Major League Baseball announced this evening that Astros reliever Héctor Neris has been suspended four games “for intentionally throwing at Eugenio Suárez of the Mariners in the area of the head while warnings were in place.” He was also fined an undisclosed amount. Neris is appealing the ban, reports Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). He’ll remain on the active roster while the appeal runs its course.
Houston skipper Dusty Baker was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount on account of Neris’ actions. That’s standard procedure in these situations, and Baker will miss tonight’s game as a result. (Managers are not afforded any appellate rights). Bench coach Joe Espada will be the acting manager in his stead, tweets Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Espada himself was hit with a fine, as were fellow Houston staff members Omar López and Troy Snitker and Seattle manager Scott Servais.
The discipline comes out of last night’s contest, when benches cleared after Neris hit Mariners infielder Ty France in the top of the ninth inning. While France didn’t seem to take umbrage with the pitch itself, the benches began jawing after a dispute about whether the pitch actually struck him. Servais and López were ejected and the sides were warned.
Julio Rodríguez followed the France hit-by-pitch with a two-run homer. Two batters later, Neris sailed a fastball behind Suárez’s head, and home plate umpire Chris Guccione ejected both Neris and Baker. MLB has judged the offering to Suárez to be intentional, leading to the suspensions. Last night’s contest was the opener of a three-game set between the AL West rivals.
That is asinine. You aren’t throwing at hitters in the 9th inning of a close game.
They did though.
It makes zero sense. If you think they did it on purpose you don’t understand baseball.
You’re right bro. He “accidentally” threw right at his head right after giving up a home run. Total accident.
So you’re telling me that a dude that has had amazing control the whole year and rarely walks anybody… accidentally throws BEHIND Ty France… and then proceeds to accidentally throw in the area of the head of the next batter after giving up a homerun? Get out of here. You can’t be that naive…
We just don’t understand baseball. That’s obviously what it is. I mean it couldn’t have been a bad decision.
@jjdoo2:
We aren’t the ones who levied the suspensions. MLB did.
Well he/she is clearly an Astros fan so…
Jocks do dumb things sometimes.
Probably roid rage.
You’re right I’m not. Hector Neris did though.
Oh you think he threw at him
No i know he threw at him
So you think
No I know
So you think
The other day some jumpy umpire ejected Pressley in a game in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, with a 4 run lead against the Royals. The Royals are not some offensive powerhouse, and have young players. It was ridiculous. Who would do that? He threw inside, Pressley throws nasty pitches with movement.
There was no reason for this at all in that game. This sounds weird too. This was the top of the ninth, a 3 run lead, two outs. Almost an identical situation with two pitchers. There was only one guy on in the Neris game, a homer wouldn’t even tie it. Suarez is hitting .233 and has 76 strike outs. This was about as intentional as the smell of my farts.
Link to story on Pressley game:
https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/mlb-umpire-vic-carapazza-ejected-ryan-pressly-astros-royals-video-mlb-reaction
Neris and Baker said it wasn’t intentional. I don’t think they’d “send a message” in a close game to a team 10 games back.
Plus the Astros are a very truthful team who never did anything deceitful
Exactly. And Baker only manages the highest character players.
The Houston Astros are known for telling the truth about anything and everything!
They did the game before with two outs in the 9th against the Royals.
You obviously were watching a different game.
Good because that was Horse Schiste last night
The funny thing is, I was watching that game last night but turned it off before all the drama started
Insane.
MLB should never have suspended him, the Astros are supposed to be free from all punishments regardless of what they do. Case in point, they cheated an entire year to win the World Series and all players got nothing. This punishment is not fair to all the lifelong fans who have been following them since 2017.
Careful., Astros fans bruise easily and cry loudly when hurt.
Oh I know, I am waiting for the tearful comments
Dam a river I rarely agree with a Yank fan but will make an exception this time.
It is funny last week Lewis was hit in the head then last night. I also would never accuse an upstanding org like that but it is rare for pitchers to “lose control” right at the head and twice in a little over a week I guess is odd. That is my opinion.
