1:32pm: A source strongly contested the report that Ventura had been shopped, telling MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan that it was “complete and utter nonsense.” GM Dayton Moore declined to address the matter, saying that “it’s highly inappropriate and reckless to discuss any specific trade talks about players with the media.”
Passan, meanwhile, stands by his report, which he says has since been corroborated by additional sources (Twitter link).
8:25am: Last night’s plunking of Manny Machado was the latest in a line of questionable actions from Royals righty Yordano Ventura, and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports writes that his attitude is wearing thin on the Kansas City organization. Indeed, per the report, executives from at least two other teams say that the Royals have offered to deal Ventura away within the last month.
Expectations had been that the now-25-year-old with the high-octane fastball would be entrenched in the K.C. staff for years to come. After all, the club inked him to a five-year, $23MM extension before the start of the 2015 season. That deal also includes two option years valued at $12MM apiece.
There always seemed to be a bit of injury risk, but otherwise the pact seemed a nice bargain for a quality young arm. While he’s been healthy and still delivers mid-90s heat, however, Ventura has arguably been more provocative than productive on the mound over the last two years.
Ventura took a step back last year in the earned run department, seeing a year-over-year ERA shift from 3.20 to 4.08. But his peripherals all seemed in line with his prior work. It’s been different thus far in 2016, as Ventura has retired just six batters per nine innings via strikeout while issuing free passes at a rate of 4.8 BB/9. He’s allowing less groundballs to go with more contact and home runs. After last night’s outing, Ventura owns a 5.32 ERA in 66 innings over a dozen starts this year.
The extension once seemed an asset, but now may no longer have surplus value. Though we’re now one and a half years into the contract, the vast majority of the guarantee remains to be paid. Ventura has received just over $1MM of what he’s owed so far, with an escalating structure that mimics the arbitration process still to come. And there’s no doubt that other organizations will have concerns about Ventura’s questionable reputation and on-field antics.
It’s not exactly clear what Kansas City would be looking to accomplish via trade. Contenders would certainly hesitate to add Ventura to a rotation, and it’s a big commitment even if a club hoped to utilize his live arm in the pen. A swap that would allow the Royals to fill a need at the major league level without adding payroll could make some sense, though that’s just generalized speculation on my part.
Ship him to the Angels… We need pitching badly and time is running out ….
Halos will pass as they should.
Yes, I’m sure Mike Trout would love to have Ventura around him all the time.
I have news for you. Time already ran out on the Angels season.
Really punish him. Send him to the white sox
if MLB really wanted to crack down, they’d sentence him and Machado to 10 games with the Braves.
Why punish us? We’re being punished enough by mgt. ….. But I’d gladly accept and welcome Machado at 3B
Ventura is a straight up punk and I wish Machado would have clocked him Odor/Bautista style. I blame this on MLB not getting him under control. Over the last 2 years he has hurt or nearly hurt countless players with his immaturity. At least in the old days the system would have let the players “correct the problem” quickly.
countless players? lol .
He has neither injured nor nearly injured anyone over the last 2 years.
He has hit 12 batters since April 2015, that counts as nearly injuring no matter if on purpose or not. Please stop acting like a 95 mph fastball hitting anyone anywhere isn’t a big deal. It is.
And Jimmy Nelson has hit 19… Ventura is 17th in hbp since April of last year. Chris sale has hit 16, I guess we should banish him too.
Is Jimmy Nelson hitting players intentionally?
Not all things are equal, Theo.
We’re all 12 of venturas on purpose? I mean that’s what his statement implied.
Talk like that is what removed collisions from baseball, please don’t make it worse.
Not defending Ventura here at all but I would have to say that Machado is equally if not more of a punk than Ventura. Let’s not forget Machado intentionally throwing his bat at the 3rd baseman vs the A’s and trying to cover it up as a normal swing which is way worse than anything Ventura has done. In that same series he tried to start a fight with Donaldson for “tagging him too hard.”
