The CPBL have issued a three-game suspension and a $1,600 fine to the Fubon Guardians’ manager 陳連宏 (Chen Lien-Hung).

The newly appointed Guardians’ skipper was suspended and fined on the grounds of headbutting and chest bumping the umpire during a strike zone dispute on August 11, 2018.

“The umpire’s strike zone was so inconsistent that night, I had to stand up for my players,” said Chen Lien-Hung. “The strike zone should be the same for both teams, but this wasn’t the case.”

Things got a little heated last night at Xinzhuang. #Fubon Guardians' skipper 陳連宏 (Chen Lien-Hung) was ejected for headbutting the umpire over strike zone dispute. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/nfeT9exOPp — CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) August 12, 2018

Headbutting and Chest Bumping

It was Saturday night, the top of the sixth inning. The Guardians’ reliever 郭泓志 (Kuo Hong-Chih) threw a breaking pitch that sliced through the bottom outside corner of the strike zone. The umpire, however, thought otherwise.

For a little background on this, the umpire 江春緯 (Chiang Chun-Wei) is best known for his inconsistent strike zone. Before the whole incident started, there were more than ten questionable calls relating to the strike zone during the game.

Seeing his pitcher is about to get into a full confrontation with the umpire, the Guardians’ manager decided to step in and protect his pitcher. The situation pretty much escalated to the next level immediately.

Chen Lien-Hung started his “strike zone dispute” with a headbutt, followed by a hefty chest bump that pushed the umpire back. The Guardians’ pitching coach also joined in on the action by covering the home plate with dirt.

There were a total of three Guardians ejected that night: manager Chen Lien-Hung, pitching coach Kuo Yung-Chih and reliever Kuo Hong-Chih.

[C.CR]