Umpire Laz Diaz had himself a night in Atlanta on Friday night. It all started with Bryce Harper questioning a borderline pitch that Diaz called a strike.
From there things got interesting.
While Harper was in centerfield, Diaz called a similar pitch a strike. Harper, who was in his line of sight, must have reacted to the call.
Diaz stopped the game and started yelling at Nationals manager Dave Martinez while pointing to Harper in center. Harper just stood there while Diaz screamed at his bench.
This is insanity. I've never seen a bigger ump show. Laz Diaz losing his damn mind pic.twitter.com/LTiaCNLx1B
— Liam Fennessy (@LiamFennessy_) September 15, 2018
After the inning Diaz was seen yelling at Harper as he made his way to the dugout. Harper did his best to ignore him again.
Laz Diaz, after stopping play to scream at Bryce Harper all the way out in center field, barked at him on Harper’s way off, screaming “I know you can hear me!” And Laz is now staring Bryce down as he makes his way down the dugout. Wow.
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) September 15, 2018
He couldn’t ignore what Diaz did this during his next at bat. Diaz made one of the worst strike calls you’ll ever see at the MLB level.
Probably the single worst call I've ever seen. Laz Diaz is just guessing at this point. #Braves pic.twitter.com/RtE2tNh4MO
— The Revelator (@ajp1128) September 15, 2018
Harper had a conversation with Diaz about the call, Martinez came out to join in the conversation. Nobody was ejected and the Nationals went on to do what they do best, lose.
After this performance, one thing is clear, it’s time for Laz Diaz to be removed from the MLB.
