Brian McCann and the home run police.

Since Gomez was going to get an obstruction call he should have run right through McCann. At least Gomez tweeted an apology for his behavior.

This has been a hot topic on sports talk today - lots of divided opinions.  When I watch the clip that isolates Gomez, he stares and jaws practically the whole way around the bases - way too much.  If his motive was retaliation from being hit three months ago on the knee, a strut and a few-second glare would have been understandable (and most effective) but he didn't stop there.  Isolated view of Maholm has him not saying much.  As Gomez was still glaring and yapping as he rounded first and well on his way to second, I would expect a vet 1b to say something.  As he approached home and was still at it, I would expect a vet catcher to stand up and say something (albeit meeting Gomez ten feet up the line was certainly an interesting twist).

 

I'm a neutral party on this one.  If the criticism on the Braves is that they take it upon themselves to be baseball etiquette police, I don't see that as a bad thing.  I don't follow either very closely but I have only heard good things about McCann's character while I believe Gomez has had some other hot-head moments in the past.  And, did you see his eyes popping out of his head when he had to be restrained?  A little  disturbing.

 

BTW, at first he refused to apologize, so I'm pretty sure that was a demand from the organization. 

This has happened twice this season. Hardly an epidemic. And, as noted, in both cases the offending hitter apologized for his actions.

 

The "unwritten rules" are partly responsible for making baseball unique and entertaining. Baseball polices itself. It's been like that for 150 years (or so I'm told). I'm fine with it.

Gomez was disrespectful.

 

McCann literally broke a rule.

 

Gomez was suspended. McCann wasn't.

 

The "unwritten rules" don't say it's alright to physically prevent an opposing player from reaching a base.

 

The "unwritten rules" confuse me a lot, but that one I know is a fact.

 

I have no problem with Gomez's punishment. I do have a problem with the lack thereof reciprocated in McCann's direction.

J H,

 

I also thought it was odd that Gomez and Freddie Freeman were tossed but no action was taken towards McCann, I heard on sports radio today that the umpire explained that Gomez and Freeman were tossed because they never calmed down after the initial incident. Oh well.

Back up just a second.

 

Did you see Gomez's eyes and and stare at Malhom on the very first pitch? I know the umpires couldn't see it but had they it would have explained easily what happened next. So he gets plunked 3 months prior. So what. Batters get hit every day. Grow up and take your bumps and bruises. lol.

 

I dont think McCann was wrong IMO. Was he protecting his pitcher at that point? No. But, I think he was letting Gomez know that his bush-league behavior was unacceptable.

 

Glad Gomez has to sit a game. He deserves it.

 

I don't think anyone would argue Gomez wasn't out of line. But when is it appropriate to deliberately stop the game in the middle of the field, deliberately prevent an opposing player from touching a base and deliberately (and angrily) "discipline" a grown man? 

 

Gomez was classless and acted like a jerk. No doubt about it. But there is no chance anyone will convince me that McCann did anything even remotely close to appropriate. I lost a lot of respect for him last night, and I'm sure a lot of other people did as well. He is someone who claims to "play the game the right way" and "with integrity". Well, he's a hypocrite. 

 J H,

 

FYI - Freeman and McCann were fined.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_...ewers-atlanta-braves

 

I pretty much agree with you - why Gomez was ejected and not McCann is beyond me.

I believe the history is that every time Gomez has hit a home run off this pitcher he has been hit the next at-bat. 2 or 3 times.

 

McCann should have been ejected and suspended. He was the first one to start the screaming after the home run was hit. And he escalated the whole thing by stopping Gomez. But the Braves are in a playoff hunt, MLB isn't going to cross that line.

 

Dare I say that Fredi has lost control of the Braves? This is the third time this kind of situation has happened this year involving the Braves.

Carlos Gomez played for the Twins for a number of years and a good friend works for them and got to know Carlos.  He said Carlos was great kid but not very mature and extremely high strung.  He had numerous run ins with cliff lee and others over some goofy things he did (bunting on 2 strikes, excessive celebration).  Not surprised by what he did and think the braves had every right to let him know; at the end of day it's Carlos being Carlos!  He will learn or pay the price.

I don't have a problem with what McCann did. Gomez was jawing ALL the way around the bases. Around 1st, he encountered Freeman and they got into it. Between 2nd and 3rd he was yelling at Maholm and pointing at his knee, between 3rd and home, didn't even look at his 3rd base coach and get the normal congrats - he was still yelling and talking trash to Maholm. It NEVER stopped. Way overboard. McCann did the right thing by letting the head case Gomez know that would not be stood for.

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=30939261&query=bench

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=30542249&query=bench

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=29473107&query=bench

 

But obviously the Braves have no problems...

Or any players that "pimp" home runs.

 

Soooooo.........did he ever score??????

So starting a brawl is the proper response?

I was agreeing with you by implying that the Braves have players that "pimp" home runs on their own team, but seemingly only take exception to the "disrespect to the game" when it is done against them. I find the behavior inappropriate, immature and irresponsible. I find it troubling that fans are so quick to condemn Gomez for his actions but defend McCann for his. There is NEVER a time when acting as either of them did is appropriate. I was disappointed to see both Gomez's actions and McCann's reactions. Classless on all fronts. 

So difficult to tell tone and emotion sometimes

I just think MLB needs to punish the Braves. It is obvious that THEY have a lot of faults right now and they are the common dominator in the whole thing...

I read he never reached home. He was awarded home on McCann's obstruction.

He deserves to act that way any day, any place he deals with Maholm. Maholm has been trying (or at least acting in a way showing he is willing) to end Gomez's career. McCann also has been playing the ass repeatedly. He's going to get his knees blown out or his face rearranged if he doesn't watch it.