Murray Seeks a Little Movement From Umpires, Who Stand Pat

Over the matter of a few steps, a spat has erupted between Dodger first baseman Eddie Murray and National League umpires.

In the ninth inning of Friday’s 3-1 Dodger loss to the San Diego Padres, with Murray batting, he asked for time out to request that second base umpire Frank Pulli move out of his line of vision. Pulli refused.

Murray consulted Manager Tom Lasorda, who ran to second base and argued with Pulli, who still did not move. Murray then returned to the batter’s box and grounded out.

The argument has occurred several times since Murray joined the Dodgers last season. Murray and the Dodgers say they just want the umpires to be courteous. The umpires say they are just doing their job.

“Eddie Murray has a bad attitude,” said Bruce Froemming, the head of this weekend’s umpiring crew at Dodger Stadium. “He says the umpires have it in for him. I think it’s the reverse. Eddie has it in for the umpires.”

Froemming said the umpires will not move for Murray because he is the only player who has ever requested such a move.

“Why should we umpire different with Eddie Murray at bat than we do with everyone else?” Froemming said. “No other player in the league has ever asked us to move-- nobody . Sure, when we are wearing our white shirts and are standing in the infield, we will get out of the batter’s line of vision because it is tough to pick up the ball coming off our shirt.

“But (Friday night), we were wearing our blue shirts and we were not bothering anybody.”

Murray calmly responded: “That is all a bunch of lies. All you have to do is look at the game and know that. The umpires will move for the second baseman, they will move for the shortstop, they will move for the outfielders. Why can’t they move for a hitter? How hard is that?”

Lasorda backed Murray, saying, “I don’t think Eddie has it in for anybody. He has never indicated that to me.”