The tension that has been building between the Blue Jays and Rangers since last October finally manifested itself Sunday in the form of an all-out brawl (MLB.com video link) between the two clubs. Multiple suspensions are sure to be handed out to members of both teams in the coming days. Of greater concern for the Jays was yet another late-game bullpen meltdown, as a 6-3 lead in the seventh turned into a 7-6 deficit (and the eventual final score) thanks to an Ian Desmond three-run homer off Jesse Chavez. Here’s some more from around the AL East…
- Cuban star Yulieski Gurriel “would be super happy” to join the Yankees, Aroldis Chapman told NJ Advance Media’s Brendan Kuty through a translator. Gurriel and Chapman are former teammates on Cuba’s national team, and in a conversation two weeks ago, Gurriel asked the closer some questions about what it was like to play for the Yankees. As Kuty points out, the Bombers may not have room for Gurriel given that Chase Headley is already locked in at third base and Gurriel (who turns 32 in June) may be too old for a Yankees club that has been focused on transitioning to a younger, more flexible roster. Gurriel and his younger brother Lourdes defected from Cuba earlier this year and are still waiting on clearance from MLB to become free agents, with several teams expected to bid on the siblings once they’re officially on the open market (though Lourdes is subject to international signing pools).
- The Blue Jays have found several late-blooming hitters in recent years, and Justin Smoak’s early success has Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star wondering if the first baseman could be the latest example. Smoak entered today’s action hitting .314/.448/.500 with three homers over 87 plate appearances, and manager John Gibbons believes a steady everyday role (forced by Chris Colabello’s suspension) could be contributing to Smoak’s hot bat. Smoak was one of the game’s top prospects after being selected 11th overall by Texas in the 2008 draft, though he showed little at the plate over his first six MLB seasons.
- Blue Jays righty Dustin Antolin was almost frustrated enough to walk away from baseball this offseason, Sportsnet.ca’s Shi Davidi writes. An 11th-round pick in 2008, Antolin battled injuries (including Tommy John surgery in 2010) during his long stint in the minors and was unsigned with two weeks remaining before Opening Day. His girlfriend encouraged him to give it one last chance, however, and after re-signing with the Jays, Antolin performed well at Triple-A and has now finally reached the Show after being called up to replace the injured Brett Cecil in Toronto’s bullpen.
- It’s no surprise that any team would take some lessons from the Royals following their World Series victory, as even the big-market Red Sox have observed K.C.’s model for success, Dave Dombrowski tells Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. While Dombrowski noted some distinct differences between the two franchises, he praised the Royals’ mentality, player development and (most specifically) their bullpen construction. Silverman points out that the acquisitions of Craig Kimbrel and Carson Smith were perhaps the most direct way in which the Sox have tried to emulate the Royals’ blueprint, though Boston needed a bullpen upgrade in general following a rough 2015 for the relief corps.
- In other AL East news from earlier today, the Orioles placed Jimmy Paredes on waivers, the Red Sox designated Sean O’Sullivan for assignment and we explored several more items out of Boston in an edition of Red Sox Notes.
Love what Dayton Moore has done in KC – worthy of emulation. Great mix of patience in player development and aggressive acquisitions to balance the roster.
What he did shows only that he has more patience than the fan base. Houston and the Cubs did similar rebuilds. All it takes is the willingness to spend forever in last place. High draft picks, and trading major league talent for minor leaguers isn’t exactly anything new. As for the bullpen, both Davis and Hoechever were supposed to be starting pitchers. Moore lucked out that they excelled in the bullpen after failing in the rotation. I would give the manager most of the credit for making that work.
Was watching that game.. Bautista got up, kind of stared him down after he overslid the bag.. He got hammered but good.
Liked the retaliation next inning really swell Chavez, hits of all the ppl on Texas? Fielder on the thigh with his 1st pitch and Fielder starts laughing at him!
