Houston Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron has been suspended 20 games by MLB for his role in Sunday’s brawl during the Astros’ game against the Oakland Athletics, while A’s outfielder Ramon Laureano has received a six-game suspension.
Houston #Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, who instigated the #Athletics–#Astros melee Sunday, has received a 20-game suspension, believed to be the largest levied against an #MLB coach.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 11, 2020
Source confirms: Laureano suspended for six games, as @susanslusser said.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 11, 2020
20 games for an assistant coach may seem like a lot on the surface, but it’s absolutely deserved. Cintron instigated a brawl *during a pandemic* by chirping at Laureano from the dugout, while Laureano was standing on first base after getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Laureano told ESPN that Cintron “said in Spanish something you don’t say about my mother.”
After being hit by a pitch for the third time in the series and second time in the game, Laureano pantomimed toward pitcher Humberto Castellanos how to properly snap off a slider, prompting a response from the Astros’ bench. Laureano said that Cintron uttered an expletive at him, which Laureano returned. Then, Laureano told ESPN, Cintron “said in Spanish something you don’t say about my mother.”
Ultimately, Laureano said, he wishes he had chosen not to run toward the Astros’ dugout and waste his time on Cintron. “I regret charging him because he’s a loser,” Laureano told ESPN. “
And Laureano receiving a six-game suspension is certainly understandable as well; even if he was provoked, charging a dugout — again, during a pandemic — is something that the league can’t let fly.
Laureano, 26, is a highly valuable player for the A’s. He was worth 3.9 WAR last season according to FanGraphs, and is already up to 0.9 WAR through 17 games in 2020. While he’s a very good hitter (with an .897 OPS on the season and a career OPS Of .858), Laureano is particularly known for making crazy plays with his incredible arm from the outfield.
And keep in mind- six games is not insignificant in a 60-game season; heck, that’s 10% of the season. However, the A’s are off to a roaring with a 12-5 record and 4.5-game lead in the AL West, so that will at least help survive Laureano’s absence.
Update: Ramon Laureano’s suspension has been reduced from six games to four, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Laureano will drop his appeal and begin the suspension immediately.
Oakland A's outfielder Ramon Laureano had his suspension for charging at the Houston Astros' bench reduced from six games to four, sources tell ESPN.
Laureano will drop his appeal and his suspension will start tonight and go through Monday. He won't miss any in-division games.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 14, 2020
Laureano also had an incredible game while appealing his suspension.