People think they get someone when they use “sir” and “,,,’s” but uhhhh, you, sir, are mistaken. Also, totally impartial cuz I’m not a fan of either team but Machado is just as big of a jerk as Ventura. Difference is Ventura is slightly less mature.
You nailed it, man. Machado is as big of a punk as Ventura is.
Big difference, Machado has calmed down since that incident and has not done anything since. It seems like Ventura chirps almost every game and also hits his fair share of batters.
Machado is also 22 years old, Ventura is 25 but Manny definitely has taken steps to not be a punk anymore, I have no problem with what he did to Yordano, who forced that issue last night. Other than this, Manny has done nothing since the A’s incident.
Disclaimer- I am an Orioles fan, so I’m biased. But I just want to say a lot of the young superstars have an attitude problem (Machado, Harper, Ventura, etc.) They’re young and making millions, and that would probably get to almost anyone. But it’s how they grow out of it that matters. It pains me to see Machado still occasionally overreacting, but I think he’s growing up slowly, just like Harper is. Ventura? That guy’s a lost cause.
Also, yes I know there are plenty of young stars making millions who are NOT jerks (see Kershaw, Trout, etc). Not everyone handles pressure the same way, but they are all young, and people mature differently.
I was watching the KC feed of the game live and they WOULD NOT replay the brawl, probably because it was embarassing…after 4 min or so, switched station elsewhere.
And yes, Yordano and Manny are both immature, at varying degrees. I think Yordano is deemed “punk” just because he’s smaller, which isn’t fair really. Machado thinks he’s more bulletproof than Ventura probably feels.
The 1-0 pitch of the 2nd AB is what set everything off. He just missed too far inside, which made it look intentional.
You are just wrong.
That happened two years ago. How long is the shelf life on that incident? Ventura is still going strong
Contradicting yourself SabermetricsForLife. If you wish “Machado would have clocked him Odor/Bautista style”, how can the you blame this on MLB not getting him under control? Both are at fault but unlike the Bautista/Odor situation which was a holdover from last year which makes it even more of blight on the officials for not getting that under control when they had the chance.
This was a holdover from last year to. Its just that it didn’t get the media attention cuz of no fight. Ventura hit Manny and Davis in September.
Machado is not exactly a candidate for the Roberto Clemente Award. The concept behind trading a perfect.y good arm with a noodle brain in today’s market for starting pitching is bonkers. Must have found something on his last physical…
I love baseball speculations … That’s what makes me read of these articles… Yordano still a nice controllable piece.. Might require a mlb-ready prospect in my opinion..
Considering he is guaranteed money and doesn’t perform well and his poor attitude on the mound does more to start fights than help his team, there won’t be much of a return. He’s regressing at 25 and doesn’t show the mentality/maturity to correct himself.
I’m a Red Sox fan and obviously their starting pitching is bad, but I wouldn’t want this guy on the team.
Don’t you want a new hot head to replace the retiring Ortiz.
You can’t just go and replace the most efficient destroyer of dugout phones in the history of the game. What are you thinking?!
Could be a good fit for the Yankee’s Rothschild was able to reach Zambrano, Both pitchers seem to have troubles early in games and get too emotional. Ventura fits the Eovaldi type buy the Yankee’s have been willing to do, maybe teaching him to throw the splitter could help him.
Zambrano beat a gatorade machine to death with a bat, in the dugout, around a bunch of players and also, after being ejected, ejected the ump and threw the ball into left field. m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v4756801/pitchc-zamb… (watch this if you haven’t seen it, its actually pretty funny).
Being a cubs fan and having to watch him year after year, no one reached him. He absolutely let his emotions interfere with his performances.
I’d have to strongly disagree he finished top 5 in Cy Young voting 3 years under Rothschild. His career unraveled after Rothschild left.
That speaks way more to the talent he had than it does Rothschild. Rothschild’s departure also coincides with the twilight years of Zambrano’s career. He unraveled because he got old, lost velo, and was just generally a less talented pitcher at 30 than he was during the early years of his career.
