Perhaps it was nothing more than ironic or coincidental that Luis Cruz happens to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers and San Diego Padres were involved in a bench clearing brawl last night that could have easily been avoided. Cruz, of course, is known as the 3B from team Mexico who demanded out loud that his pitcher throw at the next batter after a Canadian player bunted for a base hit while ahead by several runs. Last night's bonehead was Carlos Quentin, who completely took it upon himself to start the fight between LA and San Diego.
Quentin had faced Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke several times, dating back to Quentin's time with the White Sox and Greinke's time in Kansas City. The fact that Greinke had hit him twice prior to last night's game was not alarming based on the amount of times the two faced each other. Add in the fact that Quentin stands way too close to the plate and it is not a surprise he is amount the league leaders annually when it comes to being hit by a pitch. But Carlos Quentin decided it was time to charge the mound, perhaps he was tired of getting hit.
Greinke could have had his part in this, however, I see no intent with the count 3-2 of a 1 run game in the 6th inning. And if it was intentional, what was he hitting him for? To prove what? To retaliate for what? To me, this is an example of a hitter deciding to randomly go out to the mound.
And of course, Greinke ends up with a broken collarbone, an injury that could keep the $147 million pitcher on the shelf for a couple months. So not only did Quentin do something completely uncalled for and for no reason, but he injured the Dodgers pitcher in the process. Nice going.
As foolish as I thought Cruz looked during the WBC, Cruz's problem was he did not know the rules in the WBC. The tiebreaker to move on to the next round was based on total runs scored. Cruz did not know that and thought Chris Robinson was running up the score by bunting with Canada up 9-3. At least that could be considered a misunderstanding.
The Dodgers and Padres play again on Monday. It is expected that MLB will hand down a suspension to Quentin by then. If not, it would be deserved that the first Dodgers pitcher to face him should hit him on the first pitch. I would expect MLB to see this coming. Funny thing is, most MLB players suspended for fighting like to appeal the suspensions. If the penalties are announced too late, Quentin may play Monday. Maybe the Dodgers get a chance at some payback. But it is impossible to replace what they have lost with the injury to Greinke. Something that could have completely been avoided.
On a side note, if either Quentin or Matt Kemp thought Quentin's HBP was "retalliation" for a high (and not inside) 0-2 pitch from Jason Marquis to Kemp, I suggest they look at the replay of that pitch.
Quentin had faced Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke several times, dating back to Quentin's time with the White Sox and Greinke's time in Kansas City. The fact that Greinke had hit him twice prior to last night's game was not alarming based on the amount of times the two faced each other. Add in the fact that Quentin stands way too close to the plate and it is not a surprise he is amount the league leaders annually when it comes to being hit by a pitch. But Carlos Quentin decided it was time to charge the mound, perhaps he was tired of getting hit.
Greinke could have had his part in this, however, I see no intent with the count 3-2 of a 1 run game in the 6th inning. And if it was intentional, what was he hitting him for? To prove what? To retaliate for what? To me, this is an example of a hitter deciding to randomly go out to the mound.
And of course, Greinke ends up with a broken collarbone, an injury that could keep the $147 million pitcher on the shelf for a couple months. So not only did Quentin do something completely uncalled for and for no reason, but he injured the Dodgers pitcher in the process. Nice going.
As foolish as I thought Cruz looked during the WBC, Cruz's problem was he did not know the rules in the WBC. The tiebreaker to move on to the next round was based on total runs scored. Cruz did not know that and thought Chris Robinson was running up the score by bunting with Canada up 9-3. At least that could be considered a misunderstanding.
The Dodgers and Padres play again on Monday. It is expected that MLB will hand down a suspension to Quentin by then. If not, it would be deserved that the first Dodgers pitcher to face him should hit him on the first pitch. I would expect MLB to see this coming. Funny thing is, most MLB players suspended for fighting like to appeal the suspensions. If the penalties are announced too late, Quentin may play Monday. Maybe the Dodgers get a chance at some payback. But it is impossible to replace what they have lost with the injury to Greinke. Something that could have completely been avoided.
On a side note, if either Quentin or Matt Kemp thought Quentin's HBP was "retalliation" for a high (and not inside) 0-2 pitch from Jason Marquis to Kemp, I suggest they look at the replay of that pitch.
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