Suspensions from Major League Baseball (MLB) came down hard on everyone involved in the brawl that took place this past weekend between Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez and Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.
According to the MLB, Anderson received a six-game suspension and Ramírez received a three-game suspension.
In addition, Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, Guardians manager Terry Francona and Guardians third base coach Mike Sarbaugh received a one-game suspension; and White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech and Guardians outfielder Gabriel Arias received an undisclosed fine, which was also handed down to everyone suspended.
“When something like that happens, you know there’s gonna be a price to be paid,” Francona said. “I think you always have your side of the story. But there are two sides to things, so he has to listen to both.”
The melee on the field Saturday (August 5) night started when Ramírez slid headfirst into second base, and Anderson delivered a hard tag on him. Ramírez and Anderson then began jawing at one another before Anderson threw down his glove and the two squared up and started throwing punches.
“He’s been disrespecting the game for a while,” Ramírez said via translation when speaking to Bally Sports Cleveland after the game. “I even had the chance to tell him [earlier] during the game, ‘Don’t do this stuff. That’s disrespectful.”
Later, Ramírez apologized for the encounter during an interview with Dominican sportswriter Héctor Gómez and said he was trying to reach Anderson to apologize personally.
Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Anderson would not be answering questions about the fight. He offered his own take on the situation after the suspensions were announced.
“You never want to see anything like that unfold on the baseball field,” Hahn said. “We were fortunate nobody was injured on either side and obviously understand the commissioner’s office’s role in doling out discipline.”
Both José Ramírez and Tim Anderson plan to appeal their suspensions.