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Diamondbacks Manager Tossed After Brutal Call Made by One of MLB’s Worst Umpires

Andy Nesbitt

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo argues with first base umpire Laz Diaz during the seventh inning after being thrown out of the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Chase Field.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo argues with first base umpire Laz Diaz during the seventh inning after being thrown out of the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Chase Field. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

With Angel Hernandez no longer calling games, the honor of being the worst umpire in MLB belongs to Laz Diaz. The veteran ump has been infuriating players, managers and fans for years and that continued Tuesday night in Phoenix.

In the top of the seventh inning it seemed Orioles hitter Tyler O'Neill didn't check his swing on a ball that was outside the zone. Diaz, who was the first base ump, ruled that he didn't swing and a pitch later O'Neill drew a walk in a two-run game.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo didn't like that one bit and let Diaz know about it in one of the most heated ejections of the young season.

Here's how that all played out:

The Diamondbacks were able to hang on and win the game, 4-3.

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Andy Nesbitt
ANDY NESBITT

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.

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