Major League Baseball showed little tolerance Tuesday for Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor's punch of Jose Bautista, suspending Odor eight games, the harshest penalty among 14 players and staff members disciplined for Sunday's brawl.
Odor, among four players suspended, will appeal his suspension and remains eligible to play until the appeal is heard or he drops it. Teammate Elvis Andrus was suspended one game and will not appeal; he will serve it Tuesday night when the Rangers play at Oakland.
Bautista received a one-game suspension for, MLB said, "his actions during the incident and for his postgame comments.' Bautista slid hard into Odor and then squared up as if to fight after Odor shoved him in the eighth inning of the teams' game Sunday. Relief pitcher Jesse Chavez was suspended three games for what MLB said was intentionally throwing at Prince Fielder in the bottom of the eighth inning, as was manager John Gibbons, who returned to the field after being ejected earlier in the game "and incited further fighting," the league said in a statement. Gibbons' counterpart, Rangers manager Jeff Banister, was not disciplined.
Tensions between the teams festered dating to Game 5 of October's American League Division Series, when Bautista's demonstrative bat flip evoked a reaction from the Rangers that caused benches to empty.
Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson, who also acted aggressively in the melee, received a $1,000 fine but no suspension.
Sunday's incident began after Rangers reliever Matt Bush hit Bautista with a pitch. Bautista's late, hard slide into Odor - a double play was called as Bautista violated the new rules governing slides into second base - caused a quick reaction from the Rangers' second baseman. The benches emptied, and Gibbons - ejected earlier in an unrelated incident - emerged from the Blue Jays clubhouse to yell at Banister.
A look at the fines and suspensions:
- Second baseman Rougned Odor, Rangers: 8-game suspension/fine, fighting
- Shortstop Elvis Andrus, Rangers: 1-game suspension/fine, fighting
- Reliever Matt Bush, Rangers: Fined, intentionally throwing at Bautista
- Reliever Sam Dyson, Rangers: Fined, aggressive actions
- Catcher Robinson Chirinos, Rangers: Fined, on field while on disabled list
- Starter A.J. Griffin, Rangers: Fined, on field while on disabled list
- Bench coach Steve Buechele, Rangers: Fined, aggressive actions
- Manager John Gibbons, Blue Jays: 3-game suspension/fine, returned to field after ejection and incited further fighting
- Reliever Jesse Chavez, Blue Jays: 3-game suspension/fine, intentionally throwing at Prince Fielder
- Outfielder Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 1-game suspension/fine, on-field actions, postgame comments
- Bullpen coach Tim Leiper, Blue Jays: 1-game suspension/fine, returned to dugout following ejection
- Third baseman Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays: Fined, aggressive actions
- Outfielder Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays: Fined, aggressive actions
- Bench coach DeMarlo Hale, Blue Jays: Fined, was acting manager when Chavez intentionally threw at batter
The benches cleared again in the bottom of the eighth inning when Chavez hit Fielder with a pitch.
Contributing: Bob Nightengale
GALLERY: TENSIONS BOIL OVER BETWEEN RANGERS-BLUE JAYS
