St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said umpire C.B. Bucknor has “zero class as a man” after Bucknor refused to shake the skipper’s hand before Saturday’s loss against the Washington Nationals.
“I don’t think he’s good at his job, and it just shows a lack of class as a man,” Marmol said after the game.
The other umpires working Saturday’s games — Angel Hernandez, Ron Kulpa, and Carlos Torres — shook Marmol’s hand and apologized for Bucknor’s actions.
“We are aware of Mr. Marmol’s comments and the matter is under review,” an MLB spokesperson told ESPN Sunday.
This isn’t the first instance involving Marmol and Bucknor.
Bucknor ejected Marmol last August after the manager disputed a strike called on All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. The two shouted at each other and Marmol told the umpire he should retire.
“I didn’t like his smirk when I got out there,” Marmol told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch “And then he questioned my time in the league. And so I returned the favor and questioned his time in the league.”
Marmol went 93-69 in his first season managing the Cardinals in 2022, winning the NL Central division but getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card round.