Barefoot in the Park: Altuve Sheds Shoe, Sock in Attempt to Sway Umps

Houston Astros' second baseman Jose Altuve took an unconventional approach to arguing a call in Wednesday night's game against the Oakland Athletics.

With the Astros trailing 4-3 in the sixth inning, Altuve was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Laz Diaz. Altuve immediately began arguing the call, and when Diaz refused to change his mind, Altuve took off his right shoe and sock and threw them towards the mound.

Diaz ejected Altuve from the game, and the Astros went on to lose 5-3. After the game, Altuve apologized for his actions, saying that he was "frustrated" by the call and "lost [his] cool."

Altuve's ejection is the latest in a string of controversial calls that have plagued Major League Baseball this season.

In recent weeks, several high-profile players have been ejected from games for arguing with umpires, and there have been numerous complaints about the accuracy of the strike zone.

The MLB has acknowledged the problem, and commissioner Rob Manfred has said that he is "committed to improving the accuracy of the strike zone and the consistency of umpiring."

However, some players and fans believe that the MLB is not doing enough to address the issue.

They argue that the league needs to take more drastic action, such as expanding the use of instant replay or implementing a new system for training umpires.

The MLB has resisted making any major changes to the way umpires are trained or evaluated, but it is possible that the recent string of controversial calls will force the league to reconsider its position.