TODAY: Alvarado and the league have agreed to a reduced suspension of two games. He will begin serving his suspension tonight.
SUNDAY: Jose Alvarado has been suspended three games for his part in Friday’s fracas between the Mets and Phillies, per an MLB release. Alvarado will appeal the decision.
In case you missed it, the Phillies were leading 2-1 in the top of the eighth inning when Alvarado hit Jeff McNeil on the elbow with his second pitch. With two outs and first base open, the Phillies elected to intentionally walk J.D. Davis to bring up Dominic Smith. A wild pitch moved up the runners as Alvarado struggled with his command. Smith appeared to disrupt Alvarado’s timing a couple of times in the at-bat, leading to an emotional celebration from Alvarado when he finally coaxed Smith into striking out to end the inning. Alvarado was amped, yelling at Smith and throwing his glove down. Though no punches were thrown, Alvarado’s incendiary behavior earned him an ejection.
On the Mets’ side, Smith was fined an undisclosed amount. Reliever Miguel Castro was also fined. Castro entered the game in the bottom of the inning. With one out, he walked Rhys Hoskins on back-to-back inside fastballs that were well off the plate. Hoskins took exception, and though the benches did not clear again, the game was brought to a halt as the umpires met to discuss. No other action was taken, however, and Castro was able to finish the inning.
Well at least it’s not as long as Molina’s suspension…oh wait
Still crying about that…
does justice not matter simply because time has passed?
Statute of limitations
DarkSide830 –
Certainly heard enough of it. There’s a whole lot of wrongs that have been committed since the beginning of time. I don’t need to hear about all of them every day.
@KCJ,
That’s what the techno-geniuses created the mute button for. Feel free to mute me, as well…
Looking forward to seeing the Cards in Philly.
@Pax The Cards are done with the Phillies for the season. So maybe in 2022. Unless both these mediocre teams make the playoffs, which seems unlikely.
Molina STILL isn’t a pitcher.
okay and?
…and he’s not the one that hit ANY of these batters. He’s quite obviously done nothing that would warrant a suspension, but I get that you’re not able to realize that since it takes SOME level of intelligence and baseball knowledge.
Smith did nothing wrong why the fine?,
@Smith had some questionable post-game comments, including encouraging a fight in the tunnels. Not saying I blame him, but that’s fine worthy. Also, Smith jumped out of the dugout in the previous series and chirped at Alvarado while he was on the mound. Again, I don’t blame him. He saw a pitch close to hitting his teammate (not intentional, but still scary) and was defending him. I respect that.
As a Mets fan, I agree. I think the suspension for Alvarado is a pretty big one considering no real fighting occurred, but then again, I don’t know what he allegedly said out there. So if Alvarado is going to get three games, Smith earned a little punishment with his comments. imo, this should have been nothing more than a fine for Alvarado.
Seems odd how they pick and choose these suspensions. As DarkSide pointed out, Molina got nothing for doing fair worse IMO.
I also think if batters are going to flip bats and celebrate homeruns, they have to get used to pitchers being more animated as well. That being said, Alvarado definitely took offense to Smith’s previous chirping and chirped right back at him. So Alvarado instigated here and a suspension is deserved, but MLB needs to start treating everyone the same way.
i honestly dont even think he should be suspended. no one had any need to care about a relief pitcher chirping when he got a strikeout. if it was other way around and it was a Mets RP doing it I woulnt care either. no one cares about hockey, basketball, or football players getting amped, nor do opposing teams get angry when their opponents celebrate scoring runs in most cases. have some freakin thicker skin for goodness sake.
Thicker skin…in current year? You might as well ask for cold fusion.
@DarkSide I think it was less the chirping and more the throw the glove off and encouraging a confrontation when Dom Smith started walking towards him. In general though, you’re absolutely right. In this bat-flip era, we have to allow pitchers to celebrate and talk trash as well. Fair is fair.
