[外電] Joe West 控告 Paul Lo Duca 毀謗勝訴

https://yhoo.it/3uOP9M9

Joe West is a regular butt of jokes about poor MLB umpiring.

One former player's story about the umpire cost the player six
figures.

West sued four-time MLB All-Star Paul Lo Duca for defamation after
Lo Duca accused him on a podcast of trading strike calls for
off-field favors. A Manhattan Supreme Court judge ruled in West's
favor Monday and ordered Lo Duca to pay him $500,000 plus
interest.

Lo Duca: West traded strikes for access to '57 Chevy

Lo Duca accused West of changing the strike zone in favor of
former New York Mets pitcher Billy Wagner in exchange for use of
Wagner's 1957 Chevy. West accused Lo Duca of fabricating the story
and consequently harming his chances of making the Hall of Fame.

Judge John Kelley agreed with West and ruled in his favor Monday
after Lo Duca declined to appear in court or to address the
allegations, according to the New York Daily News.

Lo Duca's six-figure story

Lo Duca made the accusation on a 2019 appearance on "The
Favorites" sports betting podcast, claiming that West altered his
strike zone when Wagner made a relief appearance during a
Mets-Phillies game. Lo Duca said he was catching for Wagner at the
time of the allegation:

"We're playing like a really tight game against the Phillies, and
Billy Wagner comes in from the bullpen,’’ Lo Duca said, per USA
Today. “I used to go to the mound every time and like, 'What's
going on?' and he's like, 'Hey, Joe's behind the plate. Set up a
couple more inches inside. I was like, 'Are you kidding me? Joe
hates me.' He's like, 'No, no, no, no, no, no. Joe loves me.'

"I go, 'He hasn't given us the corner all day.' He's like, 'Don't
worry about it.' He literally throws 10 pitches and strikes out
three guys. Joe rings up all three guys. Eight out of the nine
pitches were at least three to four inches inside, not even close.
Guys were throwing bats and everything. Joe walks off the field.
...

"I get back into the clubhouse and I'm like, 'What the [expletive]
just happened just right now?' And Wagner just winks at me. I'm
like, 'What's the secret?' He's like, 'Eh, Joe loves antique cars,
so every time he comes into town I lend him my '57 Chevy so he
can drive it around, so then he opens up the strike zone for me.'"

Lo Duca played for the Mets from 2006-07. West argued that he
never called a Mets-Phillies game with Wagner on the mound during
that timeframe. Wagner has not publicly addressed the story.

'Joe is very pleased with this result'

West, 68, is due to retire at the end of this season. He didn't
respond publicly to Monday's ruling. His attorney Kevin Murphy
did.

“Joe is very pleased with this result, and we are glad that Mr.
Lo Duca is being held accountable for his actions,” Murphy said.

Lo Duca has not responded publicly to the ruling.

Paul Lo Duca 在 2019 年一場 Podcast 提到他在某一場大都會對上費城人當捕手時，
九局換上 Billy Wagner，此時 Wanger 對他說可以把球投進來一點。

Lo Duca 反對：Joe West 討厭我，怎麼可能這樣投。
不過 Wagner 跟他保證沒問題，之後果然丟10球就三振三個人。

賽後回休息室 Wagner 才說他給愛老車的 Joe West 試開 '57 Chevy，
Joe West 給他一些好球帶優待。

不過 Joe West 反駁他在大都會對上費城人，
而且 Wagner 上場時都沒有擔任主審。

雖然 Wagner 沒有對此案表達意見，但法官採信 Joe West 的說法，並判決
Paul Lo Duca 賠償 $500K。

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