MLB

MLB to probe umpire’s spat with Yankees catcher

Major League Baseball is “looking into” the spat Yankees catcher Russell Martin had with umpire Laz Diaz during Wednesday night’s game in Anaheim, a MLB spokesman said yesterday.

Martin said Diaz, the plate umpire in the Yankees’ 6-5 win over the Angels, punished him for arguing balls and strikes. Martin said Diaz wouldn’t allow him to throw new baseballs back to his pitchers after fouls.

“Laz Diaz is a [bleep]. Write it hard,” Martin shouted as he came into the clubhouse after the game.

According to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, “Russell exercised his First Amendment Rights.”

Martin could face disciplinary action for his outburst.

“We are constantly reviewing the interactions between players and umpires and will review this as well,’’ said MLB spokesman Pat Courtney.

Cashman said he would talk with manager Joe Girardi about the situation, but he declined to comment when asked if the team would pursue anything.

“The normal process is if the league has a problem with a team they deal with the team,” Cashman said. “If a team has a problem with the league, they deal with the league. That’s all.”

Martin said the ball ban was put into effect after he and Diaz exchanged some words over strike calls early in the game.

“He said that it was a privilege that I had to earn, for me to throw the ball back,” Martin said. “That’s never happened to me before. I even told him, because there’s guys on base, I like to keep my arm loose. Nope. ‘I’m not letting you throw the ball back.’ That’s pretty strange, to me. That’s a good story, huh?

“I think it happened in the second inning or something,” Martin said. “And then even at the end of the game, after I got hit in the neck, I’m like, ‘Can I throw the ball back now?’ He’s like still, no. I’m like, ‘you’re such a [bleep]. You’re a [bleep], dude. Like, for real. Unbelievable.’ ’’

Martin said he had no previous history with Diaz.

“Now, thinking back, I should have shown him the gold Rawlings sign on my glove, said Martin, who won a Gold Glove in 2007 when he played for the Dodgers.

“Now, thinking back, I should have shown him the gold Rawlings sign on my glove,” said Martin. who won a Gold Glove in 2007 when he played for the DodgersDiaz was unavailable for comment.