Dodgers/Padres Brawl

I think Quentin had no business going to mound regardless what was said. He clearly employs a strategy where he is tough enough and fine with getting hit frequently. Can't then go all tough guy because he said something to you. 

I don't recall Biggio ever going to the mound. If you employ that strategy get hit and head to first. 

Ellis said even during the brawl, Padres players were apologizing for the breach of the baseball code that Quentin showed when he attacked Greinke in a situation nobody else believed was intentional except for Quentin, who four years ago was intercepted from going after Greinke by the plate umpire and opposing catcher when hit in the back with a 2-2 pitch.

"I had a similar thing happen in A-ball -- bases loaded, 3-2 pitch, guy got hit -- and the entire team apologized to me and that's what their guys did tonight, to a man, apologizing for what just happened," said Ellis. "We knew during the game what was up with Zack. They were upset as well. We all know the code of baseball."

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_11_lanmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=wrap#gid=2013_04_11_lanmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=la

Quentin is an idiot and will likely get one of his teammates drilled in the back. Zach has a lot of arm side run. Quentin likes to hang over the plate. Take your base and shut up.

Ditto.

Quentin should be suspended for 50 games with no MLB contact (fields, practice facilities, trainers, coaches, etc.) or until Zach has his first start - whichever is longer.  If Zach doesn't come back from his surgery then Quentin should be kicked out of the league.  There is no excuse for his crap.

There's no precedent for that. He should be suspended, but really?

If it would have been a catcher within a ten foot radius of home plate it would have been completely legal

Yes, really. What he did is assault, and since it resulted in injury it could be charged as a felony.  I wouldn't mind if the local DA charged and prosecuted him.  Maybe a year in jail would settle him down.  It's time to stop this crap.  Maybe Quentin should pay Zach's salary out of his own pocket until Zach's back.

I see both parties at fault.  Each escalated the situation in different ways and each could have prevented the end result (both the fight and the injury).  Quentin is being unfairly singled out when the other party is not blameless.

sowilson,

I agree that Quentin should be punished commensurate with Greinke's injury.  If I was commissioner for a day, it would happen after reviewing the facts.  There is no room in the sport for this crap. 

However, we are asking the leadership at Major League Baseball to actually lead and make a decision,  and that is truly out of their comfort zone.  The only way I see this working as you suggest is if the owners realizing their human investments...payroll....are at risk of becoming injured due to some enraged knucklehead rugby player (Quentin)  in a baseball uniform.  It is an owners league and if the owners see a threat to their business. it will happen.  If not, he'll get 8 days and it will get swept under the rug.

I didn't see the pitch as intentional, especially on a count at 3-2. The biggest mistake Grienke made was leaving the mound and responding to him verbally. I wonder if he got some feedback from management. When you get paid that much you need to keep your emotions in check.

Quentin got 8 game suspension and 3000 fine.

Thought son's observation was interesting. Not about what led up to the fight but the fight itself: Greinke was crazy to lower his shoulder and let himself be hit straight-on by a tank. TPM, other pitcher parents ... wouldn't you want your son to sidestep the charging fielder and throw him to the ground or SOMETHING? Anything  but what he did. Wonder if pitchers are ever taught how to react in situations like this .. i.e., don't punch a guy in the head with your pitching hand, and don't do what Zack did.

jp24,

This is a macho game with unwritten rules. hen you get someone on the back is one thing, but the head thing brings about different emotions. 

The pitcher  cannot walk away from the mound and save face, hopefully your catcher can come out quickly enough to get in between the two of you and calm things down. Or an infielder. I don't think that they were expecting him to charge the mound as this is not what he normally does.

I think Grienke should have stood his ground, but lowering his shoulder to a human tank was dangerous.  He has an obligation to his teammates, fans and the people paying him to remain healthy.

I am sure if you gave each guy a do over they would not do it the same way.

What bothers me is that unless I missed it, Quentin has made no comment or apologies and of course is appealing his 8 game suspension. At this point I would have just shut up and did my time.

Well I'm fine with that. But that means Johnny Cueto shall be kicked out of the league. His violence ended a career. But he just got a slap on the wrist. Very light slap..

Bulldog is correct,there is no precedent and there is no rule. If that were his punishment, he would appeal and he would win.

MLB has to establish rules, and I am sure at the next GM meeting in december it will be addressed. These guys get paid too much money to get seriously hurt, and I agree once the owners step in (and the players themselves voice opinion to their union) there might be future changes.

Here is how you pick up your pitcher if you are a good teammate..

Money has completely ruined professional sports. Everyone is so scared they may get hurt, they don't play the game the way it's supposed to be played. Look at all major four sports and see how watered down and saft everything has gotten. The more money they get, the worse the product in return...

And you sir are one of the reasons coaches get a bad rap! Heaven forbid we actually consider somebody's health here!

Found this old article on Grantland today concerning baseball brawls.  I'd hate for my kid to be part of one of these "donnybrooks" but it's a pretty funny read.

http://www.grantland.com/story...r?ex_cid=grantland33

Where was the Dodgers catcher? He should have tackled the big dud frombehind before Greinke got crushed.

I noticed that, too. Catcher's job to get between the batter and pitcher after a HBP.

Greinke has some blame here, too. I'm sure that he knows Quentin's rep and that he would be hot after getting hit. Should have kept his mouth shut.

All this talk about suspending Quentin as long as Greinke is out is ludicrous.

Unless I missed something like him using a bat, shiv or some other weapon, what is all this talk about him being thrown out of the league or spending time in jail?

While I do not approve of him charging the mound(especially under those circumstances), lets keep this in perspective. Just like in hockey where brawls sometimes happen, as long as you do not do something crazy like Marty McSorley, where he came up from behind and whacked Donald Brashear in the head with his stick, "felony charges" would be absurd.