3:56pm: Uceta won’t attraction the choice, Money tells Topkin. The fitting-hander’s three-game suspension will start tonight.
2:55pm: Main League Baseball introduced this afternoon that Rays righty Edwin Uceta has obtained a three-game suspension and an undisclosed advantageous for throwing at Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos in final night time’s recreation. Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Money has obtained a one-game suspension. Uceta can attraction if he chooses and would nonetheless be eligible to take the sector whereas the attraction course of performs out. Money is serving his suspension tonight, per the league’s announcement. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions first reported the main points surrounding the suspensions.
Uceta entered final night time’s recreation within the eighth inning with two males on base and one out in what was then a 4-4 tie. He promptly yielded a two-run double to outfielder Cal Stevenson, struck out catcher Garrett Stubbs, allowed an RBI single to infielder Buddy Kennedy after which served up a two-run homer to Trea Turner. Bryce Harper adopted with a double. Uceta then hit Castellanos on the hip with a 96.2 mph sinker on the primary pitch of the following plate look, prompting each benches to clear (video hyperlink). Castellanos and Harper, specifically, had been animated with their anger and what they clearly believed to be intent behind the pitch.
Castellanos stated after the sport that he had “an amazing sense that I used to be about to get drilled,” earlier than even entering into the batter’s field (hyperlink through Todd Zolecki of MLB.com). Harper was additionally vocal within the aftermath, stating that throwing at a participant with intent “will not be one thing that it is best to settle for as Main League Baseball” — significantly in an period the place right this moment’s pitchers can throw so arduous. “We’re in a race proper now,” Harper continued. “We’re doing our factor. We’re attempting to get into the postseason. A man desires to drill him. It’s not proper.”
Uceta, naturally, maintained whereas talking by an interpreter that he didn’t intend to plunk Castellanos — the primary batter he’s hit all season in 36 1/3 innings (138 batters confronted) and simply the third batter he’s hit in his MLB profession (314 plate appearances).
Even with that dismal outing, Uceta’s ERA on the season stands at 1.49. He’s quietly emerged as an vital bullpen piece for Tampa Bay since signing a minor league deal within the winter and having his contract chosen to the massive league roster again in Might. A part of Uceta’s success this season has been impeccable command. He’s walked simply 4.3% of the opponents he’s confronted (in opposition to a huge 37% strikeout price).
That alone doesn’t sign intent, after all; it was a pressure-filled state of affairs whereby Uceta had missed spots badly on each the double to Stevenson and the house run to Turner. He’s additionally struggled with command prior to now, getting into the season with a profession 11.9% stroll price. It’s actually possible that he was rattled by the second in an outing the place he’d already lacked command, however it’s concurrently comprehensible that the Phillies took exception and believed there to be intent.
Regardless, Money might be absent from tonight’s dugout, and Uceta might miss as much as three video games. Castellanos fortunately didn’t maintain any kind of damage on the play. He remained within the recreation and is again in tonight’s lineup. Leadoff slugger Kyle Schwarber, who tweaked his elbow on a dive again into first base final night time and was set for additional analysis right this moment, was initially within the lineup however was scratched simply minutes in the past after informing the staff of lingering soreness in his elbow (X hyperlink through Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer). Harper will function the designated hitter tonight, and Kody Clemens will get the nod at first base.
