DETROIT -- Umpires across Major League Baseball are wearing white wristbands on Saturday to protest "escalating verbal attacks" and the lack of response by commissioner Rob Manfred.
The catalyst appears to be comments made by Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler about umpire Angel Hernandez Tuesday in Texas.
The World Umpires Association, which announced the protest just before the start of the Tigers' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, said Kinsler had "publicly and harshly impugned the character and integrity" of Hernandez.
After being ejected for arguing a strike call on Monday night, Kinsler spoke out to reporters a day later, saying the veteran umpire "needs to find another job" and just "go away.