@VonPurpleHayes – My thoughts exactly! If hitters want to bat flip and celebrate at HR’s, then they need to accept pitchers celebrating an inning ending K or what have you.
In this instance, I thin Alvarado made a perfect pitch to Smith and SHOULD be pumped because he executed perfectly and got the desired result.
Alvarado did more than celebrate. He intentionally instigated a confrontation. People keep leaving that out.
@VonPurpleHayes – My thoughts exactly! If hitters want to bat flip and celebrate at HR’s, then they need to accept pitchers celebrating an inning ending K or what have you.
In this instance, I thin Alvarado made a perfect pitch to Smith and SHOULD be pumped becuase he executed perfectly and got the desired result.
I suppose it’s tit for tat.
kerfuffle is such an underrated word. I tip my hat to you.
I like the idea that they were kerfuffling!
nat,
Agreed. It’s right up there with the phrase ‘a bit of bother’.
It’s just a half a commotion below a donnybrook.
Didnt kerfuffle pitch for the astros in the 80s?
Let the kids play lol
Oh yeah! Can’t wait for someone to trot around the bases backward after a bomb and epic bat flip…
Unicorndog, jimmy piersall did that when he hit his 100th as a met
So…. Molina snatched castallanos (or however you spell his stupid name) because the dude decided to taunt the pitcher (keep in mind that catchers are there to call game and protect their pitchers like their children) at home plate then walk away like it’s NBD… Come do that where I live and you will get dealt with mi familia
yes, always good to make a trivial altercation physical. a real stand up character.
Let me just make sure I understand your stance. The catcher is there to protect a grown man from from yelling from another player. If the player who yells walks away without any further escalation, the catcher should assault him. Did interpret that correctly? I would also like to know what ghetto you live in.
So basically you are saying that a player like castallanos can grab a ball after being hit with it and taunt the pitcher a bit with said ball then round the bases and scream in the same pitchers face is acceptable??? So ya, drop him… come see my ghetto, it’s probably the most loyal thing you have ever witnessed including your wife or your mom
Don’t hurt yourself walking up the basement stairs when mommy makes your dinner and keep that keyboard close by to protect you from all the mean people taunting you
WHeitman – so you’re saying Molina assaulted Castellanos? Right. Whatever helps your story.
Assault: verb – make a physical attack on. Yes I believe grabbing someone by the neck meets the definition of a physical attack. I’m not sure what my story is, so I am unable to comment on what helps the story. Maybe you can use your brilliance to explain it to me
Grab someone by the neck? Bahahaha! No. That didn’t happen. That’s cute though. You are part of what’s wrong with the world today. Make it up as you go.
There are pictures and video of the incident with Molina grabbing him by the back of the neck. Maybe you need some new glasses. However if people who can accept facts are the problem with the world, I am happy to be part of the problem. I would argue that people with mental deficiencies like yourself are probably a bigger harm to the world
Did he hold up a stop sign?
Binnington50 you should probably go to bed before your last few brain cells fail
Celebrating a strikeout should not be grounds for a fine. Dom Smith never charged the mound & Miguel Castro or any pitcher should be allowed to pitch inside. Baseball has become so corporate, protect your investment mentality. I say let them fight, who cares what is said at the press conference after the incident.
Alvarado did a lot more than celebrate, he crossed the line into intentional taunting. Sportsmanship is a thing.
@Cosmo2 “let the kids play” has been MLB’s slogan. Bat flips have turned into highlight reels. So why can’t pitchers taunt back? Seems hypocritical to me. I’m not even talking about Alvarado in this case. Just in general.
I don’t really see at flips as taunting but I see your point. I’d prefer we return to days when there was at least a small expectation of decorum and sportsmanship.
I see both sides. I prefer old. school ball, but I’ve embraced this new era, but MLB seems to be a bit hypocritical about it.
@DarkSide830 talk sh.t, get hit….
“best fans in baseball” my “you know what”
No ones ever said that about the Phillies for obvious reasons. Crybaby.
