Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was slapped with a two-game suspension and a fine for his role in a recent dust-up with the Giants. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times had the news (Twitter links). The primary San Francisco protagonist, catcher Nick Hundley, received only financial punishment.
Officially, Puig was suspended for “fighting and inciting a bench-clearing incident.” Those interested in seeing the video and some of the reactions from those two players will want to click this link.
The incident arose when Hundley seemingly took issue with Puig’s reaction to fouling off a pitch. A verbal dispute quickly escalated into a push-punch to the chest protector by Puig. The bullpens emptied on cue. Ultimately, the Dodgers outfielder got another swipe at the still-masked Hundley, who was by then engaged in a sort of drive-block dance with Dodgers coach George Lombard, though no damage was done. Both players were ejected.
Needless to say, there’s certainly a deeper history between these two ballclubs. The heated on-field rivalry has perhaps helped fuel some animosity between members of the current rosters. Puig and Giants hurler Madison Bumgarner have had some memorable clashes, for instance.
At the end of the day, the news won’t likely cause many problems for the Dodgers. Puig can appeal, which might lead to a reduction and will certainly precipitate a delay of the suspension. That’ll at least give the club time to sort out its roster situation to account for his brief absence.
Nobody puts Puiggy in the corner!
Hundley probably just asked Puig whether he knows that Clayton Kershaw was seven months old when the Dodgers won their last World Series. If that’s not a verbal punch in the gut, I don’t know what is.
hahahhaaha a 1988 joke. Never heard that one before.
Really? You’ve never heard them? That seems suspect.
You’ve only had three decades to hear all the jokes about the Dodgers not winning a World Series.
30y ago, like the time you are referencing with this dig.. Puig would either grow up, or have high and tight FB’s thrown at him every single AB until he did.
“Puig has said he would appeal”
He got a two-game suspension, which is extremely light, for throwing multiple punches, which he did.
I’d be curious about his contention.
Seems about right for the dust-up. Appeal gets it reduced to 1 game is my guess.
Puig clearly should be suspended for making contact. But Hundley and his mates come across as punks here. Hundley and Bumgarner need to grow up some. Puig wears his emotions on his sleeve but he’s come a long way personally and isn’t trying to show anyone up. The fact that the Giants seem to think he is suggests they need some thicker skin.
Hundley’s comments regarding firing up the clubhouse seems to suggest this was almost planned.
And honestly, as a Giants fan, I think it’s hilarious. They are so deep under Puig’s skin that Hundley was able to get him all hot and bothered. Speaking of the need for thicker skin….
Too bad they can’t admit that they purposefully are going after Puig’s emotions. Instead we get to read BS comments about showing up the pitcher. Uh, isn’t the catcher, by complaining about Puig, showing Puig up? That type of hypocrisy is the true hilarity of this whole thing to me.
Puig has a great personality. His fans (and I’m included) don’t mind this too much.
I’m not defending Hundley’s actions, by any means. He earned himself a fine (and nothing more), and I’m sure if you asked him, he’d say it’s worth it.
I don’t care either way about Puig. But for whatever reason, he gets under the Giants’ skin. They just seem to have figured out how to manage it better, as evidenced by the punishments here.
Puig has been a hot head his entire career. You really want to punish guys for talking on the field because Puig as a grown man can’t handle it?
I’m legitimately confused, and maybe concerned, that Dodger fans actually think Hundley and Puig’s “infractions” are similar.
I know fans stand up for their guys, but Puig could have shrugged it off and been just fine. Lest they be reminded, PUIG turned it into a melee. Hundley just had some words for him.
Watching highlights on Spertscenter doesn’t equate following a guy’s career. He’s a hothead because that’s how you interpret him. To those of us who follow his career, we know how he reacts to the community, and how the community responds to him.
.
The Giants are the ild school baseball police. They are the only team that gets made it Puig and it happens every year. Bumgarner yells at players they dont sprint out of the box ( happened to Jason Hayward, Puig, Alex Guerrero). Also have had brawls with the Nationals and Padres recently
old and mad*
Guess Puig was lucky Bumgarner wasn’t packing at the time.
You sound stupid
Why? Enlighten us all. Share your intelligence.
Barrybonds: your name and (lack of) punctuation suggest otherwise.
Agree!
And nothing for Hundley, who instigated it with his mouth. Sure Puig needs to be mature and have a thick skin but Hundley needs to let his bat do the talking, especially when he’s raking against the Dodgers.
So talking to players requires a suspension?
No, Cathy Newman, talking does not require a suspension.
But that’s what your previous post advocates for…
No. It doesn’t. You ought to watch the Jordan Peterson Cathy Newman interview. Might help your IQ a little.
