Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Okay, You Try And Stop Prince Fielder When He's Pissed


((HT: LA Times/Bolch))

Major League Baseball spokesman Pat Cortney confirmed this morning that Bob Watson, baseball's chief disciplinarian, is investigating Tuesday night's altercation in which Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder ((pictured thanks LA Times/Gus Ruelas)) tried to enter the Dodgers' clubhouse.

Fines and suspensions could result from the first baseman charging into a tunnel underneath the stadium after Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota hit him with a pitch during the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 17-4 victory at Dodger Stadium.

Fielder was angered because he apparently felt he was hit in retaliation for Brewers reliever Chris Smith plunking Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez in the seventh inning. Dodgers left fielder Juan Pierre was also hit by a pitch in the eighth.

Fielder, who was Mota's teammate last season with the Brewers, had to be restrained by teammates and security guards outside the entrance to the Dodgers' clubhouse.

"He's been hit a lot. . . . He doesn't like when somebody does it on purpose,"
Milwaukee Manager Ken Macha told reporters in the Brewers clubhouse after the game. "I don't blame him. . . . This type of mentality puts everybody in jeopardy. Giving a guy a $500 fine and two-game suspension isn't enough. This type of stuff should be cleaned up."

Cortney said Watson could announce any disciplinary action by the end of the week.

"It's usually pretty quick," Cortney said. "They get the umpire report, Watson talks to whoever he feels is necessary and gets video of it if it's available and then makes a decision."

In this case, Watson might seek both game footage and stadium surveillance video showing Fielder rushing toward the tunnel in the moments after the game ended, followed closely by teammates and security guards.

Kinda looking like the video below...
Thanks to our friends at KCBS2/KCAL9 for rolling in the tunnel...

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