How many of his games did you watch? He was great, as long as he didn’t give up hrs, no bad calls were made by umps, and all he fielders played error free awesome baseball behind him.
Age 30 is the twilight years now? coming off a great age 29 season? You must be one of those “life long” cubs fans that just showed up 2 years ago. Poor Lester and Arrieta in their twilight years.
Haha Neikro. That’s EXACTLY what 90% of these cubs fans are nowadays. Started watching last August, now they are sabremetric and talent gurus. Age 30 is twilight. Now that’s laughable. chesteraarthur thank you for proving my point about cub fans.
Randy Johnson had his first truly dominant season at 31 and his last one of those at 40. Age is just a number.
Couldn’t have said it better. Same goes for Schilling, got better with age.
OMG, I was thinking this same thing while watching MLB Tonight together last night with a “Cubs fan”. I could tell he didn’t know d*** about the Cubs until sometime last year. I’m going to go watch the old “poser mobile” commercials on YouTube now.
I know you didn’t say anything about cub fans starting to watch last August. I have been watching my whole life. Though of course there is no such thing as a die hard Whitesox fan, and also can’t sell the place out when in first place
Before you bag on the white sox, at least they won the jewelry in the last 11 years. 17mm drafted for war,and away from MLB, and the Cubs still couldn’t win in ’45. Goats, Bartmans, excuses. The ChiSox got it done !
Am I the only one scratching my head when baseball analysts talk about Ventura needing to grow up for throwing at people, then wax poetic about Pedro Martinez or Don Drysdale drilling someone to prove a point. How many times have we all heard fond retellings of Bob Gibson throwing hard inside? That he owned the inside of the plate. I know Ventura can be a turd at times, but I don’t think this situation is too different from those of the past.
Tell his teammates that. They’re the one’s that have to get in brawls to “defend” him. They’re also the one’s that have to step up to the plate knowing they’re going to get hit because of their teammates foolish actions.
KC needs to trade Ventura to the NL. See how big and bad he is when he has to go bat and face the consequences himself.
Totally agree (trade to NL). Without him ever having to bat, Ventura’s attitude/selfishness is just going to get his own players drilled… He is also a clubhouse cancer… Would be interesting to see what ‘any’ team would offer for him
That would be nice to see. Haha, I have a feeling he looses control when he’s mad. He’d probably still do it occasionally.
seven of the ten teams that lead the majors in HBP are NL teams. Just saying. You’re conjecture is incorrect.
Bob Gibson owned the inside corner of the plate because he threw strikes. He would back you off with good inside stuff. This guy just reared back and threw as hard as he could at Machado and that could seriously hurt someone. Drysdale and Gibson knew that hitting a guy was affective in certain situations and they hit you and moved on. Ventura carries stuff over and has history with Machado. Pedro also had his moments and was criticized for it. Ventura knew before throwing that pitch that what he was about to do would likely cause a fight. This guy had a stare down with Mike Trout for no reason, he yelled at Adam Eaton because he had the gall to hit a one hopper back at him, and he drilled Brett Lowerie because of a hard slide a day earlier. I’m all for protecting my teammates and integrity of the game but when you throw 99 at someone’s ribs that is as good as assault with a deadly weapon.
That pitch was also the hardest one he threw all night. I know ned yost has to defend his player, but the, “it got away from him” thing just doesn’t work here.
Ned Yost needs to get real and learn that his team has lost all benefit of the doubt. No one buys the argument, I’d probably include him as well.
The Trout and Eaton incidents are still a complete mystery to me. Neither of them did anything to provoke him and he just went off, Plunking Lawrie for the hard slide the day before was fine and may have even been talked about with him before the game. That’s part of the game (or at least it used to be). As for last nights, that was obviously all on Ventura. By his reaction you could tell that Sal had no idea he was about to do it. That being said, I have no problem with it. Machado’s first AB Ventura threw two tailing fastballs of the inside corner that had no intent and really weren’t that close to Manny, but for some reason he took exception and started running his mouth. If you’re gonna be a prima donna and yell at a pitcher for throwing inside you’re gonna eat one. That’s just old school baseball.
