Joey Votto bumps umpire Chris Conroy following ejection, suspension likely

The Cincinnati Reds should anticipate being without first baseman Joey Votto for a game or two in the not too distant future.

The former National League MVP was ejected from Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and is very likely to face further disciplinary action after making chest-to-chest contact with home-plate umpire Chris Conroy. 

The heated exchange took place after Votto went down swinging against Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole, and after Votto spiked his helmet in clear frustration.

What wasn’t immediately clear, however, is whom that frustration was directed at. Earlier in the at-bat, Votto reacted unfavorably to Conroy’s called first strike. Votto did one reverse turn in the batter’s box and appeared to say something to Conroy, which wasn’t forgetton moments later. 

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According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, there also appeared to be some heat between Votto and Cole. Sheldon notes that Votto appeared to say something toward Cole as he left the field. A camera shot in the Pirates’ third-base dugout confirmed that Cole was angered about something, so there were obviously a lot of small fires burning here that fueled an epic eruption. 

Chances are we won’t know any other specifics until all parties meet the media following the game.

What is undeniable, however, is that Votto made contact with Conroy.  He was originally headed back to his position, apparently unaware that Conroy had given him the thumb. When manager Bryan Price came out to defend him, that’s when Votto realized what happened and lost it, charging toward Conroy. 

Then the bump. 

The contact wasn’t violent, but it doesn’t have to be to draw MLB’s attention.

Votto can probably expect something more than the one-game suspension David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox received for his ump-bump two weeks ago. The contact in that case seemed incidental. Here, Votto was clearly more aggressive, but we still wouldn’t anticipate a suspension more than two or three games following appeals. 

Worth noting, the ejection is Votto’s fifth overall, but his first since 2010.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813