the eighth.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said any investigation should start with the umpires.

"They ought to walk over there and ask him what he said to Nick Punto after the pitch, that's what that league ought to do," Gardenhire said. "[And] what he told Torii at home plate on the pitch was wrong. He said, 'That was a nasty slider.' It was a fastball.

Umm ... I'm missing something, right? Calling a fastball a slider can't be that big of a deal, can it? In any case, the Twins now have to wait and see if Hunter will be handed down a suspension, which has been the norm following some recent explosions by players.

Previously on FanHouse:
Gary Sheffield Does Not Think He's as Bad as Paul Lo Duca
Paul Lo Duca Throws Stuff, Gets Suspended

Bobby Cox, in his march towards history, is now a mere one ejection away from tying John McGraw's all time record after getting tossed by Ron Kulpa while arguing a fair/foul call.

When I think of managers who constantly and famously berate umpires such as Earl Weaver and Billy Martin, I can't imagine that umpires always thought highly of them. But blue certainly has a deep respect for Cox (either that or they're just being polite for the media):

"I've never had a problem with Bobby," Kulpa said. "This is my ninth year and this is the first time that I've ever ejected him. I don't think any umpire is out there looking to get Bobby. Bobby respects us and we have a lot of respect for him."

So that puts Cox one behind John McGraw, and 127 ahead of John Smoltz, who earned his third career thumb just minutes after Cox's. Smoltz accused Kulpa of having some rabbit ears.

"I didn't say anything that warranted getting thrown out, not one bit," Smoltz said. "I told him he missed the call, and the next thing you know, I'm getting thrown out. It's pretty weak. But maybe he's having a bad day."

An umpire having a bad day? Come on, Smoltzie, that never happens.

Smoltz has to learn to get his money's worth on these ejections like his manager. Cox knows what he's doing in that regard, and that's why he finds himself on the cusp of history. And for whoever starts that pool to try to predict who the umpire who ejects Cox to tie the record, give me Angel Hernandez. Just a guess.

Previously on The Fanhouse:
Bobby Cox Chases History