Benches Clear in San Diego

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 The bench clearing brawl between Canada and Mexico in the World Baseball Classic was nothing compared to last night’s frenzy between the Dodgers and Padres. With a 3-2 count and up by a run in the sixth inning, Dodger pitcher Zach Greinke hit San Diego outfielder Carlos Quentin in the arm. That was the third time Greinke hit Quentin dating back to their days in the AL Central, Greinke with the Royals, and Quentin with the White Sox. Considering the situation, it is next to impossible to understand why Greinke would hit Quentin. Quentin has become notorious around the league for leaning over the plate on inside pitches. If that is his gameplan to steal at bats and stimulate his on base percentage, why is he going after someone helping him execute it?

 

The incident obviously was not planned as Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis was not even prepared for the incident that would eventually break out. Before Ellis could realize what was going on, Quentin and Greinke were already exchanging some choice words and the Padres slugger was going after one of the 2009 AL Cy Young award winner. Greinke braced himself, lowering his left shoulder after throwing his glove down, ready to fight. Quentin attacked Greinke and would have won, had this been a boxing bout. There was no Gaby Sanchez to save the day, like when he sucker punched Nyjer Morgan before he could reach Chris Volstad in a brawl two years ago between the Marlins and Nationals.

By lowering his shoulder, Greinke broke his collarbone. Greinke may be sidelined for the rest of the season, already not reaching the expectations and money the Dodgers gave for him. Now, LA has only half of their pitching dynamic duo in Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers are no longer the heavy favorite for the NL West crown, as they will need to find a way to make up 15+ wins and 200+ innings. Right now, it is anyone’s division, except for maybe my atrocious Rockies.

Dodger manager Don Mattingly’s opinion on Quentin’s suspension was he should not be able to play until Greinke can pitch. Multiple players were ejected, including Matt Kemp and Jerry Hairston Jr. Hairston was initially trying to break up the fight, however shortly after the fracas concluded, he took off for the Padres dugout, going after John Baker who was supposedly laughing at the injured Greinke. After the game, Kemp met Quentin leaving the stadium where yet another exchange broke out, but luckily Hanley Ramirez and Kershaw broke it up.

There has always been a bitter rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants and their fans. Whether it was their days of contention back on the east coast in New York and Brooklyn, or when Giants fan Brian Stow was attacked by Dodger fans at Opening Day two years ago, leading to a coma, that has become one of baseball’s most best and worst rivalries.  It is still unclear to me why this fight broke out. Quentin did what he always has done, get hit. Essentially, Quentin pulled two cheap moves, that both violate the unofficial tacit baseball code.