The umpires strike back, and back, and back again

“Like I said after that one, something is going on,’’ Leyland said Thursday. “It’s just not good when there’s that much tension around.’’

Even with another day to think things over, Leyland hasn’t figured out what’s causing all the pile-ups between the umps and players, managers and coaches.

“In no way, shape or form am I blaming the umps. I want to be clear about that,’’ Leyland said in a phone call from Kansas City, where his Tigers were preparing to play the Royals. “We’ve all got to do better, especially with what happens right after a call somebody doesn’t like is made. For the good of the game, everybody needs to relax a little bit.’’

Blame it on rising temperatures, the replay videos available at every turn, a handful of Triple-A call-ups filling out the umpiring crews as vacation relief, or the mounting frustration some clubs express as their spring-training dreams circle the drain even before the season hits the midway point.

Then again, as Angels manager Mike Scioscia suggested the other day, maybe it’s just “cyclical.’’

“I haven’t noticed anything that would point to it being anything but random,’’ he said.

So far, Scioscia’s guess is as good as any other. According to MLB figures, 93 players, managers and coaches were ejected this season through June 30, less than the average of 102 over the same time period for the past half-dozen seasons. The totals have ranged between a low of 78 and a high of 116.

“You’re never going to figure it out. And maybe if the umps got it right once in a while,’’ chuckled Hall of Famer and former manager Earl Weaver, “you wouldn’t be having all these problems.’’

Weaver acknowledged a moment later that he’s hardly impartial. He’s third on the managers’ list of all-time ejections with 97, trailing only Bobby Cox (131) and John McGraw (117). Weaver also watches only two dozen or so games a season from his home in Pembroke Pines, Fla., but he does have a theory.