Sooooo, Shawn Kelley has been designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals. This occurred after Kelley lost his temper while not losing the ball game to the New York Mets on Tuesday. To the contrary the Nats won the game 25-4. But in mop-up duty at the end of the game Kelley could be seen talking to the umpiring crew and getting somewhat agitated. He then threw 93 mile an hour fastball which was promptly deposited in the right field seats. Kelley then took off his glove and slammed it to the ground which in my opinion is perfectly fine if you’re 8 years old.

Management was a bit more peeved.

“I thought the act that he portrayed on the field last night was disrespectful to the name on the front of the jersey, the organization, specifically Davey Martinez,” General Manager Mike Rizzo told the Washington Post before Wednesday’s game against the Mets. “You’re either in or you’re in the way. And I thought he was in the way.”

Cute. “…in…or…in the way.” Get it? Rizzo’s a regular Elizabeth Tom Browning.

Granted, Kelley is 34 and should know better. But instead of doing what my seven-year-old and 13-year-old would’ve done, which is suspend Kelley for anywhere between a game and a week for failing to act like a professional or maybe even fining him, the Nationals start screaming about Kelley‘s lack of respected for the uniform and the game and his manager and they let a guy with a 3.34 ERA jump ship, supposedly while they’re in the minute in the middle of a playoff chase. What are they going to do the next time a starter puts the ball in Lil’ Davey’s hand a little too hard when the skipper pulls him out of the ball game? Cut him and sue him for violation of his civil rights?

This is either a serious indication of what a all-around jerk Kelley is and this was the last straw, which doesn’t seem likely, or it’s a comical indictment of the inability of Lil’ Davey to handle a 25-man roster of professional ballplayers or stand up for his player to Ol’ Rizzo the Rhymer.

Kelley‘s reaction and his explanation afterwards certainly jive with the broadcast feed. He says the third base umpire told him to slow down his delivery or he’d be called for a balk. Almost immediately after, the home plate umpire tells him he’s going too slowly. Kelley says he looked into the dugout for help and got none.

“What my real frustration was, I had no disrespect or selfishness or not even really an issue pitching in that game,” Kelley said. “Whatever their opinion it is, I hate to be seen as a guy that was showing up his manager or selfish because I’ve played 10 years and I’ve never been that guy. So I don’t think I’d start now. It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances, but it is what it is so I’ll move on and make the best of it,” Kelley told the Post.

This is the same Nationals’ management that fired Dusty Baker after making the playoffs and winning the division last year, then hired Martinez and all of his, scratch that, I mean none of his managerial experience, and are now a .500 club looking up at the Phillies and the Braves.

Once again, this seems a likely example of management pointing the fingers at others when the fingers should be pointed inward.