I don't think that this is the kind of fighting spirit they have in mind: http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/stor...pect-jorge-soler-tossed-bat-wielding-incident On another note re: the Cubs......shades of baseball mafia intimidation: http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/stor...chicago-cubs-owner-tom-ricketts-wrigley-field
I'm surprised they referenced a similar incident where the player got a 50 game suspension. He's lucky.
I watched him a couple times on TV during spring training and he looks like a player who could move up from A ball to the big leagues in a hurry. Big, tall, strong kid with great bat speed and athletic grace. He defected under gunfire from Cuba in 2011 by boat and my guess is that he is still riding an emotional roller coaster given his young age and the dramatic changes in his life. Cubs players were supposedly stunned about the incident with players describing his demeanor during spring training as quiet and very polite. Guess the quiet young man also has an explosive, hair-trigger temper which is not all bad as long as he is able to channel and confine his anger to playing ball with an edge. Given his future value to the franchise, I suspect the Cubbies will be retaining some highly paid anger management consultant for this young guy.
:!: Not one, but TWO full scale brawls tonight between the Dodgers and the Padres in San Diego. Greinke hurt when dumbass Padre charged the mound. Kemp and Hairston ejected for attacking the Padres team... I wonder about Hairston. To start the 2nd brawl he attacked the entire Padre team all by himself, running across from dugout to dugout. He used to play for the Padres and he knows all those guys. Do you think it was personal?
re: Greinke Fractured clavicle... The idiot who charged the mound was local thug Carlos Quentin. It was a 3-2 pitch in a tie game, and Greinke looked disappointed when the pitch hit him. There's no way the pitcher wants to give up a free base there. Quentin is an idiot. I hope he's suspended for as long as Greinke is out...
I'm watching these idiots on ESPN justifying this. They are technically correct in that the catcher should have jumped in front to stop Quentin. Mattingly (and JOCO) are right, Quentin shouldn't play until Greinke comes back.. Good on the pitcher for not backing down and not taking Carlos' ********. I'm listening to Mike and Mike talk about 'unwritten rules' when they don't actually know any of them. BTW, JOCO.. LOL at 'personal'... Hairston will be back in their dugout again before the end of the season... which brings me to: -The Dodgers are justifiably livid. I saw the images of Kemp confronting Quentin AFTER the game. This thing isn't over. The Dodgers now have Josh Beckett, who is a world class asshole and is (or should be) looking for a way to establish himself with his new team. Quentin is going to get hit again and I'd place a big stack of money on Beckett being the guy.
Bonus question. The Padres are coming to LA Monday. I believe Grienke's spot in the rotation would be up to face them. That will most likely be a busher or a bullpen guy. It's early in the year, so a minor league player makes more sense... That being said, will it be a guy in the regular rotation, or the new kid who plunks Carlos?
:idea: re: catcher The fact that A.J. Ellis didn't immediately stop Quentin from charging the mound is proof that it wasn't intentional. The "rule" here: if you're hitting the batter on purpose, the catcher takes one step forward for every step the batter takes toward the mound. If the batter charges the pitcher, then the catcher tackles him..., but Ellis wasn't expecting any of this. The pitch wasn't intentional. At least I think that's the rule. None of this stuff every really happens, does it? I'm probably just making it up... re: Kemp He confronted Quentin in the tunnel after the game. There will be more brawls. re: Pissed off Dodgers Hairston, Kemp, Beckett, coach Mark McGwire, Carl Crawford from the Hood and more... re: Greinke's rotation spot The high-spending Dodgers began the season with three surplus starters. They traded Aaron Harang, but they still have Chris Capuano, who will take Greinke's spot. Behind him, they have Ted Lilly parked on the DL who could be activated if needed. Young Shawn Tolleson was called up from the minors, but he's a relief pitcher. re: Monday The entire Dodger world is ready for Monday. If the Padre team bus has to pass through places like East LA or the San Gabriel Valley it had better step on the gas, because the Mexicans will kill that Carlos Quentin if they know he's there. This is a very bad situation...
Quentin has dropped his appeal and will serve his 8-game suspension. He won't be on the lineup vs. the Dodgers. I have a feeling that there still will be drama. Stay tuned.
Quentin made a wise decision to avoid Los Angeles on this road trip. Tomorrow is "Jackie Robinson Day" in Chavez Ravine and the locals had prepared a warm welcome. Perhaps he can return later in the year when they aren't as lathered up as they are now...
This is a good thing. MLB and the Dodgers will get Jackie Robinson day.. and Carlos will get his day with the Dodgers at another time. My money is still on Beckett. He'll blame it on the wind while staring down Carlos the entire time.
Several Dodgers were interviewed before tonight's game and said that they have June 3rd circled on their calendars. The exact words they used were "June 3rd will be very interesting." Hmmmm. I see there's still tickets left for that one and my old pal Dennis Murphy has been asking about going to a game and I'll be on summer break then. Maybe I'll mosey on over to Dodger Stadium and write a report on that one...