So what did you imply? Or were you just baiting for a response so you can throw some pretentious insults around.
If he didn’t say anything offensive or hateful, I would like to remind you that the first amendment exists.
Also, Puig punched/slapped Hundley 3 times. Two games is rather light.
wiggysf…….Seriously……1st Amendment. Really?
Sorry…
First thing that came into my head
You’ve said it twice and it has no bearing
This is a good time for me to admit that they were dumb comments lol
It wouldn’t have been three hits/slaps–if Hundley had manned up and taken his mask off!
I guess you are unable to read the second sentence of my original comment.
Ignoring that the first amendment doesn’t apply, you do know that it would also protect “offensive or hateful” speech, too, right (assuming it doesn’t rise above that)?
the first amendment does not exist for players on the field at an MLB game. they are employees and subject to MLB and their owner’s rules.
don’t defile the First Amendment!
Hundley was fined. As if fines matter.
Hundly should have gotten the exact same suspension for instigating.
Instigating? From what we know he just told Puig to quit complaining and get back in the box. Everyone talks a lil smack, its up to the individual on how they respond.
Why isn’t Hundley suspended too? He’s the one who initiated this. Baited Puig.
Because it’s not against the rules to talk to another player. Tempers flare in several games a week and we don’t see suspensions for far, far worse than what Hundley did.
If Puig is “baited” into fighting, the problem is Puig, not Hundley.
It’s still immature and ridiculous of Hundley to even say something. Puig’s in a slump and he’s trying to improve. I’m not defending his actions, however, cut him some slack, for at least trying to be better and not trying to showboat as much as he did before. No one likes to get beaten in a game, but when you win and then talk unnecessary trash, it’s kind of douchey. Hundley needs to just shut up and let his bat talk, which is the best way of winning.
It might be immature, sure. But it’s not against the rules to be immature or ridiculous. I don’t think anyone will deny that Hundley was over-the-top.
But Puig has every right to let Hundley’s words be what they are: words. Him escalating it to a fight isn’t an indictment on Hundley in the slightest.
Actually, if Puig really wanted to make Hundley look like the bad guy, ignore him and do what you just did again. See how he reacts then. But instead, he started a fight. In the words of Alex Trebek, “Boo Hiss.”
Give him credit for losing his cool and swinging? He’s lucky it’s the MLB. Does the person who swings it out on the street get credit? No they get cuffed.
Puig taking the bait shows he’s got some growing up to do. I agree. Hundley should’ve been suspended too if Puig is getting suspended. Puig is immature and a diva and you expect that from him but the biggest disappointment is Hundley, who is a veteran guy and should know how to act. Oh, well.
Hundley didn’t even throw a punch. If you’re going to suspend players for getting on another player’s nerves, there might not be any players to play.
Hundley actually has to do something egregious to warrant a suspension.
First amendment?
At least Hundley didn’t hide behind a teammate like Bumgarbage did.
How is Puig a diva? What an empty comment.
Guy who shoves and slap punches should get suspended.
Guy who merely says something to an absolute idiot should not.
Catchers have talked to hitters to get them off their game since baseball began. The batter needs to be disciplined enough not to pay it any mind.
Good. Yasiel Puig is an arrogant, hotheaded piece of crap who seriously needs to get over himself and come to terms with the fact that he’s just not that good. Only Bryce Harper has a bigger ego. What a loser.
As a Giants fan, Hunter Strickland isn’t any better than Harper.
Stop. Wrong. So much wrong. Baseball is fun, don’t hate that because guys flip their hair and bats
The Mccutchen fight recap video is AMAZING!
Certainly is.
They were both at fault
Puig has his issues but I will back him on this one. He got 2 games for fighting and inciting a bench clearing brawl. I believe the benches cleared themselves without Puig saying “ C’mon boys lets have at it”. MLB needs a real Enforcer notJoe Torre.
Well the bench saved him from more suspension time. He clearly can’t control himself and needs his teammates to come hold him back…
Dang Puig is just trying to stay relevant. He knows his stats won’t get much attention so instead he’ll do what he does best, act like a child
Puig was suspended for “fighting and inciting a bench-clearing incident.”
————
What does that mean? He was suspended for slapping his own bat after a strikeout, because that somehow “incited” Hudley to pick a fight with him?
It’s just dumb. Puig was minding his own business, until Hudley picked a fight. Then, he fought back. As anyone with a little pride would. Pushing back when challenged is “incitement” now?
Hundley had a chat with him.
Puig threw a punch.
By the most simple of observations, Puig escalated it from a conversation to a melee. I’m not sure Puig will get much, if any, defense from those outside the Dodger fanbase.
Well he just got some from me. Few teams I dislike more than the Dodgers. I also hate Puig, for his off the field behavior…but what I hate more is pedantic a-holes like Hundley. who think it’s their place to lecture others on how to behave.
