With 'Cowboy Joe' West set to break MLB's all-time record Tuesday night for games worked by an umpire -- 5,376 and counting -- A.J. Hinch was asked Tuesday afternoon if he's got any good Joe West stories.
"Who doesn’t have a Joe West story?" Hinch cracked. "If you’ve been in the big leagues the last couple decades you have a Joe West story."
Hinch's most memorable came in 2017 when he was managing the Astros, ironically on the night Houston would acquire Justin Verlander from the Tigers. If it made Hinch angry at the time, it makes him chuckle now.
"He actually threw me out as the second base umpire when I was arguing with the home plate umpire," Hinch said.
Due to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, the Astros were playing host to the Rangers in Tampa. When young home plate umpire Chris Segal called out an Astros' base stealer at second due to catcher interference on the hitter, Hinch -- a former big-league catcher -- came out to argue the call.
And Cowboy Joe came in from second to lay down the law.
"Joe West decided to protect his young umpire and throw me out from second base," Hinch said. "I don’t know how often a different umpire throws you out."
Hinch has been thrown out 16 times in his managerial career. Safe to say that was the only time a different umpire than the one he was arguing with delivered the ejection.
"There was really no business for Joe to be involved in the argument," Hinch said at the time. "I didn't say anything that was necessary to get thrown out by the home-plate umpire -- then Joe got involved and decided I was done for the day."
Despite their disagreements, Hinch said he has "great respect" for a man who's spent 43 years of his life umpiring games in the majors.
"Joe’s done a lot for the game," he said. "He’s given his whole life to the whole game. I know as managers, coaches, players, we appreciate him maybe more than we admit when someone gives their life there."
Hinch added that when he had a group of friends visiting Lakeland this year during spring training, West ran into them during a socially-distanced conversation in a parking lot and made Hinch introduce each member of the group by name.
"He said hello and made sure to let them know he was going to set the record this year for most games umpired," Hinch said. "But my friends will remember that because you know Joe West. You might not know a ton of these guys that put that gear on, but Joe West is pretty notable.
"I’ve had my run-ins with him like everybody that’s worn a uniform, but deep down inside there’s great respect for what he’s done."
Maybe Hinch will honor West on Tuesday by earning his first ejection with the Tigers.