Hawkins, Collins ejected for arguing hit-by-pitch call

NEW YORK -- Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins' seventh-inning appearance against the Reds in Monday's 4-3 loss was filled with frustration and controversy, culminating with the ejections of both he and his manager, Terry Collins.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Hawkins appeared to hit Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips' bottom hand with a pitch. As Phillips was taking first base, Hawkins walked toward home-plate umpire Tom Hallion to argue the call.

He said he asked Hallion to check with another umpire to get another opinion on the call.

"I just asked for some help," Hawkins said. "That's it."

The disagreement stemmed from whether the pitch hit the knob of the bat or Phillips' hand. Hawkins said Hallion refused to ask for help at that point. But when Collins came out of the dugout to argue, he also asked Hallion to check with another umpire. This time he did, but the call stood.

Collins said he told Hallion that even if it wasn't a foul ball, it still was some sort of swing.

"He asked for help, and the first-base umpire [Ron Kulpa] said no swing," Collins said.

Collins said that players who hang their bottom hand off the end of the bat -- like Phillips -- always seem to get hit a lot more often. Since they shake their hand every time a pitch hits the knob of the bat, it always gives off the appearance that they got hit.

That might've been the case on Monday.

"It's amazing how many times they get hit, and it's always because they shake their hand," Collins said. "Hanging off the end of the bat, it's going to hurt."