Toronto deserved to lose that game.. Bautista for getting clobbered in a fight and Chavez for picking the worst guy to hit(fat) and auto ejection.Just awful that last inning plus on their part.
That wasn’t a fight, that was a sucker punch/run and hide behind your team mates. Bautista just held his hands up and tried to keep Odor from doing something even dumber than he already did, until Beltre stepped in and pulled them apart. Absolutely classless of the Rangers to wait until the last at bat of the season. If you are going to be crybabies about losing and do something idiotic like throw at someone, do it the first game of the season and get it out of the way so we can go back to being adults and just play baseball. That whole incident was moronic. Both sides were idiots.
Has to be one of the cleanest punches i’ve seen in a baseball brawl ever. Ryan’s headlock shots on Ventura were pretty good too.
Maybe but Bautista took that punch like nothing
Lol after the game he said it takes a bigger man to bring him down
He is not going to tell you he felt it but you can see he was in a daze and YES HE FELT IT. You can bet on that. Of cause he is gonna say something stupid. Did you think he was gonna come out and say ” WOW that was a strong right hook”. He is going to try and make it out like he is a bigger man even tho the truth is he got his bell rung for sure.
He admitted he got hit with a good shot, but added that it wasn’t enough to take him down (which was the truth). What do you want, him to recite an essay on the power of that punch?
He took it pretty well but he got rocked
Dazed and confused after. Beltre saved his butt from a sure knockout if Odor got to keep going.
I love that you can see Ventura second guessing his choices just before getting out to the mound… that’s a classic.
Bautista has developed quite the reputation for instigating altercations with several players/teams around the league. The so called “bat flip” was classless and I was surprised it took so long for Texas to get retribution. The video clip of the “bat flip” will now be replaced by his total humiliation.
I’m not surprised they waited so long. Waited till he couldn’t hurt them with his bat. I wouldn’t say he instigated this one..he retaliated the only way he could. Good hard slide into 2nd.
I’m guessing this will be the kick in the butt that the Jays need.
He also decided to stare down Rougie after the slide so I would say he kind of instigated it. If he had just gotten up and ran back to the dugout nothing would have happened.
Well said, Tomahawk.
I still don’t see the issue with the bat flip. Is he not allowed to show emotion? That is the biggest moment of his career, do you expect him to be a robot in that situation?
> tomahawk203
If someone beats you in a game, you need to get “retribution” by punching him in the face?
What’s the retribution for getting punched in the face? Bat through the skull?
It’s hilarious how batflips are considered classless. Maybe it alright to show emotion when you hit the second biggest homer in your organizations history. If anything, Texas is classless for getting so worked up over a bat flip
Speaking of your organizations history….you seem to forget the world championship teams of years ago….where would you place their accomplishments if Joey’s bat flip is your second biggest moment.
I wasn’t around to see them lol. But it was the second biggest homer in their history, after carters walk off blast
Third biggest,
Alomar’s home run off Eckersley was a bigger moment in the grand scheme of things. It’s a close third, if they ended with a WS win, I’d say it was second.
I was thinking the same thing. Try and live that down Joey!
hahaha, no it won’t be. Even the MLB is plastering the bat flip on everything it can get it’s hands on. It was an iconic moment in sports history, this sucker punch is a black eye on baseball and should be forgotten about.
It certainly won’t be forgotten about
Baseball needs to expand to 27-man rosters from the current 25. In the AL, particularly with one roster spot dedicated to the DH, the teams have, at best, 12 men to cover 8 positions on the field. With injuries that number can shrink as low as 10 excluding call-ups. This leaves little room for regular players incapable of playing 2 or sometimes 3 positions on current rosters. Two additional roster spots would help alleviate the problem.
I feel like Smoak wasn’t really given a chance at a full time role, yes he was a starter somewhat for the mariners, but still it felt like there was no confidence, I’m glad there is some now
sometimes, it just takes longer for some players to “get it”. examples: Nelson Cruz and Jake Arrieta.
