Suspensions and Fines for Sox-Rays brawl...

[rinsd]

NEW YORK -- Managers Lou Piniella and Terry Francona were among eight members of the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays suspended or fined Friday for their roles in two bench-clearing scuffles last weekend.

Piniella and Francona were suspended three games apiece and fined an undisclosed amount for their teams' actions during Boston's 11-3 victory last Sunday. The game featured six ejections, two beanballs and some high-and-tight pitching.

Boston pitcher Bronson Arroyo was given the harshest penalty, a six-game suspension. Tampa Bay pitchers Dewon Brazelton and Lance Carter were each suspended five games, and Boston outfielder Trot Nixon was suspended for two games. All four players were also fined undisclosed amounts.

Boston slugger David Ortiz and Tampa Bay outfielder Chris Singleton were each fined for their roles in the fracas.

More at link

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2049849

[joeybee12]

1. What did Francona do to get suspended...just not holding his players

back? I don't think he actually got into the brawl.

I know Lou shot his mouth off a lot afterwards, though....

[rinsd]

3. MLB thinks the managers had alot to do with who was throwing at who....

[joeybee12]

4. I see their point...but Tony is too laid-back to rush into a fight...

...he was probably taking a nap at the time.

[cruadin]

2. The hardest blow to the Red Sox is going to be losing Arroyo....

...."Boston pitcher Bronson Arroyo was given the harshest penalty, a six-game suspension."....
--which means he'll miss a start in the rotation, something the Sox can ill-afford at this point with Wells and Schilling both out on the DL.

Losing a manager for a couple of games is almost a non-issue, as they can kibitz from the clubhouse by phone to the bench coach.