And don’t get me wrong, I still think Ventura is immature and has an obvious little-man complex that is causing him to waste his talent both with his antics and the fact that he tries to overthrow everything instead of learning to actually pitch. I’m just saying that Machado deserves some of the blame for last night too.
Machado will get his punishment, as he should, since throwing punches is not a part of baseball.
But honestly, I’m kind of glad he rushed the mound. Ventura had it coming and he got protected by his team every time last year.
It seems last night, Salvador Perez wasn’t all that interested in stopping Machado, he just moseyed up to the pitchers mound.
Wrong. Eaton was provoking him immediately out of the batter’s box.
It wasn’t just yesterday that started it. It was that game in September when Ventura hit Manny then as well. I don’t fault Manny at all becuase if I felt like I was getting thrown at, especially with Ventura’s past, I would have ran out to that mound and did the same. It was only a matter of time before someone went out there and clocked Ventura. I find it highly entertaining and think it injected the game with some both great and negative publicity. It was on a bunch of news outlets other than the sports channels. As long as nobody gets hurt, go out there and handle your business man to man
Gibson is cited as this crazy headhunter but he’s only 81st all time in HBP and never led the league in the category. Drysdale was your guy in that era – led the league in hit batters five times and was second 4 times.
BTW, the all-time leader in hit batters is an 1880s guy named Gus Weyhing. Most of the top of the list is populated with 1800s guys. The highest contemporary pitcher is Randy Johnson, followed by Tim Wakefield. Obviously, there are very real reasons why both those guys would sit atop a leaders list like this. Knuckleballers are disproportionally represented. The highest ranked non-1800s and non Randy/Knuckleballer is Jim Bunning, who is at 13th all-time, followed by two guys who pitched forever (Clemens and Ryan), an 1800s guy, Blyleven and, then, strangely enough, Jamey Wright, at 17th overall. That’s a weird one.
I agree with your premise but I also hate hearing old people talk about how “tough” this non-contact sport was back in the days. Players were also not making $25 mill a year (or comparable) back then either.
The Pedro/Zimmer fight was one of the most pathetic things we’ve ever seen in the history of sports and baseball pitchers need to be massively fined or suspended for purposely throwing a potentially lethal pitch at the body of a player. There’s too much at stake, even morally, for baseball to be a “tough guy” game. You play tough but you don’t act it. Now Machado is going to get suspended in a playoff race. He’s young and has learnt from his mistakes before with the A’s incident, but Yordano never seems to learn and has a beef with every team. He’s fast turing into Carlos Zambrano Jr. He needs to visit a psychologist and learn how to calm down and act zen on the mound. The scariest pitchers are the ones who show no emotion.
Settle down with the “potentially lethal” talk. As long as he does it right and plunks him in the hip or ribs and not by the head it is not going to be anywhere near lethal. Yes, I suppose technically it is possible, but beyond minuscule probability.
“As long as he does it right”
And if he doesn’t do it right, it’s “potentially lethal”.
An MLB pitcher has enough control to keep a pitch away from a guys head if he wants to. Even then it would be very unlikely to be fatal since the implement of the batting helmet. Could definitely do some damage, but so could almost anything sports related as well as dozens of things you do in your everyday life. No need to be so over-dramatic about intentionally hitting a guy.
“An MLB pitcher has enough control to keep a pitch away from a guys head if he wants to”
Then we shouldn’t buy the ‘it got away from him argument’ And even then, if every pitcher had the control to always throw a pitch where they want, we’d never see the batters get on base.
Also, yes, sports do cause damage, but we try to minimize the needless and unnecessary damage, throwing at someone intentionally ought to be the first.
