MLB hands out suspensions
OAKLAND, Calif. — Astros hitting coach Álex Cintrón received a 20game suspension and a fine Tuesday for his role in a benches-clearing brawl, while Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano was given a six-game suspension and a fine.
Cintrón’s suspension is the longest for an on-field transgression in 15 years, since Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers received 20 games for his altercation with two cameramen in 2005.
“I accept MLB’s suspension and will learn from this,” Cintrón said in a statement. “Although I never referenced Ramon’s mother, my actions were inappropriate. I apologize for my part in Sunday’s unfortunate incident. As coaches, we are held to a higher standard and should be an example to the players. Hopefully, other coaches will learn from my mistake so that this never happens again in the future.”
Laureano appealed. He was hit by a pitch from Humberto Castellanos with one out in the seventh inning of the A’s’ 7-2 home victory Sunday. He began exchanging words with a gesturing Cintrón then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward the 41year-old Cintrón.
Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano before the A’s outfielder got to the hitting coach. Laureano is a former Astros player and the rival clubs have been the top two in the AL West the last two years.
A’s pitcher Mike Fiers, another ex-Astro, revealed the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in November to The Athletic.
Indians: The Indians went a step further than just putting Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac into quarantine. They’ve been sent away from the team, and it’s not known when they’ll be back. The Indians placed the two starting pitchers on the restricted list after the right-handers broke team rules and MLB protocols by leaving their hotel in Chicago last weekend and risking exposure to the COVID-19 virus. “This one kind of hurts,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, who returned Tuesday from a week away to address a lingering medical issue to find his team dealing with an internal situation that could affect its season. “We’ll deal with it like we always do. We care about each other. It doesn’t mean you don’t get disappointed with each other or even mad at each other sometimes. But what I care about is making it better.” Clevinger and Plesac went out Saturday night with a group of people following the Indians’ win over the White Sox. The team had implemented a code of conduct for players to follow on road trips, forbidding them from socializing outside of the team’s players and staff. Once they learned about Plesac going out, the Indians immediately got him car service to drive him to Cleveland. But the team wasn’t aware Clevinger had been with him until after he flew back to Ohio with his teammates, coaches and other personnel. Team president Chris Antonetti didn’t divulge any details of how the team learned about Clevinger’s indiscretion. Antonetti said he has spoken with Clevinger and that the free-spirited 29year-old understands he violated team rules. Antonetti said the decision to put them on the restricted list was not mandatory, but the Indians felt it was appropriate given their actions. “It’s not ideal,” Antonetti said. “But we felt it was the right thing to do.”
Yankees: All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton could miss up to a month with the hamstring injury that forced him to the IL last weekend, manager Aaron Boone announced. Stanton has a Grade 1 hamstring strain, an injury with a “reasonable” recovery timeline of three to four weeks. The former NL MVP while a member of the Marlins was limited to just 18 games last season because of multiple injuries but was off to a good start this season, batting .293 with three HRs in his first 14 games.
Pirates: Opening day starting pitcher Joe Musgrove was placed on the 10-day IL because of right triceps inflammation. The RHP is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA this season. He was scratched from his previous start because of what the team called ankle soreness.
Tigers: 1B C.J. Cron was placed on the 10-day IL with a sprained left knee. The Tigers said Cron is wearing a knee brace and there’s no timetable for his return. He’s hitting .190 with four HRs.
White Sox: SS Tim Anderson was activated from the 10-day IL. Anderson was sidelined because of a groin strain. The 2019 MLB batting champion was hitting .333 with one HR this season.