Arenado’s I assume will be wearing full body armor next time out.
Never knew the cherubs from ‘baseball heaven’ shiptosted. Ain’t that something?!
Alvarado should be suspended but the 3 days will likely be whittled down to one, which is insignificant for a reliever. I’m not sure why Smith was fined. He must have blurted out a no-no word. If anything he should have been fined for yelling from the dugout so much in that previous incident. Castro absolutely did not throw at Hoskins so hopefully he’s not getting fined for that. If he wanted to hit him, he could have. Again, maybe a bad word.
Alvarado has been fantastic. Strange the Dodgers chose to take Cleavinger instead of him.
You might want to reference Alvarado’s frequent abscences from the Rays for “personal issues” and lots of time on the IL. Not to mention the paltry return the Rays got for him.
Lottsa stuff goes on that we don’t know about
Psychoanalyze much, Dr. bob?
I haven’t been called Dr. Bob since I was married to Suzanne Pleshette and had that dream of owning an inn with Mary Frann.
You must be my cousin Daryl or my other cousin Daryl.
Smith can take his brief suspension and focus on his BLM nonsense.
Last half is right, but youre wrong, smith wasn’t suspended, no should he be.. but him amd alonso both need to sit a cpl of game,take lindor with them
I meant he could have used a brief suspension***
Although that fine money could also be used on the organization…
Why would smith be fined for after the game comments as someone here questioned?
Asked once if he thinks he will be fined for blasting bud selig in an interview, david wells said ” why should i, freedom of speech ”
Same with dom smith.
It’s only a matter of time before pitchers stand on the mound screaming, “I didn’t blow my arm out! Yeah!”, at the top of their lungs after every strike out? How about just getting on with the game? Seems to be the latest way to give your team and the opposing team a little exercise in getting out of the dugout and going for a walk onto the field.
Unjust suspension. If the league wants to crack down on emotion —something it shouldn’t even do in the first place — it needs to do so universally, instead of picking and choosing random outbursts.
This is it right here. You can’t pick and choose. MLB is as hypocritical as they come.
Is it possible MLB is concerned that another crying Met will be caught on camera? Just asking the question…
Let me get this straight. The cardinal pitcher who hit Harper in the face and then Didi in the back gets nothing but Alvarado gets 3 games for throwing his glove down. The umpires who blatantly miss calls also get nothing.
I believe it’s called intent.
You didn’t get it straight. Alvarado did quite a bit more than throw his glove down.
Suspend him for talking ….. cool
He was trying to start a fight; he also bumped the umpire
then shame on Smith for taking the bait that he had no obligation to take.
Dom did the right thing. You can’t be a man and let a kid talk to you like that.
@MetsFan22 Dom literally talked to Alvarado like that a few weeks ago. Jumped right out of the dugout to do it. Again, I understand why Smith did what he did and respect it all, but he struck out. He could have just accepted Alvarado’s taunts. He chirped at Alavardo and got chirped at back. It could have ended there.
The reason smith did that it’s that it’s a understanding in the MLB that pitchers should not be as wild as Alvarado. He has no idea where it’s going. If you don’t want to get screamed at get better.
Really then tell that to the cardinals pitcher. He had no idea where the ball was going. Smith likes to talk so he will get the same thing from other pitchers also.
@MetsFan22 I completely understand and respect why Smith did it. I also understand why Alvarado got pumped when he struck him out in a huge game-situation. It’s a fine line. Do I think Alvarado went overboard? Sure, but at the end of the day Smith was allowed to yell at Alvarado and Alvarado got suspended 3 games for yelling at Smith. There’s definitely a confusing standard in the MLB. (I think Alvarado should have gotten 1 game max btw.)
It’s not simply that he yelled, he was taunting… Smith reacted. Sure they both “yelled”, but I’m not seeing equivalency there. Getting pumped up and showing emotion is one thing; directing it at the other team and taunting is another, and yelling back is natural when one is taunted. I don’t see the reaction as being as bad as the taunting.
