St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

MLB investigating exchange between Cardinals manager and umpire

Major League Baseball is looking into an exchange between St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and umpire C.B. Bucknor on Saturday, according to a report from ESPN's Buster Olney. 

Marmol ripped Bucknor following Saturday's spring training game against the Washington Nationals when the umpire refused to shake his hand during the pregame lineup exchange. Marmol said the other umpires apologized for Bucknor's action. 

The two have bad blood going back to last August when Marmol was ejected by Bucknor during a game, who then questioned his tenure in the league. 

It is a stunning lack of professionalism from Bucknor to hold that sort of a grudge, especially when Marmol attempted to offer his respect with a handshake. Managers and umpires arguing with each other a traditional as old as the game itself, and as heated as things might get it rarely gets so personal that they can not even shake hands with each other nearly a year later. 

So what might MLB actually do here?

Probably not much. A suspension of Bucknor might seem over the top given that he did not really do anything other than snub Marmol. And there does not really seem to be much precedent for that sort of punishment. 

Saying they are investigating it might just be a means to satisfy Marmol and the Cardinals.

Bucknor has been consistently regarded as one of the least popular umpires in baseball due to his inconsistent strike zone and missed calls. Now the Cardinals have another reason to dislike him. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Watch: Marlins, Braves, Royals all deliver walk-off wins
Insider reveals odd man out in Browns' QB room
Watch: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton stuns Cavaliers with incredible game-winning play
Spurs HC Mitch Johnson receives multiyear commitment from team
Oilers get good news and bad news on Mattias Ekholm
Former Raiders HC makes his return to football
Packers release young WR after rookie mini camp
Warriors owner makes clear statement about Jimmy Butler
Fan sues NFL for $100M over Shedeur Sanders falling in draft
Celtics' injury report for Game 2 vs. Knicks offers positive, negative updates
Inter Milan defeats Barcelona, advances to final in all-time Champions League classic
Red Sox manager answers whether Rafael Devers could play first base
Dodgers to place top-hitting OF on injured list
Big news emerges about Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty
Jaguars set to 'fight' over use of Travis Hunter?
Thunder GM Sam Presti named Executive of the Year
Notre Dame scheduling update could spell end of historic USC rivalry
Michael Strahan, Eli Manning could enter into unexpected competition
NBC Sports makes questionable decision for 2025-26 NBA production
Scottie Scheffler makes controversial decision leading up to PGA Championship

Want more Cardinals news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.