According to ESPN.com, the veteran umpire will be working this weekend’s Red Sox-Royals series at Fenway, and he’s standing by controversial comments he made about the Red Sox and Yankees last month. West called the teams’ slow pace of play “pathetic” and "embarrassing" during a series at Fenway Park.
"I don't second-guess what I said," West told ESPN.com. "And I don't believe I'm wrong. A lot of people don't believe I'm wrong."
West's comments created an uproar in the Boston and New York media, and sparked a dialogue amongst baseball fans everywhere.
"I kind of expected the firestorm I created,” West told ESPN.com. “But the interview was taken out of context. The first thing I said was that these were two of our best teams, but the pace that they play the game was pathetic and embarrassing. But everybody, especially the New York media, blew it out of proportion and said I was calling the teams pathetic."
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia didn't agree with West’s comments.
"To call the Yankees and Red Sox, two of the best teams in baseball, 'pathetic' and 'embarrassing,' that's just ridiculous,'' Pedroia said at the time. "If he doesn't want to do Red Sox and Yankee games, he should tell the umpires' union. Then when we're in the World Series, he'll be out of that assignment, too.''
The Fenway faithful might have a few more choice words for West.
