Rangers-Blue Jays brawl: Why wasn’t Matt Bush suspended?
Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Bush throws against the Toronto Blue Jays in Arlington, Texas, on May 15.
The punishments came down Tuesday -- six suspensions, 14 fines -- for the big brawl between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.
Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor got an eight-game suspension for punching Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, who was suspended one game. But Bautista was on base because Rangers pitcher Matt Bush had hit him intentionally, and yet Bush escaped suspension.
It was not just the Blue Jays’ contention that Bush hit Bautista intentionally. That was the conclusion of Major League Baseball. In its announcement of the various punishments, the league said Bush was fined because he “intentionally threw at Bautista.”
That is one of baseball’s cardinal sins, so often resulting in a suspension that most pitchers usually say a pitch that hit a batter “got away” or “slipped” even when the intent is obvious to everyone in the ballpark.
In this case, Bush was not suspended because umpires had not issued any warnings, in accordance with disciplinary precedent, according to a league official not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Bush was not ejected. The warnings were issued after he hit Bautista. And the winning pitcher in that game, earning his first major league victory: Matt Bush.
Twitter: @BillShaikin
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