Reds and Cardinals await MLB’s decision
The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals are not only toe-to-toe in a race for the NL Central title, but the two teams also stood toe-to-toe in a bench-clearing brawl in Tuesday’s game. The Cardinals went on to win that game 8-4, tying the Reds for the division lead, but the big story of the game was the brawl that ensued.
The brawl likely stemmed from some comments made prior to the series. Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips had his choice of words for the Cards prior to their series this week: “I’d play against these guys with one leg," Phillips had said. "We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is b---- and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little b------, all of ‘em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals.”
The two teams are now waiting for a ruling from major league baseball: "I've got to believe that it's something significant, but I have no idea what it's going to turn out to be," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It depends on how the league reviews the tapes and what the umpires' report says. Just wait and see."
Many are speculating that Phillips will receive the stiffest punishment. Besides Phillips’ trash talking, he tapped Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina with his bat in the shin, twice. Molina kicked away the bat the first time then Phillips did it again. Molina may even face disciplinary action for getting in Phillips’ face, sparking the brawl as well.
Reds’ pitcher Johnny Cueto got into the action, kicking Chris Carpenter and Jason LaRue with his spikes. Some disciplinary action is expected for him as well.
Amazingly, only the managers of the two teams were ejected from the game with Reds’ manager Dusty Baker and La Russa of the Cards tossed in the first inning.
Baker went on to say if Cueto, were to be suspended, then the instigators should be given a look as well: “There were words that created punches to be thrown. You know what I mean?" Baker said. "Not that what happened was right on our side or what was said was right. There's always a cause and effect on every situation almost. In our hearts that thing was over, until some people started talking."
Video evidence shows that Cueto kicked players after being pushed up against a net: "If they suspend Cueto, the people that put him on the wall should be looked at, too,"
La Russa claims that despite the incident, there are no hard feelings between him and Baker: “I think we have a good relationship," La Russa said. "Our jobs, by definition -- especially if you play in the same division, if you're for your team, which you're supposed to be, and I'm for my team, which I'm supposed to be -- by definition there are going to be some disagreements. I look up and down that team, there hasn't been bad blood. We recognize that they're legitimate competitors. They've gotten really good."
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