MLB made right call on fight between Cade Cavalli and Willson Contreras, and other Red Sox thoughts
This story originally appeared in the Globe’s Sunday Baseball Notes. Read the rest here.
In the case of Cade Cavalli vs. Willson Contreras, MLB meted out seven-game suspensions for both players, for two different offenses.
The league got it right. Both deserved long suspensions.
Contreras might have gotten away with four or five games except for his decision to go find his batting helmet during the brawl on Tuesday night and attempt to throw it at Cavalli. He missed and hit Nationals first baseman Andrés Chaparro in the elbow.
After being ejected, Contreras went to the clubhouse and scrolled through Instagram, which is not allowed during a game. “Meet me at Fenway,” he responded to a person who insulted him. Presumably, that was not to have a friendly chat about their differences.
MLB noted his actions “during and following” the brawl were cause for suspension.
Contreras also initially sparked the incident by purposely cutting across Cavalli’s path when he was coming off the field after the first inning and bumping into him. It was an attempt to rattle the pitcher.
Jomboy Media reviewed video from previous games, and it was the first time Contreras (or any runner) had jogged in front of a pitcher like that this season.
Contreras has a career-long reputation for such gamesmanship and getting under the skin of his opponents. It’s no wild coincidence that he has been hit by a pitch 146 times in his career and has numerous ejections.
Two former major league pitchers told me the next day they were surprised Cavalli didn’t hit Contreras with a pitch when he came to the plate in the fourth inning.
Cavalli instead struck Contreras out and yelled, “Sit down, boy!” at him.
Cavalli has to know that’s not something you can say. It’s 2025, not 1947. That Contreras said he was more bothered by the tone than the actual words doesn’t change anything.
On Wednesday, Cavalli claimed he was upset about how his words were perceived and that he did not intend them as a slur. But how else could his words have been perceived or intended? He could have simply yelled at Contreras to sit down.
The umpires erred in not ejecting Cavalli. What amounted to a racial epithet was shouted out in the middle of the field, and that can’t be tolerated.
Read more Belgian federation to challenge FIFA’s decision to let Folarin Balogun play in World Cup match
A few other observations on the Red Sox:
⋅ Sonny Gray joined some excellent company when he picked up his 2,000th career strikeout. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Gerrit Cole, Yu Darvish, and Kevin Gausman are the only other active pitchers on that list.
It also tied Gray for 90th all-time with Andy Benes. Another 20 would move him past Catfish Hunter and Orel Hershiser.
⋅ It’s astonishing the Sox have hit only 34 home runs over 44 games at Fenway Park and have the third-lowest OPS (.680) at home in the majors.
As one opposing manager noted earlier this season, teams used to worry about a series at Fenway wrecking their bullpen. Now, you can rest some relievers.
⋅ Music was playing in the clubhouse Wednesday afternoon after a 10-2 loss against the Nationals. A few of the players had their children with them, too.
That may not seem like a big deal, but there was a time when that clubhouse was so quiet after a loss that you barely heard anybody talking.
Whether that’s a sign of changing norms or evidence that this particular team isn’t all that invested in the season is open to interpretation.
It was a surprise, especially with so many games still to play. You’d like to think a veteran player or one of the coaches would have said something.
⋅ Triple-A outfielder Braiden Ward is an under-the-radar trade candidate.
In olden times, Alex Cora said the Sox saw him as a Dave Roberts-type who could steal a base when needed in the postseason. With the Sox facing long odds of playing in October, other teams could reach out.
Ward is 36 of 41 on steal attempts and has 247 in his minor league career. The 27-year-old has never played in the majors, but his speed could be a valuable weapon in the postseason.
Read more ‘Come back and try it again.’ That could be Time Out Market’s new motto.
Post Comment