There will be a time when a players career is done because he was thrown at. Anytime a pitchers throws at a guy on purpose, it should be a minimum of 20 games, whether it’s retaliation or not
But what if it “gets away”
Juan Encarnacion had his career end when he was hit in the head. It caused permanent vision problems. That wasn’t that long ago.
That was a foul ball while on deck
He got hit by a foul ball. Exit velocity of a batted ball is almost always higher than pitched velocity, plus, Encarnacion was way closer to the batter than a pitcher is to the batter.
Tell that to Daniel Bard
Anyone else notice that Perez wasn’t even trying to stop Machado? He stayed just a step behind him the once Machado got a couple shots in, he then started pulling Machado away.
I’m pretty sure Salvy’s thinking… “Well, I’m tired of his crap anyway, go help yourself a couple of shots”.
Yeah, he was able to jump around and then casually jog to ventura without being stopped.
Good. Sometimes it takes a whooping to knock some sense into some people.
Also, there’s this shot taken (nbchardballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/538737…). That’s gotta hurt.
Ha, so true. Not just Perez. Who else (on the royals) ‘dove in’ to help Ventura?
It looked like Perez was just casually jogging out there.
A move to the NL would be great for him. Do the Pirates have OF to trade?
Bell is blocked, but that would seem to be a bit much for a headcase.
Is his talent worth the headaches he will cause when combined with that contract? I cannot imagine teams are going to be lining up to acquire him if he continues to act like an idiot. Machado can be a hothead, but Ventura seems borderline out of control, and I’m not referring to his pitch command.
I could see the Red Sox trying to get him they need the pitching. He has the talent to be Pedro 2.0 they just need to fix his head. I could also see the Giants make mine a play for him I think Dave ragetti could do wonders with him
Only thing softer than his ego….. is his chin.
Machado barely connected because Ventura was falling down. He grazed him.
He definitely connected, you need to watch the footage.
I watched it live. Rewound several times. Replays, etc. The still shot makes it look like he did – but he swung, kind of grazed him and Venturas face kind of fell into him as Ventura was falling. There was Very little impact.
You’re blind then.
The photo is everywhere. Venturas mouth is on Machados wrist/lower arm.
The Cardinals?
I think Ventura for Wong and a lottery ticket prospect makes some sense. Change of scenery for both guys with similar contracts and positional needs, but Ventura’s reputation may harm his value more so than I’m imagining
Surprised no White Sox fan chimed in on this one! Because, you know, Coop is the best pitching coach in baseball and he will correct all his problems!!!!!! LOL
*crickets
Padres…somehow, some way, Preller will not be able to resist a trade for him. Thing is, what do the Padres have that KC would want?
Wil Myers maybe? I honestly don’t know.
Lol. Ventura is no where close to Myers value. Solarte would probably be closer to fair but I wouldn’t want the Pads to trade for Ventura unless we unloaded Kemp or Upton (with some of their salary eaten obviously).
Kemp is a realistic option. he can step in an immediately play right and replace some of the offense that they are missing with moustakas being out for the year. Cain can cover a lot of ground in center and would cover up some of Kemps defensive short comings in right. Then KC can move Kemp to DH after this year and just leave him there until his contract expires. Good teammate, Still can hit the long ball and he wouldn’t be in 3 hole every day where he is heavily leaned on. Slide him to the 5-6 hole in KC allow him to be just another guy on a better team and he will be just fine. Padres can build their young rotation around Ventura, Ross and Pomeranz.
Kemp is STILL owed a ton of money. And I just dont see KC picking up, even half of whats left on it (something close to 90 million, I think)…that would be like acquiring a free agent. But the free agents is getting older, slower, and far more of a defensive liability, in Kemp’s case. Crazier things have happened, especially as teams move closer to late Summer/post-trade deadline, But there’s just too much money left on his deal…and after SD swallowed a lot of Shields’ money, I dont see them turning around and doing the same for Kemp, or Upton for that matter. Come to think of it, I could EASILY see Preller holding on to Upton Jr, for 2017. (less money on his deal, and has not fallen off, defensively)…
if a trade does happen with the Padres again, just as easy as Upton could stay, he may even have more value than Kemp, because teams are going to be looking for guys that can go get the ball, and steal some bags here and there. Kemp, and I like the dude, is a “one trick pony”. He can still swing it, but thats about all he can do for you, these days.
