Atlanta Braves were targeted and MLB must send a message

The last time that an incident like tonight’s beaning occurred, it actually wasn’t even like this one.

Over the past few days, Atlanta Braves fans have been celebrating the feats of rookie Ronald Acuña Jr.  He has been re-writing records and even writing new entries for home runs and other such prowess in the lead-off spot.

Many were jokingly suggesting after last night’s game that the Marlins should intentionally walk the outfielder to open tonight’s game.

Jose Urena would have a quite different idea.

On his first pitch of his night, Urena uncorked an angry fastball and drilled Acuña near his left elbow.  If you missed it, here – courtesy of FOX Sports – is the video:

It was the only pitch he threw tonight.  It should be the last pitch he throws for the rest of the season.

I don’t ordinarily endorse ideas posited by Keith Olbermann.  He’s been… I’ll say “pointedly opinionated”… for a number of years in between his stellar ESPN stints.

Tonight he’s dead on.

There is simply no question whatsoever about what Urena did.  It was a deliberate attempt to hit Acuña and had all of the appearances of also having intent to injure.  It was a bush move borne out of raw jealousy and non-professional behavior.

That possible (likely?) latter intent may also have been successful.  At this point, we still don’t know anything about Acuña’s status.  Though he stayed in the game at the time, he was pulled out out the game before the 2nd inning began.

The Problem with the Precedent

Many will likely reach back to May 6th of 2012 for guidance on what Urena’s penalty should be.

On that date, Cole Hamels – then with the Phillies – “welcomed” rookie Bryce Harper into the majors with a shot to the ribs.

Hamels also took the unusual step of admitting his intent:

"“I was trying to hit him,” the two-time all-star lefty said Sunday night. “I’m not going to deny it. I’m not trying to injure the guy. They’re probably not going to like me for it, but I’m not going to say I wasn’t trying to do it. I think they understood the message, and they threw it right back. That’s the way, and I respect it.”"

He also declined to take the usual step of appealing his sentence and started serving the penalty the next day.  He termed it as the ‘old school’ way of greeting Harper, adding this:

"“But I think unfortunately the league’s protecting certain players and making it not that old-school, prestigious way of baseball.”"

Of note:  Hamels was not ejected from the game, nor did he miss a start.

I don’t have a lot of data for what Hamels threw at Harper, but the available info suggests that the pitch thrown – likely a fastball – was between 91.7 and 92.3 mph.  A routine speed for Hamels.

Another prior incident was a bit closer to home.  Julio Teheran muscled up to 96 mph on a pitch to hit Jose Bautista on the thigh in 2017 as payback for a bat flip and homer-pimping incident from the night before.

Teheran was neither ejected nor suspended.

But none of that is what happened at SunTrust Park tonight.

Urena throws a hard fastball – historically, he’s been close to 97 mph at times.  During the 2018 season, he’s averaged between 95.5 and 96.5 mph.

However…

This was a pitch thrown in anger.  With purpose.  And with the knowledge that it would be the only one he’d throw this night.

He should be rewarded in kind.

Implications

Here’s a player in Acuña who has been the energy source for his club since at least the All-Star break.  A player who obviously has tremendous talent and who is a key force in this Braves’ resurgence that has propelled them into 1st place.

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This is a team on a playoff drive and he is clearly a necessary part of that.

So this lead starter (he’s shown on top of the rotation depth chart) has decided not to try and beat him with cunning and skill, but instead he opts to take out whatever irritation or frustration he has about his team, his season, his life, and Acuña’s life – which contrasts all of those previous items – on a kid that has simply shown better skills.

The Braves are going to win the game tonight, sweeping the Marlins out of Atlanta.  That’s just tonight.  We don’t know how long this team will be without Acuña’s services, a fact that could certainly be a factor as the Colorado Rockies come into town.

Urena tried to unilaterally change that.

Anything less than a 2 week suspension would be a travesty.  An end-of-season shelving would be essentially unprecedented – but would also send the proper message.

As for manager Don Mattingly… it’s his ship and he must likewise share some blame, even if he truly knew nothing of the scheme (replays suggest to me that catcher J.T. Realmuto may not have even been aware himself; this based on his reactions and body language).

I am less exercised about other penalties… but Urena needs to have the book thrown at him.  Clearly.

This action was completed unprofessional and completely uncalled for.  MLB must recognize the gravity of the situation and treat it with the appropriate major penalty.