@Yanksfan umm, I wouldn’t get too much into cheating. Yankees had Cano test positive for PEDs and guys like A-Rod, Clemens, and others are accused of using PEDs as well while playing for the Yankees. Gerrit Cole was upset and very verbal about not being able to use substances to help grip the ball. If there is any organization in baseball that has no room for discussion on cheating, it’s the Yankees.
LOL, Cano tested positive while he was on a different team. A player cheating and an entire team cheating are not the same at al
PiratesFan: One major difference here is that you selected only the Yankees players (well, and inappropriately, Cano) while players from all over MLB admitted, were accused, or have tested & been suspended for PEDs. For example, when is the last time a Yankee tested positive for PEDs? Yet, many players have since then have tested positive, and continue to do so throughout other teams’ systems.
I’d say you’re comparing apples to oranges on the subjects while also cherry-picking. It’s….not a solid foundation.
Yankees were caught stealing signs, which although not to the same degree, would’ve been perhaps a more analogous insult.
He named more than just cano. Funny you only respond to one of the cheaters being called out. What’s wrong Yankees can’t juice their way to titles anymore so sad
by your own logic, one of the players you name as a cheater for the Yankees also pitched for the Astros. As did another pitcher who admitted to using them. oops
Anyone who sat next to AFraud probably would have tested pos for a few days.
Yankees calling Astros cheaters is the definition of comedy
Calling the Astros cheaters is fine, but a Yankees fan saying that is a case of “right message, wrong messenger.”
Some Yankees fans will always be a little mad that the Astros beat their favorite team at their own game.
Hey Goastros! How you holding up, brother? I didn’t see this game, but I’m interested in watching it. I’m generally opposed to players getting suspended (and certainly by extension, the manager) for this stuff, unless it is abundantly clear there is malicious intent.
I have been opposed to every suspension I’ve seen from MLB thus far predicated on this *rule and I think it’s attempt to punish motive is going too far.
On a different note, Peña looks to be the real deal, man. That kid appears to be excellent on both sides of the ball. You’ve got to be stoked with his performance since Correa didn’t re-sign and it initially looked to be a loss at the position. Now, it looks like a genius move.
Doing good, Clipper, thanks for asking. I saw the game. I don’t see why ANY player would intentionally throw at a hitter in a close game. You do that and we saw what can happen. I would say “then again, the Astros aren’t exactly an honest team”, but I don’t know any of them personally so I can’t say that. In other words, I agree with you and I didn’t see any actual intention. Again: logically it makes zero sense.
Pena has been great and he could end up winning rookie of the year. Let’s get Yankees/Astros III in this year’s ALCS.
Too funny when yankee fans want to talk about cheating. Pot calling the kettle black
First one definitely wasn’t intentional, unless the pitcher is a complete moron trying to hit someone with two outs in the ninth and you’re down a run. The second one… welllllll. Yeah, that was dumb.
They were both intentional. The real question is why.
That wasn’t answered by anyone.
I don’t think the France HBP was intentional at all. The Suarez one absolutely was, no doubt about it.
You could see in Neris’ face when he was ejected that the throw was not intentional.
You ever play dodge ball as a kid? That’s basically what these pitchers are doing, except they are using hard baseballs not rubber balls made by Voit.
We played with Luke Voit’s balls?
Pitchers can all act like tough guys since they never have to go up to the plate. Put a bat in their hands and suddenly their attitude will change
Pitchers act like tough guys all the time then when they break a nail or get a blister they leave the game. If I did that at my work I would have never kept a job.
And can dot an I around the plate. God forbid they have to throw to the bases.
If Manfred had actually handed the Astros a proper punishment, they wouldn’t have to go around with all this little man syndrome.
Astros is one of those teams that you can easily hate. They have always acted like go’s gift to the world. If they acted more grounded you would respect them as putting together a great team every year. Looks like it starts with the coaches since this is not the first time they went after a opposing player.
You’re right ARC, I thank go every time the Astros lose.
Who did they throw at? I can think of one instance in the past 10-15 years when they threw at someone on purpose (ARod was hit after someone else hit a homer for the Yankees). He was immediately sent down after the game.
Glad they didn’t call him Jackie,MLB would’ve really been pissed
lmao
Dusty is a baws.
They should have suspended Scott Servais for coming out of the dugout like he did.
Neris didn’t intentionally try to hit anyone.