Kemp and Cash for Ventura. Win win trade for both sides.
I know they’re short on pitching, but would Preller really want to take on a head case like this?
well, this is the same GM that went after Pablo Sandoval, last 2 offseasons ago…..AND THEN!!…doubled back and had scouts go see what Pablo looked like when he was coming back from one of his earlier injuries, this season, Ive been a Padres fan a long time. And that would have been the end of Preller’s tenure if he had signed Sandoval and then stood back and watched that big tub of lard fall completely apart…
there’s been one drama after the next here in PadreLand, recently…and that would have made all of them look even worse. I just failed to understand offering Pablo 100 million bucks. And Lord knows, Im soooooo glad he turned it down.
Trade him to a NL team. Let him get plunked the way he’s plunked others.
I wonder if it would be a match if the braves would deal Teheran and Markakis (and cash) to KC for Ventura, Eibner and Dozier.
Nice trade, but would you really want to throw either Teheran and/or cash in there when they clearly want to rid themselves of the kid? Granted wanting him out and us parting with Markakis balances (need/want, not dollars), but then it is Julio for two prospects out of their top 10. Just curious what you think on that.
It all would depend on how badly I wants Ventura to depart. The Royals might even add a lower tier prospect depending on money factors.
I’m not a big Ventura fan, but I’d think that a stint with a NL team might help rebuild some of his value. Eibner and Dozier are both flawed players but could become serviceable regulars until better options become available for the braves. If they outperformed expectations all the better for the braves. The Royals would get a good OBP hitter in Markakis and replace Ventura in the rotation with Teheran.
Not perfect, but a trade that could have potential upside for both teams.
I gotcha, thanks for expanding that logic for me. I just wonder if giving up the control we have in Julio’s contract is worth those three guys that do not provide positive assurance that they will be worth it. It is not like shedding Markakis’s contract is as much need as BJ’s seemed at the time.
I hope the original trade was a joke… Terrible trade for ATL.
As I said I “wonder”. I have to admit as a braves fan I’d want more (especially Chase Vallot and Matt Strahm) but perhaps I didn’t want to be one of the countless who have been crucified in these threads for valuing Teheran “too high”.
Neither Hunter Dozier nor Brett Eibner are perfect prospects but both have the definite potential to hit 20 dingers a year and play above average defense for their positions. Eibner is older for a prospect but has had two excellent seasons in AAA (albeit a hitter’s league). Dozier is just getting his taste of AAA where he is getting adjusted. So as I said neither of those two prospects are “perfect”.
In all honesty I was looking for feedback on what might be both fair and plausible. You gave your opinion (but no possible alternative that I saw). Thanks for the feedback.
It’s a strange situation – because by all accounts – Ventura is a very likable and personable guy off the field, in the clubhouse, etc. His pride just won’t let him take anything he sees as disrespectful and move on.
Last night was old fashioned baseball. It has happened hundreds of times – both in Machado and Venturas cases. The issue (obviously I guess) is that it’s a pattern.
His good standing in the clubhouse won’t make up for his poor performance on the field however. Sadly, these situations that he causes just end up being more icing on the cake.
That was not “old-fashioned baseball”, it was corny baseball. Because they didn’t play baseball, they chose to fight, which is not in the rules of baseball.
Eh, what happened last night has happened hundreds of times and is part of the game. Batter take offense to an inside pitch, batter stares a guy down, pitcher plunks him. Like it or not – just not that big of a deal. If it were Edinson Volquez and Adam Jones – it would be half the story.
