Matt Garza opens mouth, asks for suspension
ByAfter Joba Chamberlain threw over the head of Evan Longoria last night, Rays starter Matt Garza retaliated in the fifth by grazing plunking Mark Teixeira in the shoulder. I actually didn’t think it was payback at all; Dioner Navarro had set up inside, Tampa was already down 2-0, and Garza would have been putting two men on for Alex frickin’ Rodriguez. But alas, I was wrong. “I just kind of got tired of people brushing [Longoria] back,’’ Garza said. “I hate to be that guy, but someone had to take a stand and say, “You know, we’re tired of it.” You can go after our best guy, well, we’ll make some noise too, and that’s what happened.’’
Considering Josh Beckett and AJ Burnett received six game suspensions for not hitting batters this season, is it crazy to think Garza might get an 11-game suspension (forcing him to miss two starts) considering he hit a guy and admitted to doing it on purpose? Bobby Jenks got just a $750 fine for admitting he threw behind Ian Kinsler earlier this year, so maybe Garza just ends up missing one start and a couple grand. Who knows, but I think Bob Watson has proven something like this will not go unpunished.
Thanks Matt Garza.
As long he misses at least one start I’m good. 2 would be nice though.
No actually I’d prefer that he makes his next start.
Tuesday August 4:
Matt Garza vs Brad Penny
That’s what appeals are for.
he should be making his next start as he will probably appeal his suspension…it will probably be a 6 game suspension
Yea, you’re right but he better miss a start after that.
The cynic in me thinks he’ll just get a slap on the wrist fine….but we’ll see.
way to help your team out Garza. sticking up for Longoria is going to make you miss at least one start while the Rays try to climb back into the WC.
I kind of respect him for opening his mouth. Too often guys are obviously throwing with intent and then in the post game act like they’d never do that.
11 games isnt crazy, considering the Beckett/Burnett suspensions.
And of course Joba didnt mean to hit Longoria, other than establishing the inside part of the plate. I love that Joba does that, but if guys take offense to it, Tex and ARod and Jeter better get ready to get plunked a bunch during the next few seasons, until Joba has better command. Luckily I think most guys, unlike Garza, understand Joba hits guys without intent (except Youk, of course).
Well, Tex and A-rod have been getting hit by opposing teams for years now, so I’m sure they’re prepared. As is Jeter.
joba didn’t hit longoria
AND he wasn’t likely trying to.
We don’t know that.
My bad, over the head. My point stands.
But Joba didn’t hit anybody, it just sailed over his head and even that was unintentional.
Garza went up and in AND hit Teix intentionally so 11 games sounds right to me.
Glad he was being honest. It’ll cost him 1 start but I bet his teammates love him for it.
+1
Not a smart play.
While Garza was foolish for admitting to throwing at Tex (in terms of possibly obtaining a longer suspension), I don’t really have a problem with what he did. He was making a statement and standing up for his hitters. This is something we as Yankee fans clamored for for years during Torre’s tenure, when the Sawx would continually throw inside and hit Jeter, Soriano, A-Rod, etc. with no reprecussions. Now, hitting Tex intentionally to put 2 runners on for A-Rod? Well, that was just dumb.
It’s amazing how Jeter and A-Rod have been getting hit less this year than years past… and pitchers keep saying, it’s not on purpose.
Looks like Joba just tries to throw too hard up and in trying to tie a batter up, and it flies away from him. The batters he’s linked to throwing at their head, do get tied up high and in a lot (Jewkilis, Ghonoria).
“The batters he’s linked to throwing at their head, do get tied up high and in a lot (Jewkilis, Ghonoria).”
http://tinyurl.com/m5whnz (SFW)
LOL
Ortiz homers on today of all days.
I wanted to throw the glass I was drinking out of at the screen when I saw it go.
Um, topic fail?
I called it. And I’m not proud of it.
There’s something about Garza that screams douche.
his sideburns? his beard? his spitting?
it’s the way he fingers his glove like a bitch before his delivery. it’s annoying. the soul patch doesn’t help his cause either.
He reinds me strikingly of Josh Beckett. Not in looks, but attitude.
I hate him.
That being said, I can’t blame him for what he did. He had to do it. Had to, whether it was intentional or not. Got to let Longoria know you have his back.
He was just stupid to admit it was intentional.
Do you think Joba would be so willing to buzz a batters head if he had to bat? I know he wouldn’t,he was a baby in college.
wow…fined for honesty.