Thread: Cardinals, Reds benches clear after Molina rejects Phillips' bat greeting

8/10/2010

Tempers flare early between Cards, Reds | MLB.com: News

"I was ready to start the game, and he touched me," Molina said. "The comments that he made yesterday, that he's got no friends over here, why are you touching me then? You are not my friend. So don't touch me."
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"One thing led to another. Guys were chirping," Baker said. "Some guy said, 'Be quiet.' One of their coaches, [Jose] Oquendo, I told him to be quiet. Tony told me not to talk to his coaches. I told him a few things and he told me a few things. I heard some stuff out of the back and the next thing you know, it was on again."
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"I was trying to go in and trying to break people off," Cueto said with catcher Ramon Hernandez interpreting. "As soon as I knew it, I had like 20 people pushing me all over to the net. I already had my back to the net with my feet up. When you see more than 15 people going over you, you definitely are going to get scared. I did get nervous."

Order was restored after a seven-minute delay. When it was all said and done, the only ejections levied were to both managers.

If you watch the video on the link, go to about 3:00 minutes or so and you could see some pretty good kicks and a couple of punches thrown.

It's just amazing that in baseball, an exchange of words can clear the benches while in hockey, two guys exchanging punches, the teammates just sit and watch from the benches.

Originally Posted by UnderPressure

It's just amazing that in baseball, an exchange of words can clear the benches while in hockey, two guys exchanging punches, the teammates just sit and watch from the benches.

You're right... but it is a whole different animal.

This is just the way it is and what you're "supposed to do" in baseball. I'm sure if you didn't get suspended multiple games for throwing a punch or fighting, I'm sure baseball players would love to throw down sometimes. Just as in hockey, if you weren't assessed a penalty and probably a suspension for coming off the bench during a fight or a line brawl, I'm sure you would see it happen.

Either way, it's entertainment and I'm all for it.

Plus it shows they have passion and actually care about the game they get payed millions for.

It's cool to see two teams fired up because they're playing for a playoff spot. This did nothing for the Reds since the Cardinals swept them and now have a 1 game lead in the NL Central.

LaRue suffers slight concussion in melee | cardinals.com: News
Carpenter also has abrasions after getting kicked

CINCINNATI -- Jason LaRue suffered what Cardinals manager Tony La Russa called a slight concussion during a benches-clearing incident in Tuesday night's 8-4 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Pitcher Chris Carpenter also got scraped up in the imbroglio, as both men were kicked by Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto.

"We're facing an issue with Jason," La Russa said. "He got clobbered in the head with their starting pitcher kicking. So he has a slight concussion and he has some facial tears there, and his and Carp's bodies [have abrasions]. We'll see how that's all handled."
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"Me and [Reds manager Dusty Baker] exchanged words, and then the next thing I know, I was in the net with somebody kicking me in the back, from behind, where I was held down," Carpenter said. "Nobody was doing anything. I wasn't throwing any punches. Nobody was throwing any punches. We had some guy kicking me in the back who ends up kicking my backup catcher and splits his face open. When you see [LaRue], you'll see he could have done some real damage. [Cueto] got him in the side of the eye, got him in his nose, got him in his face. Totally unprofessional. Unbelievable. I haven't seen anything like that."
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Baseball "fights" are always the lamest things you can see at a ballgame.

Originally Posted by Cross Traffic

Baseball "fights" are always the lamest things you can see at a ballgame.

nope, second to the broski angel fans you run into at the upper deck of angel stadium

Originally Posted by Cross Traffic

Baseball "fights" are always the lamest things you can see at a ballgame.

Anybody remember Chan Ho Parks Liu Kang bicycle kick to Tim Belcher?


Damn the Dodgers and Angels were wearing some ugly unis then.