I’m not talking about Smith’s reaction. I’m talking about the previous series where Smith jumped out of the dugout and accused Alvarado of head hunting. Totally respect Smith for wanting to protect his team, but essentially he targeted an opposing player and screamed at him. Ot’s a fine line. Alvarado didn’t deserve the 3 games which is now 2. I would’ve been oksy with 1.
This is why baseball is going to die. If you want decorum, go watch golf or tennis.
Why are baseball players so sensitive?
starting pitchers need longer suspensions. 3 days is no discipline. 3 games for a relief pitcher is possibly fair.
A 2 game suspension for a reliever is no punishment at all. It just means the manager already knows they can use them 2/3 days in a row or for multiple innings since they will have a preset rest period. It actually is a benefit to their team.
If the mets go on a huge run now, you can go back to that idiot on the phillies for waking up a dead team ( like a-roid did with Boston yrs ago)
They are not going anywhere carrying that dead weight at SS
ENOUGH OF EDWIN DIAZ FOR CHRISTS SAKE…does he have dirt on a mets partner?
He was pretty darn good last year. He’s not ALL CAPS bad.
Had not been too bad this season either until last night.
Dumbest suspension ever. You can go ahead and bat flip and walk around the bases on a HR but get silly as a P and you get suspended. Isn’t showing up opponents on a HR trot the same thing?
Baseball is so out of touch
Tatis Jr disagrees………he thinks that he’s funny, but he just comes off as a d-bag.
he is being suspended not for showing emotion but for throwing his glove into the ground and screaming and pointing at Smith. Big difference between showing emotion in the moment and trying to instigate a confrontation
Lol throwing his glove and pointing at someone. The Mets decided to take the field. Alvardo wasn’t even tossed from the game. So if a team gets upset over a bat flip and slow trot after a HR can the other team run out and get the guy suspended? This is so stupid. I don’t agree with what he did, but there is so much showboating in the game it’s crazy to see a 2 game suspension.
He was trying to instigate a brawl.
So if the Mets don’t leave the dugout he doesn’t get suspended right? So now we judge a players actions on how the other team chooses to react? Garbage. You don’t think things were said from the Mets dugout after the glove slam?
Bat flips are just as disrespectful to the opposing team as this. Didn’t get tossed from the game but a suspension. Lol people be stupid around here
I was happy he appealed so that he could play last night. Just long enough to blow the game to the Mets. Thanks Jose!
Technically he didn’t blow the game. First, he didn’t give up the tying run. Secondly, those weren’t his baserunners. It was idiotic of Girardi to bring him in there, but the pen stinks so there you go.
Better than those filthy animals throwing batteries at visiting fans.
Rocker is still a better Mets villian, but this guy’s off to a good start!
Now we are dining guys for striking out and pitching inside. Do you see how Manfred and his absurd regime is harming the game? Wake up people and fight back.
Fining. Not dining. That was that stupid autocorrect that is wrong 50% of the time. Apple must fix their algorithms before too much is taken out of context.
Tim Apple and his company don’t need to do anything. A silly autocorrect mistake is no big deal, you are just an irrelevant poster in a niche sports site like all of us. However, if they bother you so much, how about just reading your comment before hitting Post Comment
Using the term “irrelevant poster” is actually quite comical coming from an individual who didn’t even once mention the article or content of this story. Because instead of posting anything closely “relevant” to the topic at hand and the game of baseball (hello this is a sports/baseball site) you decided to engage in bullying behavior. Either that or you are a drone employee for apple and needed to defend them because they have you brainwashed. Want to talk about the fines and suspensions which are the purpose of the post. Great. I am more than happy to engage in a productive constructive conversation even if we don’t agree. But, I’m sorry, I am not going to entertain or participate in a demeaning belligerent internet argument over something as trivial as the issues with Apple’s autocorrect feature. You have the wrong person.