Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Orioles Announcers Blast Umpire After Controversial Ejections

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 11:42 AM ET

We didn’t even need two full weeks to see our first controversial ejection of the 2025 MLB season.

Veteran umpire Laz Diaz threw Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly and manager Torey Lovullo out of Tuesday’s 4-3 D-backs victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Kelly and Lovullo, along with Orioles announcers Kevin Brown and Ben McDonald, disagreed with Diaz’s strike zone.

Specifically, the four believed Diaz incorrectly ruled Orioles right fielder Tyler O’Neill didn’t swing on a seventh-inning pitch.

First, Lovullo walked out to the dugout and relieved Kelly. As Kelly walked to the dugout, he expressed his frustration with Diaz; meanwhile, in the Orioles’ broadcast booth, McDonald suggested Diaz “walk away” and stay away from the aggravated pitcher.

Instead, Diaz threw Kelly out of the game. Lovullo subsequently approached Diaz, and the two had a heated discussion.

Orioles announcers Kevin Brown and Ben McDonald had some criticism for umpire Laz Diaz and his "lesson in conflict moderation" that led to D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo getting ejected. pic.twitter.com/CyDLBzzivs
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 9, 2025

“Laz is just picking a fight right now,” Brown said.

“Just let him be mad and walk away,” Brown continued. “And now, Torrey’s going to get his money’s worth.”

McDonald criticized Diaz for arguing with Kelly and Lovullo rather than “walk down the right field line” and avoid conflict.

“But, instead, he chose to engage, and this is what you get,” McDonald said.

Diaz defended his response to Kelly following the game.

“As he was walking off the mound, he looked back and kept talking,” Diaz said, according to the Diamondbacks’ official website. “At that time, I already gave him his warning to just knock it off. And I ejected him there.”

Brown and McDonald each agreed that, yes, O’Neill did swing on the no-call.

Then came a bizarre inning-ending double play where Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins scored on a flyout, but O’Neill ran from second to third without tagging because he thought the ball dropped in for a hit.

Who says baseball is boring?

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: