Great. The Yanks defended their honor in the brawl with the Tigers yesterday. They also may have royally messed up their season. Regardless of who started it or who ultimately is to blame, for a contending team to get suckered into a brawl with a team that has nothing to lose is downright stupid.
And what does it prove? Pitchers will think twice about buzzing Gary Sanchez? A few of them won’t get the chance to, since he’ll likely be suspended for a number of games, right in the middle of his hottest streak all season. Dumb!
Girardi has to take his share of the blame. His comments about his players standing there and taking it when shoved are asinine. Try it once. Then Miggy gets tossed and your guy stays in the game, a game you need to win. And Sanchez punching two players when they were down doesn’t make him a man, it labels him as a cheap shot artist.
Tempers can get out of hand but use your head. These fights prove nothing. But if baseball clings to the antiquated notion that these scores must be settled, serve your revenge cold, in spring training next year, not during a pennant race.
Girardi blamed the umps for not taking charge and there is a degree of guilt there. But how about looking in the mirror, Joe? Were you in control of your players? Did you tell them that this game was too important for this nonsense and they should back off to battle another day?
McCann was hit in the head with a 98 mph fastball. Luckily, a glancing blow. A couple inches lower and he might be dead. Assault with a deadly weapon charge for Betances would send a message. Grow up, boys.
