In the wake of the brawl between the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners on Sunday afternoon in Anaheim, the Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo opted to defend the players when asked if MLB could do something to stop the incident.
“The players police themselves,” he said. “They take care of these things and that’s obviously how they felt.”
Rizzo opted to take the side of the players, despite the many strict policies implemented for this case. He further added that anyone who is not familiar with the context of the situation should not be commenting. Regardless, he was certain that those who watched the recording could pinpoint who initiated the brawl.
“They look at the film. They slow it down,” he said. “They know who’s the ones instigating, causing the trouble and they discipline them accordingly.”
Regardless, the Angels and Mariners situation has been reviewed by MLB closely. Therefore, the players can’t expect to get away with incriminating actions without disciplinary actions.
Angels and Mariners brawl
The incident was started in the top of the second inning when the Angels’ opener Andrew Wantz hit the Mariners’ outfielder Jesse Winker on the backside with a fastball.
Winker was visibly upset about the being hit by a first-pitch fastball and proceeded to talk with the catcher from the opposing team Max Stassi and home-plate umpire John Bacon, before having an argument with the Angels’ interim manager Phil Nevin in the Angels’ dugout.
The situation got increasingly heated as the discussion became an all-out brawl at Angel Stadium, with the benches cleared and punches being thrown. When Winker was leaving the field, he flipped off at Angels fans who were seated behind the Mariners’ dugout. Angels’ pitcher Raisel Iglesias also made his exit memorable; he threw a box full of sunflower seeds due to frustration.
As if that was not enough, Iglesias then punched Winker in the jaw and had to be restrained by his fellow Angels and other Mariners from across the field. This is especially notable since Winker is his former teammate on the Cincinnati Reds.
Benches clear!!! 👊@Angels | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/EUnTTcjW1D
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) June 26, 2022
Early warning
Prior to the inning, a warning was given to both Angels and Mariners after Wantz threw high and behind Rodriguez on the fifth pitch of the game. It is possible that the first-inning warning was carried out from the game on Saturday night, in which the Angels’ Mike Trout almost got hit in the head in the ninth inning by Erik Swanson, the reliever from the Mariners.
“If you’re going to hit me, do it in the ribs. Don’t hit me in the head,” said Trout that night after the game. “I don’t know if that’s the intent, but… anything at the head, you don’t do that.”
As a result of the brawl, 12 members from both the Angels and Mariners received suspensions and undisclosed fines.
From the Angels, members who were suspended included Nevin, Wantz, assistant pitching coach Dom Chiti, pitchers Ryan Tepera and Iglesias, bench coach Ray Montgomery, interpreter Manny Del Campo, and Bill Haselman, the catching coach.
Anthony Rendon, the Angels’ third baseman, is currently out for the season with a wrist injury but hit Winker in the face with a non-injured hand. He regardless also received a suspension, which will be enacted as soon as he’s off the injured list. For the time being, he is banned for seven games from the Angels bench.
From the Mariners, the members who were suspended include Winker, shortstop J.P. Crawford, and outfielder Julio Rodriguez.