Somehow I doubt that the season opening umpire crew is going to be on Brian Snitker’s Christmas card list.
In the first game of the season, Snitker took issue with some rather inconsistent check swing calls and was promptly tossed just before the Braves’ Nick Markakis sent a ball into the left field seats to secure a walk-off win.
Well, Snit is nothing if not consistent and again...he had a legitimate gripe. The Phillies had to dip into their bullpen even earlier than they had usually in the third inning, but Snitker felt as though Phillies’ manager Gabe Kapler was stalling to let his reliever warm-up some more in the bullpen.