Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Go here New York Mets star Mike Piazza and Los Angeles reliever Guillermo Mota each were suspended for five games and fined Monday for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl last week during an exhibition game. The suspensions will start on Opening Day unless they are appealed. Piazza was fined $3,000 and Mota was docked $1,500, while Mets outfielder Jeromy Burnitz was fined $500 by baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson. "Naturally I'm disappointed in the ruling,'' Piazza said in a statement. "I have seven days to weigh my options. I plan to use that time to decide what course of action I will take.'' It seemed likely, however, that Piazza would appeal, which would allow him to play pending a hearing. "We just heard the ruling from the commissioner's office and we plan to support Mike in whatever course of action he decides to take,'' Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. Piazza and Mota got into trouble Wednesday night at Port St. Lucie, Fla., after the Mets' All-Star catcher was hit by a pitch. The problems continued when Piazza later went into the Dodgers' clubhouse looking for Mota, who had already left. Watson vowed to get tough on players who tangled, especially after a spate of run-ins at spring training. Earlier, he suspended Montreal outfielder Vladimir Guerrero for three games, Expos infielder Jose Macias for two games and Florida pitcher Brad Penny for five games for their roles in a fight. Also last week in exhibition play, All-Stars Luis Gonzalez and Bret Boone were hit a brushback duel between Arizona and Seattle, Houston's Shane Reynolds threw close to Pittsburgh's Brian Giles in a heated game and Philadelphia pitcher Jose Mesa threatened to "kill'' former Cleveland teammate Omar Vizquel. Piazza and Mota had a bad history between them -- last year in spring training, Piazza was fined $3,000 by Watson for grabbing Mota by the shirt after being hit by a pitch. This time, Mota's first pitch to Piazza was inside. The next one hit Piazza behind the left shoulder, and he rushed the mound. Mota threw his glove at Piazza, began backpedaling and ran away from him. Both dugouts emptied, Piazza was restrained on the mound by several Dodgers and the Mets made a wild charge to get Mota, with Burnitz getting tackled by Los Angeles reserve Mike Kinkade. Mota said he would talk with his agent, Adam Katz, about whether he to appeal. The pitcher wouldn't say if he thought the suspension was fair. "Like I said the other day, I have no control over that,'' he said. Dodgers general manager Dan Evans, upset last week that Piazza was able to get into the Los Angeles clubhouse, had no more harsh words for him. "I don't think it's my responsibility to critique or evaluate anyone from another team,'' he said. "The Mets will deal with their guy, I'll deal with Guillermo. I was only concerned about Mota, I can only be concerned about our players.'' Said Dodgers manager Jim Tracy: "I said the other day and I haven't changed my stance. We will move forward and get beyond it.'' Thoughts on this? IMO, Piazza shouldn't get a goddamn thing. The guy threw at his head last ST, and had already brushed him back. There's no need for this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest AlwaysPissedOff Report post Posted March 18, 2003 What a load of crap. I hate the Mets, but fuck that, man. Piazza had every right to try and cave Mota's skull in for that bullshit. And it got even sadder because Mota ran like a lil bitch instead of taking his ass-kicking like a man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Piazza tried to track down Mota afterwards in the clubhouse. That's probably suspension worthy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Mota deserved to get his ass kicked. He hit him last year, and he hits him this year, but he runs away like a pussy. Sure, Piazza probably didn't do such a smart thing, but he shouldn't be punished for that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Mota running away immediately qualifies him as a punk ass bitch. I also heard that he changed in the locker room and just left the stadium so Piazza wouldn't get him. If you're going to run away like a bitch, don't throw at the batter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest treble charged Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Watching Mota run backwards towards the dugout was hilarious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Mota is a homophobe. Seriously- the suspension was bullshit. Piazaa had every right to go and kick his ass Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted March 18, 2003 A player isn't allowed to charge the mound. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Flyboy Report post Posted March 18, 2003 If you were hit by a baseball by the same pitcher in two Spring Training wouldn't you charge the mound, Vern? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted March 18, 2003 If you were hit by a baseball by the same pitcher in two Spring Training wouldn't you charge the mound, Vern? I would. And if I did, I would expect to be suspended for it, since it flagrantly violates the rules of baseball. There's no doubt in my mind that Piazza should have been suspended, even though I completely understand why he did what he did. Mota, on the other hand, should be suspended for fifty games, both for headhunting the same man two years in a row, and for being a spineless little bitch when called on it. I'd call it 10 games for the beanball, 15 for throwing the glove, and 25 for being a huge fucking sissy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted March 18, 2003 He didn't just charge the mound. He entered the Dodgers clubhouse later on looking for Mota. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jimmy no nose Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Are those fines supposed to do something? $3000, $1500, and $500 in a league where the average salary is over $1 million? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Here's how you solve this: Three words-Mandatory Celebrity Boxing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted March 18, 2003 Celebrity Boxing? Hell, have it at Wrestlmania. Pitchers vs. Hitters tag team extravaganza, featuring Mike Piazza and Omar Vizquel vs. Guillerimo Mota and Jose Mesa. Surround the ring with Seattle Mariners to draw the hometown pop. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted March 18, 2003 What Tom said. Who is Mota anyway? Will he make the team even. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted March 18, 2003 He's a middle relief pitcher, a back of the bullpen type guy. He's merely decent, but he'll probably make the team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted March 19, 2003 He didn't just charge the mound. He entered the Dodgers clubhouse later on looking for Mota. Had Mota grown a set when confronted by one man charging amidst FIVE of the pitcher's own teammates, perhaps that could have been averted. Like I said, I have no problem with Piazza being suspended. What he did was clearly illegal. I just don't think the penalties should have been even. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Celebrity Boxing? Hell, have it at Wrestlmania. Pitchers vs. Hitters tag team extravaganza, featuring Mike Piazza and Omar Vizquel vs. Guillerimo Mota and Jose Mesa. Surround the ring with Seattle Mariners to draw the hometown pop. Stay with me for a minute here. All these sports stars, celebs, and musicians have these ridiculous "feuds" and such, so why not have mandatory participation in Celebrity Boxing? They want to beat the shit out of each other so bad, I say make 'em fight. Profits go to charity, and one of them has to endure the public ridicule of getting their ass beat, or else they both endure the public ridicule for being pussies, and having their names tarnished. I think it would work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