This doesn’t excuse anything – Venturas history is now following him around. And Machado also took it a step further than he should have.
I was hit once with a 89 mph fastball. It left a bruise the size of a grapefruit and a friendly tattoo of the seams of the baseball. I can imagine getting hit with a 99mph fastball is much much worse.
I don’t think Machado “took it a step further than he should have”. Everyone knows it was on purpose. When someone attacks you with a weapon, you have all the right in the world to defend yourself. Was he supposed to just wear it? That’s what Ventura was counting on.
Also, watch Hosmer’s reaction to Ventura. He and Perez are the team leaders. Perez jogged out to protect Ventura and Hosmer was screaming at him. I can’t imagine he has many friends in that clubhouse right now.
I agree with you, I’d like to see more guys charge the mound in the American League at least. used to see it a lot more, not sure why things have changed.
Sure…..but guys getting hit intentionally is not a rare thing. Guys charging the mound is (comparatively speaking).
I’m not defending Ventura – he has issues. But last nights problem had as much to do with Machado as it did Ventura. It started with Machado mouthing about getting pitched inside and ended with him charging the mound. Having said that – Ventura should have out his big boy pants on and kept trying to get Orioles out.
Well – not really the point I was making. Not was I excusing anything.
Was just saying that if you just watched the guy on the mound – you’d probably think he was just a jerk across the board. That really isn’t the case. He’s a pretty good dude – except between the lines once every few starts. He just can’t seem to correct that. And now he’s lost his effectiveness as a pitcher also.
SD trade Derek Norris for Yordano Ventura. We have two capable back ups with lesser defensive skills but stronger offensive skills. Salvador Perez needs a break once in a while and Norris will provide good depth. Just a thought.
I like where you head is at, it’s just hard to ignore the hole the Royals have in right. I feel like Kemp can slide in there perfectly and then transition to DH in the next year or so. Maybe you package Norris & Kemp for Ventura and a mid level prospect.
Bautista should have charged the mound when he got hit on purpose instead of taking his frustrations out on what he thought was a just another defenseless second baseman. His jaw might have felt better the next day too! Fastball command has been Ventura’s Achilles heel. You have to have command of your head before you can have command of your hand. Do you think his teammates are tired of his charades??? Notice how he was sitting by himself on the bench after the dust had settled? Machado was surrounded by what seemed to be his entire team!!
Maybe not. Matt Bush may have hit him just as hard as Odor did.
It would have been more respectable of Bautista to handle it that way though.
bautista didnt want to be suspended tho, which charging the mound would do. A hard slide is a hard slide, the 2nd baseman wont like it (no one would). He and the batter would get called out but no suspension. Although Joey is a punk, he wasnt stupid. Saved himself some suspended games, but humiliated… that was a cleannnn punch
You know it says a lot about two teams when the talk of the team is about a brawl and not on what they’re doing on the field. It doesn’t really matter in the end, though.. When the playoffs start…both teams will have enough time to think about who started what.. They can sit in front of the tv and replay the brawl over and over as the playoffs carry on without them. #pretenders
Wow, so you are saying in the middle of June that Baltimore and Kansas City won’t make the playoffs?? Would you mind giving out this week’s Powerball numbers???
Putting Ventura up against Machado is no different than if it was Gomez or Nyjer, some players just have bad attitudes and everyone involved here is not a player I’d want on my team. I don’t blame Yordi more than Manny though, he’s always been a brat.
You must be an A’s or KC fan. Manny isn’t like Ventura. You wouldnt want a 40 HR and over 300 hitter on your team? Based on something he did when he was 21 over 2 years ago. His team definitely has his back. Including many Vetern players. I have a feeling if he joined your team you would change your tune quickly.
