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A famous MLB ump says Paul Lo Duca is lying … claiming he did NOT “open up” the strike zone for a star Mets pitcher who let him borrow a sick ’57 Chevy — and now he’s suing.
The pissed-off ump is Joe West — a baseball legend who’s been working MLB games since the ’70s.
West is FURIOUS over claims Lo Duca made during an April 18 podcast on The Action Network … when the ex-Mets catcher accused West of essentially taking bribes from star closer Billy Wagner.
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Specifically, Lo Duca said during a game he was catching around 2006 or 2007 against the Phillies … he noticed West (the home plate umpire) was being extra generous with strike calls for Wagner.
In fact, Lo Duca claims West called the final 3 batters out on strikes to end the game.
Afterward, Lo Duca claims he asked Wagner why he was getting so much love from West … and that’s when the pitcher winked at him and explained it this way …
“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.”
In his lawsuit, West claims he was FURIOUS when he heard the allegations — claiming the story is 100% made up and he can prove it.
West says in 2006 and 2007 … he was only the home plate umpire for a game between the Mets and Phillies ONE TIME — and claims Wagner did not pitch at all.
In fact, West says that game he umped ended on a home run — NOT a called strikeout.
West also claims he NEVER received a car from Wagner to use … and says in the lawsuit he NEVER “opened up the strike zone” for Wagner as a favor.
There’s more … on the podcast, Lo Duca said West had ejected him from a handful of MLB games during his career. But, West says that’s also not true — he only threw Lo Duca out of ONE game.
West is suing Lo Duca and The Action Network for defamation, claiming Paul’s claims were reckless and just plain false — and has hurt his reputation as fair umpire. He’s asking the court for unspecified damages.
FYI, all three players in this drama are big-time MLB stars — West has been umping MLB games since the ’70s … while Lo Duca and Wagner were multiple-time All-Stars in their respective careers.