Poor Texas players got their feelings hurt because of a bat flip…. Holding on to it this long just shows their pettiness.
Like really… Because someone shows you up you sucker punch him?
I don’t care if you hate Bautista’s guts. Cuz he’s arrogant. He truly is. But assault because your pride got hurt is next level buthurt.
Did you not see the dirty slide and how he stared Odor down leading up to the punch? And how can you say it was a sucker punch? He got pushed the first time and he was dumb enough to come back for a second time and if you watch the video he was closing his fist as he was coming back to Odor. That tells me he was planing on fighting no matter what happened. He got his bell rung and that upsets you. We get. Keep hugging him.
LOL so a dirty slide is reason enough for assault! Just a good! I’d love to live in the country were you make the rules.
You would close your fists too if you got punched, then when you realized you weren’t an impulse driven animal you would continue to refrain from punching.
you still didnt answer the question…..how was it a sucker punch?
Going cleats up taking out a guys legs would qualify as assault as well…
cleats down… did you even watch it? and hands at side… Isn’t that the definition of sucker punch?
k. I correct myself. One hand at side, the other out in front.
Im not saying Bautista wasn’t a dick… just that the punch first method is not one that belongs in baseball, no matter who it is.
I agree. Bautista was all too willing to engage, but this time Jose’s typical arrogance got him in hot water. Bautista attempted to, minimum, collide heavily with Odor (worth complimenting here the agile footwork of Odor to avoid such contact). Odor then shoved his holiness, I mean, Bautista. Clearly Bautista was seeking further cnflict when Odor clocked him – fair game. Jose got what was coming to him. Score that round for Odor.
> how can you say it was a sucker punch?
Because…punching is is not part of baseball?
And illegal slides aren’t either, what’s your point?
@Clutchp
> And illegal slides aren’t either
You are mistaken. Slides and punches are not comparable.
Slides are part of the game but some types of slides are against the rules.
Punches are NOT part of the game, whether they be sucker punches or any other kind of punch.
Bautista was rightly called out for interference, and Smoak was also called out. That was a baseball play that broke baseball rules and had a baseball punishment.
Odor will get 10 games.and not be allowed to play baseball because he wasn’t playing baseball. What Odor did qualifies as a criminal offence.
The actions of Bautista and Odor are both wrong but are not equivalent in any other way.
Right on! The chin as well!
It was a take out slide which isn’t legal anymore, bautista knows this because he has already been called out on the rule. I’m fine with the punch.
You seem kinda butthurt
I don’t think Chase Headley would be able to block Roger Dorn from taking over at 3B
While Bautista’s slide was dirty and the stare down was definetly a show of arrogance, there’s still no reason for Odor to punch Bautista like that. I’m curious to see the impending suspensions. While Bautista should probably get suspended a handful of games (I’m thinking no more than 10) for instigating, Odor should at least get double what Bautista gets. Also want to see who else the league deems “worthy” of a suspension.
wow. A level headed objective view of the incident in the comments?! I don’t believe my eyes! You have my upvote… if there was an upvote botton
I’m curious on Bannister, who came back onto the field, not just one time after ejection, but 2 times and the last time? After Fielder got hit that *might* have stopped another brawl at the beginning of the bottom of the 8th.
For those who didn’t see the game? It seems he was close to the dugout after getting booted from the game and charged out to the front of his players, was yelling at them, trying to corral them with his arms out stretched into not fighting, or brawling again.
Toronto players were heading mish-mash towards the Rangers players.. Nobody was doing likewise.. I hope the league takes it into consideration when suspending Bannister the effect he had on the 9th inning brawl Toronto tried to start by throwing at Fielder and Bannister.. Against MLB rules.. Running head front to corral his players in.
Not a fan of either team, but can say one of these teams showed leadership and judgement all the way around from the play that instigated the problem until the game’s end and one showed poor judgement.
