Dodgers and Diamondbacks: suspended for brawling but ‘it’s not over yet’

On Tuesday, for the second time this season, Vin Scully was providing us with a masterful play-by-play of a major in-game altercation, and once again, Zack Greinke was in the middle of it. Tempers began flaring in earnest during the Dodgers 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks after Ian Kennedy’s fastball wound up on the nose of Yasiel Puig, LA’s rookie phenom, in the bottom of the sixth inning. Generally speaking, Puig’s brand of showmanship isn’t admired by big league players, meaning that the Cuban is likely to draw special attention from time to time from opposing pitchers.

Dodgers catcher Tim Federowicz said after the game:

We knew at some point somebody was going to try to knock [Puig] down. They say it wasn’t intentional. You hit a guy in the face, we take it personally.

In the top of the seventh, Greinke avenged Puig’s beaning, throwing behind Arizona catcher Miguel Montero, and predictably, benches cleared. Order was restored momentarily before Kennedy hit Greinke, who recently returned from collar bone surgery resulting from an early season Dodgers brawl with the Padres, in the bottom half of the inning. Next thing you knew, the teams were at each others throats, with D’Backs assistant hitting coach Turner Ward getting hurled into the camera pit padding, while several old timers, including managers Don Mattingly, Kirk Gibson, Matt Williams, Mark McGwire, Alan Trammell and Don Baylor (one heck of a group actually) exchanged words and shoves in heated encounters that led to several ejections – Gibson, Kennedy, Ward, McGwire and Puig were tossed by home plate umpire Clint Fagan, who had the pleasure of dealing with no fewer than five batters being plunked on the night. To watch it play out before your eyes alongside baseball’s most sacred voice click here. Or turn up at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2014.

Friday update: Eight suspensions and a dozen fines were handed down as punishment for the brawl.

Arizona pitcher Ian Kennedy was suspended for 10 games and infielder Eric Hinske five for their roles in Tuesday’s fight.

Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario said afterwards: No, it’s not over yet, not at all. I don’t think anybody thinks it’s over.

Ryan Mad-son

On the sidelines for more than 14 months following Tommy John surgery, Ryan Madson told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com that he’s losing his patience with the recovery process, wondering aloud if he would be helped by taking HGH:

If HGH were legal just in the process of healing, under a doctor’s recommendation, in the right dosage, while you’re on the [disabled list], I don’t think that’s such a bad idea — as long as it doesn’t have any lasting side effects, negative side effects.

Madson signed a $6m deal deal with the Cincinnati Reds before the 2012 season, only to hurt himself in Spring Training, an injury that ultimately shifted Aroldis Chapman to the bullpen. Thinking Madson had a chance to comeback at some point this season and be effective, the Angels gambled on the reliever who made his name in Philadelphia, signing him to a deal of more than $3m. However, the recovery has not gone as planned and the frustrated 32-year-old sounded off on Tuesday, also saying:

…Fans want to see the best players play, and they want to see the players that they watch come back from injury and stay back. I think it would be a good thing.

Madson made it clear that he would never consider taking human growth hormone because of the drugs legal status, and also stated that he doesn’t feel the same way about steroids. Whether or not you agree or disagree with Madson, there’s certainly nothing wrong with his remarks, or having a healthy debate about the possible legitimate and strictly administered use of HGH. Judging on the way baseball is pursuing those who they believe violated MLB’s policies, I don’t expect he’ll garner much support in the Commissioners office.