Blog Archives

August 12, 2010

The Brawl Fallout

MLB just issued a press release with the the results of fines and suspensions for this week’s brawl between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds.

Major League Baseball has issued discipline to five players and the two managers as a result of the on-field incident that occurred in the bottom of the first inning of Tuesday’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati . Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball , made the announcement.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto has received a seven-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his violent and aggressive actions during the incident. Unless appealed, Cueto is scheduled to begin serving his suspension on Friday, when the Reds are scheduled to host the Florida Marlins. If appealed, the discipline issued to Cueto will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.

Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa each have received two-game suspensions and undisclosed fines as a result of their actions on Tuesday. Baker will serve the two-game suspension on Friday and Saturday as the Reds host the Marlins. La Russa will serve the two-game suspension on Friday and Saturday as the Cardinals host the Chicago Cubs.

Four players have been fined undisclosed amounts as a result of the incident: Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Russ Springer, currently a disabled list player who came onto the field during the incident; and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Chris Carpenter.

So the only player to receive a suspension is Johnny Cueto. Both managers will have to miss a couple games, but that’s unlikely to have any negative effect. (The joke could be made by both team’s fans that those will be the 2 best managed games all year.)

I saw the suspension for Cueto coming. I don’t think it was malicious, as I’ve felt the panic when dozens of people press against you, cramming you up against an immovable object. The fact that he caused a concussion to Jason LaRue and was wildly kicking does require some response. With off-days, I don’t think it will affect the Reds much.

I am surprised that Chris Carpenter, Yadier Molina, and Brandon Phillips received nothing. Molina and Phillips started it, with the chest bumping and shouting at each other. And then something Carpenter did or said caused it to ignite once the first calm had been reached. Perhaps the video that MLB receives has audio, though, and lets them know things we weren’t privy to.

August 11, 2010

The Daily Brief: The Fight

Last Game
Well, that was disappointing. Everybody knows what Brandon Phillips had to say about the St. Louis Cardinals before yesterday’s game. Yadier Molina took particular exception to it and starting jawing at Phillips, inciting a benches clearing brawl before the Reds had batted in the bottom of the first. In the post-game interview, he said he didn’t like it that Phillips said, “Hi,” to him. I imagine they’re no longer Facebook friends, either.

After all the excitement, the Reds did kind of collapse. I can’t blame them too much. It wasn’t until this year that they weren’t too scared of large crowds to play well. Controlling emotions enough to play well is the next step, and last night should give them some experience towards that.

The Reds managed only 6 hits, but had 3 errors. It was a sloppy, sloppy game. They ended up losing 8-4.

Next Game
Bronson Arroyo goes to the mound to attempt to prevent the sweep and to get the Reds back into sole possession of first place. The Cardinals will send out Adam Wainwright. Game-time is 12:35pm EDT.

The Fight
The fight last night sure was exciting. Of course, now we all have to wait while MLB reviews the tapes to see who gets suspended. During the game, only the managers were ejected.

Johnny Cueto, the starting pitcher last night, seems to be taking the biggest grief from the Cardinals, but I don’t think it’s warranted. After the first calm was reached, Chris Carpenter and Scott Rolen got into it, reigniting things. Cueto, who’d been standing nearby, suddenly found 50 bodies crushing him against the bricks and netting behind home plate. He responded by attempting to kick the crush away. In the melee, he, according to Tony LaRussa, gave Jason LaRue a slight concussion. “I was up against the net. When 15 people are around you, you get scared. I had my back to the wall with my feet up.”

We’ll see in a few days if MLB agrees with his take. You can watch the video here.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Jim Edmonds had the 2,000th appearance of his career last night. He walked, but still managed to make an out by being thrown out at 2nd.

August 10, 2010

Reds/Cards Clear the Bench

Reds go to town on CardsSo, last night, Brandon Phillips went to the press to let them know his opinion of the St. Louis Cardinals:

We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little bitches, all of ‘em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear – I hate the Cardinals.

Exquisite. I mean, it’s exactly what I’ve been saying since the opening series, but just beautifully put. The eloquence brings a tear to my eye.

And ain’t it the truth? Here’s an excerpt from a post here on RHM back in May:

The Cardinals don’t seem to realize what a serious problem they have. Carp getting huffy when someone shows frustration, Card bloggers saying Gomes shouldn’t flip his bat, Card commentators saying the umps should show respect to Pujols. It’s one thing to go onto the field expecting to win; it’s another thing to go onto the field expecting people to let you win. This sense of entitlement screams sick culture. If the Cards were a Fortune 500 company, they’d be on their way to hostile takeover.

See? Phillips said it a lot better.

And it hasn’t changed a bit since then. Carpenter was bitching at Brendan Ryan just yesterday for being a minute late getting on the field because he was back in the batting cage. How dare he make the great one wait for the likes of practicing?

And now today, as Phillips approached the plate to take his AB, Yadier Molina did the totally-non-bitchy thing and kicked his bat. Before you know it, the benches and the bullpens are cleared. In the words of a person who actually saw it:

But it erupted when Rolen went after Chris Carpenter. Several wrestling matches broke out. Johnny Cueto, the starting pitcher, could be seen kicking at someone.

Dusty Baker was in the middle of it, shouting at someone. A couple of players were in a pile on the ground. Jonny Gomes came out of it with a torn shirt.

It all ended with the manager ejected and the fans itching for more. There may be some street fights in the streets after the game. Tomorrow, we’ll think about suspensions, but tonight, we enjoy the glee that comes from smacking down a little bitch.

August 9, 2010

Reds Trade for Jim Edmonds

From CentreDaily.com, the first place that popped on Google with the story, though I’m sure it’s all over the place by now:

CINCINNATI — The NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds got Jim Edmonds from the Milwaukee Brewers for Chris Dickerson on Monday, strengthening their outfield for a playoff run.

Let’s go to the quick hits:

  • That’s right folks! Now that the Reds are finally fielding an outfielder over the age of FORTY, they are playoff ready.
  • Having run out of currently good ex-Cardinals to sign, Walt Jocketty turns to those who were awesome in the 90s in his effort to Cardinal-ify the Cincinnati clubhouse. Next up: Mark McGwire.
  • This just in: George Grande to come out of retirement.
  • I just threw up in my mouth a little.
August 8, 2010

Random Thought of the Moment

Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker waits for final game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on September 10, 2009. Colorado swept Cincinnati 5-1 in the series finale. UPI/Gary C. Caskey... Photo via NewscomIf the Reds go to the World Series this year, Dusty Baker will manage the NL All-Star team in 2011. Dude, that team would have an ass-load of Reds on it. Like, enough to make up for the last decade.

Of course, knowing Baker, that team would also have an ass-load of random crappy ex-Cubs. Corey Patterson, Neify Perez, and Jerry Hairston, Jr. FTW!