I would like to point out several things that many are ignoring. Manny and Ventura have a history. Last year in September Ventura hit Manny and Chris Davis. Chris Davis was seriously upset and broke his bat. Took a few steps to the mound. So that’s where the mouthing came from Machado. It wasn’t because he doesn’t like being pitched inside. They have a History and Ventura has hit him before. Secondly, the only incident involving Manny was over 2 years ago. It was upsetting but he hasn’t repeated that immaturity since. He was 20-21 at the time. Ventura is making this a pattern and is now 25 years old. Time to grow up. I’m tired of people trying to say the 2 are similiar. Manny can be hot headed but he is learning. Ventura isn’t.
Interesting, just turned 25, but hasn’t had a good season since 2014. No one will bite at him, for two reasons:
– One, he obviously has some kind of attitude problem, which makes him a clubhouse liability if not traded to a certain environment.
– Two: Royals would set a high value on him for being so young, and under contract. No one would want to pay that for a player who just hasn’t performed in the last couple of seasons.
A great comparable to him is Julio Teheran. Same age. Same contract. But Teheran is on the upswing, and is a better buy at this point. Unless Braves come out and make Teheran off limits no matter what, Ventura has little market value.
send him the Yankees. they would be a complete team cause the yanks lack pitching
possible Ray Searge project?
Not a fan of either player, but it seems if Machado keeps his mouth shut about Ventura pitching him in, nothing happens. I don’t want to hear anything about how Machado has been “good” since the A’s incident. He chirped when Ventura threw inside and it cost him one in the kidneys. I’m not saying Ventura isn’t a hot head, but I put this one on Machado.
someone’s a royals fan eh?
Not really. Couldn’t disagree more. Talking and physical harm are 2 different things. If Ventura had said” come over here and say that” then he is not a punk. This way is him just being a coward. Also he hit Machado last year to. So…..this isn’t just a random flair up. They have a History.
Send him to the jays they will live him 😉
If I’m Rob Manfred I call Dayton Moore and tell him to put Ventura on the 7 day concussion list after Machado’s right cross. Then I send in several lawyers and sit down with Moore’s staff, call in Ventura and tell this nuttjob that you Sir on the edge. One more flare up from you and you will be banned from baseball,
Make sure his interpreter has this down pat and then repeat it. Ask him as a poor D.Rer do you want to do this to your family?
It’s time to grow up Nuttjob.
So Ventura is a problem, huh? Pedro Martinez used to drill hitters for the hell of it, almost on a daily basis and nobody had a problem with it… Some people are so full of it. Is ok for a hitter to pimp homeruns and showboat, but God forbid a pitcher to get offended and hit a batter…
Pedro Martinez, in his career, hit 141 batters. That’s 27th all-time. Jamey Wright plunked more batters. Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Charlie Hough and Tim Wakefield hit more batters. Jamie Moyer and AJ Burnett hit more batters. Pedro led the league one time in HBP, with 11 when he was 22 years old. He wasn’t a headhunter in the way you are imagining, and he certainly didn’t “drill” guys on a daily basis.
2 wrongs don’t make a right. show boating doesn’t hurt anyone but 99 mph fastball to the back will.
Wow so showboating is the same as actual physical violence? You can’t be serious. In addition Ventura actually shook off a pitch. Probabely a slower one. So he throw his fastest pitch of the night at Machado, but he could have thrown a changeup to make his point. Or thrown behind him.etc.
Yes I’m a bit of a homer but what is with all this “Manny is a brat” stuff? He handled it like a
man he got a top 20 all time
baseball punch in and yes it was show me 20 better baseball punches and as far as Yordano everybody hates him apparently the redsox watched it and cheered Manny on other fans dont like Machado but players like other good players
“….it’s highly inappropriate and reckless to discuss any specific trade talks about players with the media.”
Except when I, or one of my minions, leaks it to the press. Then it’s pretty okay.
Trade to the Tigers for Boyd and a prospect.
As of now with Boyd’s performance and venturas lack of efficiency and demeanor I feel like it wouldn’t be wise for the Tigers to make that trade. Plus the fact that they are division rivals deadlocked right now in the standings