By the way, your description of what happened is pathetically dishonest. When you go up to a stranger and lecture them over behavior that didn’t affect you in the least, you’re not having a chat, you’re provoking a fight. Also, no one threw any punches. If you saw a punch there, you should have your head examined, because you’re hallucinating.
Fine, an open-handed sissy slap from Puig because he couldn’t control his emotions. Is that better? Whatever semantics you choose, Puig escalated a discussion, however aggressive, to violence.
Go to anyone on the street, and if they have a “chat” with you, and you slap them, I promise, THEY won’t look like the bad guy. They might look like they were trying for a fight, but you’re the one going to jail.
Saying Hundley “incited” this is like saying you bashed a guy’s windshield in for honking at you.
What an adult would do in that situation is walk away, but we all know Puig is just a little kid that’s always looking for a fight
note: yeah, I know, it was a swing and a miss, not a strikeout…too late to edit.
Two games was not enough for Puig. Immature little brat he is. He needs to get traded to the Rays. He should have gotten at least five days suspension. He is also a nuisance to the rest of his teammates and organization.
The best part about this is that Hundley started this because Puig was mad at himself. How much is Puig in his head that he has to go and initiate it?
If anything, I think many could say it’s the other way around. The Giants know how to push Puig’s buttons. He claims the Giants are the only team to do this (I don’t know if this is true or not, any non-Dodger fans want to chime in?), and perhaps it’s because they know how to get to him.
That Puig escalated it this to fist-a-cuffs says more about Puig than it does the Giants or Hundley.
The Giants are the only team to start things with Puig. Even their own broadcasters do it. Bumgarner was the one that yelled at him after a home run. Bumgarner yelled dont look at me when literally nothing was going on. The Giants do push his buttons consistently and its pathetic
I find it hilarious. They know Puig can’t control himself, so they keep pushing his buttons. And they know he can’t fight back, or else he gets a suspension.
Maybe Puig should realize this will be par for the course from Bumgarner and Co. and just ignore it.
They do try and push his buttons and Puig actually does something about it. Bet Hundley wasn’t expecting to be pushed when he stood up. Or Bumgarner wasnt expecting to hear “what are you gonna do about it b#&@ch ” when he said dont look at me. Like he said your not gonna pull that BS at his home field. The Giants should focus on trying to make the playoffs instead of Puig
I bet you anything Hundley expected Puig to lash out. It’s probably why he kept his helmet on.
These guys seem to know exactly how Puig will respond, and it’s why they keep pushing. Finally, it boiled over and the Giants are laughing about it.
It’s also why Puig is suspended and Hundley isn’t.
Hundley should be suspended, if you think being told what to do by a nobody catcher is a conversation, you’re an idiot just like Hundley is
Fine. He used choice words towards another opponent. He invoked Puig’s mother. He pointed out the Dodgers haven’t won a WS since 1988.
Whatever he said, short of racist or homophobic language (none of which has been confirmed or even alleged by those on the field), is nothing new. It’s seen almost weekly in baseball and no one gets suspended for it.
I fail to see how a suspension is in order for Hundley. And apparently, MLB feels the same.
I’m a giants fan and I’d agree the TV broadcasters (krukow and kuiper) are totally aware being ex players of and semi advocate for old baseball type play… Jon miller and David Fleming on the radio do not however just to clear that up all 4 are amazing broadcasters but I tend to lean radio!
Puig is a dummy. The Giants capitalize on this. You’d think Puig would learn by now, but it appears as if he’a incapable.
Krukow over-compensates for being raised in LA as a Dodger fan.
He’s a Valley boy that listened to Vin Scully on the radio.
Now he has to convince his Giants faithful that he hates the Dud-gers as much as they do. sad person…
Puig starts things with Puig (like his tantrums during the WS last year) but the Giants know he’s an easy mark and go out of their way to set him off.
Anybody with half a brain would know it is coming, but this is Puig we’re talking about.
I actually really enjoyed how purposely-light Puig’s slap on Hundley was. Looked refreshing, actually. See! Puig is always thinking about everyone, what a great guy!
Isn’t it already punishment enough for Puig that he has to play for the choking Dodgers? I mean, the Marlins have won more World Series titles in the last 37 years. The Marlins!
Yeah, huh? Where did that foolishness come from? Really turning this into a black thing? Come on. We don’t want that stuff here.
Puig should have told Hundley the only thing he knows about hitting is he can’t hit.
Hundley is a washed up back up catcher on a team that has no chance to make the post season. Only thing he can do to make himself feel good is run his mouth…fits right in on a Giants team led by Sadbum…the biggest cry baby in the league.