Joe West has been a Major League umpire for 31 years, so it’s safe to say that he’s been hit by his share of foul tips and wild pitches while calling the game behind the plate.
But it’s not everyday that you see an umpire working behind first base take a line drive off his stomach, and I’m not sure you’ll ever see a reaction again like the one West gave the fans at Citi Field Tuesday night after he took one off his gut.
Let’s be honest. It’s probably not very often that West is thankful for his expanded waistline, but it’s probably a good thing he had some extra padding there this time around.
