Joe Torre seems to have been wearing Yankee-colored glasses. That’s the only way to explain how suspensions were doled out.
MLB discipline officer Joe Torre wasted no time doling out suspensions and fines. He punished the principals who participated in the brawl between Tigers and Yankees Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Courtesy: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s the scorecard on the suspensions that were handed Friday afternoon: Miguel Cabrera was suspended for seven games. Gary Sanchez received a four-game suspension. Austin Romine had two games meted out. Finally, Alex Wilson earned a four-game suspension. He plunked Todd Frazier in the hip as retaliation for Dellin Betances throwing at James McCann’s helmet in the seventh inning.
From the way I see it, the Yankees got away with it. It should have been worse for them. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that Torre ruled in the Yankees’ favor. After all, he was their manager. But this is the same manager who used to screw deserving All-Stars from other teams — just to put in his own players in the All-Star Game.
If former Tigers manager, Jim Leyland, had been the head of discipline, he would have evened out the suspensions. He has integrity, which is something I can’t say for Torre.
I have no complaints about the suspensions the Tigers received. They acted like spoiled brats, frustrated that Sanchez hit four home runs against them this week. When Sanchez homered against Michael Fulmer in the fourth inning, the Tigers starter decided to plunk him in the fifth. And Wilson didn’t help matters by retaliating in the eighth.
What’s really surprising is that the teams didn’t receive warnings from the home plate umpire. The umps handled it poorly. There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s about that.
For Sanchez to get four games is a joke. For Betances to not even be suspended is a disgrace. Why is Tommy Kahnle not suspended for throwing behind Cabrera in the sixth? That’s what set off the Tigers’ slugger. Yet, Wilson got suspended for throwing at Frazier. That’s crazy!
Courtesy: SI
Sanchez should have received a seven-game suspension, just like Cabrera. Sanchez sucker-punched Cabrera and Nicholas Castellanos while they were on the ground. He acted like a madman searching for blood. He knew what he was doing and he was willing to be suspended just to show he was not going to be pushed around. Those intentions should have yielded a long suspension.
A four-game suspension is nothing, especially if Sanchez wins his appeal. A seven-game suspension made more sense for his behavior.
Kahnle should have been suspended at least four games. If he doesn’t throw chin music at Cabrera, then nothing happens. Kahnle instigated the brawl in the first place. For him to not get suspended is a joke.
Betances should have received at least nine games. Why? Anytime a pitcher plunks someone in the head, it’s dangerous. There’s no excuse to throw at someone’s head–whether a pitcher has control or not.
But the bottom line is that Joe Torre seems to have been wearing Yankee-colored glasses. That’s the only way to explain how suspensions were doled out.
The Yankees know they’re fortunate.