Bannister was not ever ejected. Gibbons the Toronto manager was and came back out on the field during the melee. He’s going to be fined and suspended I would imagine. Bannister did show some leadership there at the end.
My apologies. Was watching Rangers feed on mlb,com and thought they said he was booted also.
Thanks for the correction.
Bannister was never ejected.
Gibbons was the one who was ejected and came back on the field. Banny was never ejected
Our broadcast said Odor would get about 5 games. 10 seems excessive and 20 would be absolutely ridiculous.
I’m pretty sure he’s getting a lot more than 5
20 would be a bit ridiculous but Odor has to get a bigger suspension than Bautista. I could see in the 3-6 game range for Bautista and in the 6-10 range for Odor. All credit to Odor, that was a great punch lol but the punch and starting a bench clearing brawl I think is worthy of 6-10.
The slide was meant to be a take out slide. Plain and simple. That Odor only got one great hit in is something Bautista should be thanking his lucky stars for. This will probably be up there as one of the top 10 baseball fights. Visually speaking that is.
Odor will get a suspension, probably 6 games. But Baustista should get something as well for provoking the fight. He knew his slide was illegal and he knew there was tension.
bautista will get 3 or so i think, for instigating/repeat offender of the slide rule
Hopefully. If he gets nothing then the new slide rule will also pointless. Injuring a player for another team can have more effect for your team than just a double play.
Oh, I’ll go there.. Right up there with the Gaby Sanchez clothes lining of Nyjer Morgan and Nolan Ryan trying to beat some sense into Robin Ventura’s head.
The Blue Jays whine to much. They are annoying and several of them have arrogant bad attitudes that causes them to throw toddler tantrums when things don’t go their way. Odor did good. Notice Bautista didn’t want to take one from Beltre so he just stayed put.
Rangers fans here seem to think their team plays 1970s hockey or maybe MMA. No wonder they have no World Series rings.
The bad thing is this is all over a bat flip. A bat flip! Are we really in this bad of a shape as a baseball society that showing emotion warrants retaliation. Fans like seeing this stuff. Players said they’d do the same in bautistas position. This just proves that it is in fact time to make baseball fun again. And if the rangers are still upset about the bat flip, maybe tell andrus and dyson to do their jobs next time their in the playoffs, so then they don’t have to worry about losing.
No, the stare down out at the other team, then the class-less bat flip. Punk.
> the class-less bat flip
And punches to the face are all class!
Texas Rangers: sore losers!
I don’t think it’s just about the bat flip. The Jays and their fans are just classless.
> The Jays and their fans are just classless.
And the appropriate response is a punch to the face?
Yes, you show yourself as a good judge of class.
Well take it back before the bat flip. I don’t think it’s all about just a bat flip. I think it’s the negativity that the Jays exude in their attitude. I’m sure there’s other teams that find issue with them. Remember when Odor scored the run on the live ball that accidentally hit choo’s bat? Do you recall the Jays and the fans reaction.
Yeah, I think it’s interesting that so many people are trying to attribute all this to a bat flip. That whole game left a lot of frayed nerves on both sides. But regardless of that, Bautista performed an illegal slide and Odor made him pay. Sometimes the game needs to police itself.
Are Rangers fans and players so childish that perceived “negativity” is something they hold onto for six months, then “pay back” starting with a beaning and finishing with a punch in the face?
Are Rangers people really angry about bat flips or about losing the playoff series?
Bautista had to know that he was getting beaned by the Rangers at some point for the bat flip. Would have been epic if Bush had done a glove flip after beaning Bautista
All this attention for one punch? It’s a fight in a baseball game. Used to happen much more and part of the game and the rivalries. Wish someone on Yanks would get it back going with the Sox maybe there’s a guy in his farewell tour that deserves one in the side. Rivalries make sports exciting and awesome so I’m game for whatever keeps this guys from looking like buddies chatting on base.