Major League Baseball umpire Joe West says Paul Lo Duca was way off base when the catcher-turned-podcaster claimed on air that a teammate bribed the veteran ump — with a classic Chevy.
West filed a defamation lawsuit against Lo Duca Tuesday over comments the former Los Angeles Dodger made on “The Favorites Podcast” on April 18.
The four-time All-Star catcher, who is now an MLB and horse-racing analyst, recalled a game against the Phillies in 2006 or 2007, when he was catching for Mets pitcher Billy Wagner.
Wagner, Lo Duca claimed, used his 1957 Chevy to curry favor with — and gain a bigger strike zone from — the surly West.