League Gives van der Veen Suspension
The <Miami Beach Expos:team#106> were not very happy with the home plate umpire in today's loss to <Punta Gorda:team#70> at Bulldog Grounds. One in particular -- <Tjakke van der Veen:player#4140>. Upon being called out on strikes, the Expos shortstop gave the ump quite an earful. For that, the man in blue gave him the thumb and sent him to an early shower.

But the disgruntled van der Veen lingered on the field for another five minutes, berating the umpire. Finally his manager got him off the field and into the clubhouse.

But it got worse after the game, when van der Veen told reporters, "He was blind today. They played 'Three Blind Mice' for him. If he doesn't know the words to the song, I'm sure we can get it in Braille, so he can follow along."

For his escapades and after-the-game oration, the league office suspended van der Veen for 2 games.

This year <van der Veen:player#4140> has batted at a .255 pace with 69 hits, 2 home runs, 33 RBIs and scored 31 times.