Quentin Suspension Not Severe Enough

Major League Baseball handed down their verdicts yesterday to the players involved in the Dodgers/Padres brawl during last Thursday’s game. The commissioners office handed out suspensions to San Diego thug Carlos Quentin, and Dodger’s utility guy Jerry Hairston Jr, for their roles in last Thursday night’s sixth inning brawl between the Dodgers and the Padres at Petco Park.

Whether you agree with the decisions or not, it is what it is, and there is nothing we can do about it. Major League Baseball gave Carlos Quentin an eight game suspension, while Hairston received a one game suspension. Both players are appealing their rulings.

San Diego Padres left fielder Carlos Quentin (left) charges the mound after being hit by a pitch by Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) during the sixth inning at PETCO Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Quentin received his well deserved eight game punishment, for his cowardly and unprovoked attack on Dodger right hander Zack Greinke. Quentin charged the mound colliding with Greinke, and then tackled him to the ground during the bottom of the sixth inning, during last Thursday’s 3-2 Dodger win at Petco Park. Quentin was leading off the bottom of the sixth frame, and was hit by a full count Greinke pitch on the upper arm. After taking a couple of steps towards first base, Quentin stared at Greinke and then viciously charged the mound, colliding with Greinke before tackling him to the ground. This resulted in the bench clearing brawl which lasted for several minutes before being broken up. Greinke suffered a fractured left collar bone in the collision with Quentin, and is out for eight weeks.

Hairston’s involvement came after the initial brawl. Hairston ran over to the Padre’s dugout after hearing someone on the bench making fun of Greinke’s injury. Hairston will appeal his one game suspension. Matt Kemp was not named in the report, and will not receive any kind of fine or punishment, despite being very vocal during the altercation.

MLB described the reason for Quentin’s suspension for “charging the mound, and inciting the bench clearing incident”. Zack Greinke and no other players were given suspensions, or named in the report.

Dodger manage Don Mattingly, and everyone else on the planet, believe that Quentin should have received a longer suspension. Mattingly called Quentin’s goon-like actions stupid, and said this. 

"“He should not play a game before Greinke throws a pitch. If he plays before Greinke pitches, something is wrong.”"

There has been no prior fued documented between Greinke and Quentin, but some believe there may be based on the previous two times that Quentin had been hit by Greinke pitches. Or at least it exists in Quentin’s mind, because Greinke denies having any problems with him before the incident. Greinke stated after the postgame that the HBP was unintentional and that he was not aware of any other past bad blood between the two players.

Quentin has been hit by pitches 117 times during his career, and only three of them by Greinke. The San Diego outfielder has a history of crowding the plate. The veteran outfielder should know that in a one-run Baseball game in the bottom of the sixth inning, on a full count, you don’t put the winning run on base.

I’m having trouble finding any fault on Greinke’s part other than a pitch that got away from him at the wrong time. There is no reason for Greinke to be throwing at Quentin. If you look at the replay below, you’ll see, the pitch bounces away, and then Quentin stares at Greinke for a few seconds. You can see poor A.J. shouting “Hey!”, at the goon. Then he just charges at Greinke. Did Greinke say anything to Quentin? I can’t see him saying anything at all. Mattingly was right, the whole thing was stupid, and unnecessary. Listen to Greinke talking to reporters below. He said, he didn’t say anything to Quentin, nor was he trying to throw at him intentionally. Greinke even said something about thinking Quentin’s staring was a ploy to keep pitchers from throwing inside at him. Honestly, Greinke seemed just as confused about the whole incident as we all were at the time.

If you think that Greinke tried to instigate the brawl, by saying something to Quentin, or whatever, watch the replay and the postgame interviews, and you tell me your opinion.

I have no idea what was going through the mind of Carlos Quentin before his brutal attack on Zack Greinke. It doesn’t matter what he was thinking, the brutal attack was uncalled for, and the punishment not nearly severe enough. Of course Quentin was unapologetic for his actions. He showed no remorse, and never once said he was sorry. Despite the fact that several San Diego teammates sent along their apologies to Greinke, and well wishes.

Batters get hit all the time, every day in Baseball games. Hell, the Dodgers had two batters hit by pitches during opening day against the Giants. Does that mean Matt Kemp should have charged the mound and put Matt Cain in a headlock? Or should Andre Ethier have drop-kicked Santiago Casilla before giving him a knuckle sandwich? No of course not. That’s because this isn’t hockey, this is Baseball. It’s a civilized game, well normally it is. Just like in the real world, if you put your hands on someone and hurt them, then you suffer the consequences, whether the other person instigated the fight or not.

In real life, that person would face jail time, in the world of the Baseball regular season, that player faces suspension and loss of playing time. Eight games just isn’t long enough. If a player can get 50 games for using a substance, then a player should get well over that length, for putting another player’s career in jeopardy.

It’s important to note here, not to place blame on San Diego manager Bud Black, or any of the other 24 Padre players. It’s not their fault. It is in fact, the fault of only one man, Carlos Quentin, the ogre. One childish goon has possibly tipped the balance of the National League West Division race for the next 60 games. The Dodgers lose Greinke for eight weeks, while Carlos Quentin only loses eight games of his pay. Is that fair?

At some point during the regular season, the Dodgers will get their redemption, and Quentin will receive his deserved fate. Use your imagination on how that will happen. just hope nobody else is hurt because of Quentin’s thug life machismo. Eventually justice will be served, somehow.

The two squads meet once again, starting Monday night at Dodger Stadium, for a three game series.