What about the Mariners pitchers that hit the Astros players. It looked like they were intentionally trying to hit Alvarez. And last week it looked like the Royals were intentionally trying to hit Altuve. Oh but I forgot you all don’t like Altuve.
Baker didn’t come flying out of the dugout when those incidents happened
Servais came out because of the the Astro’s coach Lopez talking smack and if you look at the film Lopez was already out of the dugout.
And it was clear as day Neris threw at Suarez, completely delusional to think otherwise.
If anyone is wondering if the pitch was intentional, we are talking about the Astros here – the dirtiest MLB team in modern era.
Other teams have admitted everyone would steal signs, the Astros just got caught
Altuve was one of a hand full of Astros that didn’t participate in sign stealing. But you guys hate him anyway, just because he is good
Altuve didn’t participate? Then why was he one of the guys sitting there at their apology press conference when they apologized for absolutely nothing. Only thing they were sorry about was that they got caught. And yes he is good but yes he also is a cheater which will and should tarnish his legacy
Because he was backing his team. Why not do a little research? It’s well known altuve hated when his teammates would try to bang the trash can for him.
They should have suspended everyone in the stadium. Can’t put up with these shenanigans.
So it makes no sense for a pitcher to throw at a batter when the game is still on the line. That used to be the line of reasoning which was basic common sense.
But it’s 2022 and I’m not even sure these players care about the outcome of the game anymore. It’s their personal stats and their egos that come before team success in most cases. So yes I do think he let his emotions come first ahead of the team and threw at him intentionally. It’s also an easy cover for the pitcher to play dumb and say “no way it was intentional it was a close game”. Sigh.
It makes sense because Dusty is an old school manager and getting in his good graces may get him more appearances.
Astros are like that—petty. They win and they still act petty.
The Houston Cheaters are just a bunch of dirty players
As an old school fan, I’m all for players policing the game and owning the inside corner. From Gibson to Pedro and Clemens, fine. But in the age of upper 90’s+ fastballs, I have to question control pitchers throwing at a player’s head. I don’t know if there was intention here or not, but how do you blame umpires or MLB drawing a line in such instances?
The salty tears in this thread are so good. Keep crying people
Your 2017 World Series champs the Houston Astros!!!!
This year looks like it could be good too, only team ahead of them in the AL are the Yankees, and they are the astros red headed step child. 6 straight ALCS coming up ??
That inning was total B.S.
No way the HBP to France was intentional.
However a warning GAS to be issued there and it was.
In my opinion:
The previous game in KC an overzealous umpire ejected Pressly for 2 ( very) inside pitches. There is no beef with KC and the game is reasonably in hand. They are trying to finish the game and get on a plane after a long 3 city road trip.
And the umpire warns him and then throws him out without another pitch being thrown.
Next day:
Nerris hits France, warnings issued, coaches and managers start squawking. Benches clear.
Rodriguez hits a big HR breaking open a 1 run game.
A pissed off Neris throws a pitch over Suarez’s head. CLEARLY INTENTIONAL not trying to hit him but clearly wanted to express his frustration there.
I bet he felt, in the moment, that the events after hitting France broke his concentration and were responsible ( some? Maybe all?) for him making a bad pitch to Rodriguez.
Bottom line is that it never should have happened. Astros are down 1 run late in the game. France gers hit by more pitches than anyone. No way that was intentional.
But the Suarez one was and he got 4 days for it. Probably appealed down to 3. Totally deserved.
Baker suspended thems the breaks. Undeserved IMO but it is the rule.
Let’s stop this crap and play ball.
See you in SEATTLE
Suspend the cheaters
Either Neris INTENTIONALLY threw at Suarez, or he has such abysmal control he should be busted down to Single-A!
P.S and the fact that it was a close game late USED to matter, not so much anymore!!(Cubs manager Dave Ross argued with Ump on this SAME thing last week vs Cinncy….Ross was %100 right btw) I’m sure they’ll do something about this issue….after someone gets seriously injured!!!
I wonder what Scott Service thinks about all of this.
When will the astros trade Bregman? Or at least drop him in the lineup he is so bad this year it’s mind boggling how tucker and Peña are still hitting 6th and 7th while Bregman is entrenched in the 3 spot