Major League Baseball announced that Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez has been issued a six-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing at Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story last night. He’ll begin serving the suspension tonight unless he appeals. Manager A.J. Hinch has also received a one-game suspension and undisclosed fine. He’ll begin serving his suspension tonight.
Valdez was getting torched by the Sox last night. He allowed ten runs, seven earned, in three-plus innings pitched. The top of the fourth started with homers by Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu. Then Trevor Story came up and was promptly beaned, which led to the benches and bullpens clearing, as seen in this video from MLB.com. Valdez was then ejected.
The lefty denied that the beaning was intentional but it was hard to believe. His own manager didn’t seem to defend him too hard. “We play a really good brand of baseball here,” Hinch said. “That didn’t feel like it.” Many observers pointed out that Valdez hardly ever throws a four-seam fastball and that the pitch that hit Story was his first four-seamer thrown this year.
When players are suspended for on-field infractions, they can’t be replaced on the roster, so the Tigers will have to play short-handed when Valdez is serving his suspension. Unless it gets shortened on appeal, he will have to miss at least one turn through the rotation. That’s a notable blow since Detroit is already pretty banged up in the starting pitching department, with each of Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, Casey Mize, Jackson Jobe, Troy Melton and Reese Olson currently on the injured list.
Jack Flaherty is starting tonight and then the Tigers are off on Thursday. Keider Montero and Ty Madden are scheduled to go on Friday and Saturday. It was going to be Valdez on Sunday, so some other plan will be required for that game, unless Valdez appeals. Perhaps the Tigers will opt for a bullpen game or call someone up for a spot start. Sawyer Gipson-Long and Jake Miller are on optional assignment but both are injured in the minors. The Tigers do have an open 40-man spot after Zack Short was designated for assignment yesterday, so they could opt for a non-roster option like Bryan Sammons or Dylan File.
Photo courtesy of Lon Horwedel, Imagn Images
Melton and Verlander are thankfully almost back. It’s going to be a lot of bullpen days until then
Just when their pitching depth couldn’t get thinner. Nothing to smile about in my life.
There are lots of cool birds and pretty flowers outside this time of year, those always make me smile.
Crossing up his catcher last year foreshadowed this kind of stuff.
Yes it did. Probably why he didn’t get a longer deal too. Sure likes to use that 4 seamer solely for plunking people.
That HBP was 100% on Framber. Not sure why they gave Hinch a 1 game suspension.
Could be for things said on the field after the benches cleared is my guess
If anything Hinch seemed to be trying to de-escalate. I think it’s just policy/tradition that the manager gets a suspension when their pitcher gets one for throwing at a player.
I don’t know, GASoxfan. Valdez had some bad body language and was slow taking the mound at the beginning of the 4th. The Tigers have a long stretch and their weak bullpen has already been stretched thin with the injuries.
Also, after the game this is what Hinch said, “We play a really good brand of baseball here. That didn’t feel like it. It’s not judging intent; I have no idea. But I know when you go out on the field and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you’re in your right. And it didn’t feel good being out there.”
There’s a lot of moving parts, man, but it doesn’t seem like Hinch’s style.
I agree. Not sure what AJ did to warrant a suspension.
Unfortunately I think the manager gets hit with an automatic suspension if the incident was blatantly intentional.
Framber’s appeal should be denied immediately if he does appeal
If he appeals theu should double
Especially when Hinch said this following the game.
“But I know when you go out on the field and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you’re in your right. And it didn’t feel good being out there.”
Just so incredibly selfish from Framber, is upset that he has to wear one, and puts the team in an even worse spot. What a child.
MLB, now step up and suspend Gerrit Cole for throwing at some kid in A ball.
Not just a kid Caleb Bonemer whos sizzling. Maybe payback say…in ’28
The icing on top is he also cost his manager money. Hinch had nothing to do with Framber being a child.
Maybe that’s why Hinch lit Valdez up in the press. I can’t recall seeing a manager do that before even in times they should have.
Dont most teams say ‘Keep it in-house’? I guess Hinch missed that meeting.
I am ok with him calling Frambo out on that one.
The icing on top is costing your coach money.
Sorry for double comments the 1st one didn’t show up for some reason.
Is Valdez the most hated player in the MLB now?
Is Josh Domaldson still …
Jack Flaherty to the rescue!!!!!!
Who’d like to see Dalton Rushing and Valdez as battery mates?
Thank GOD, the Tiger’s have its new hope for C.Y. award this year Kieider Montero ! Last man standing, in ruler of roost Detroit Tigers. Verlander out, Mize out, Skubal out, Valdez out, and Flaherty’s V8 is running on 5-6 cylinders. Montero stands above all as Detroit’s great last hope ! If spock was still alive we’d have him in search of more help for Detroit. GO TIGERS ! GO MONTERO !!!!
Framber, you are such a child!! What are the Tigers going to do now how a rotation … Flaherty (oh, my God) and my Little League team??!!
Framber, perfect yes deserved.
Hinch? WHAAAAT? What did he do besides basically agree witht he ump’s call?
Hinch should’ve been banned for life for his part with the Astros.
Cmon Framber. Just because your name is Framber doesn’t mean you can take it out on everyone else.
If he appeals, I think the procedure is he plays until his team is in NYC, and his appeal is heard. That will be 5/12 against the Mets. If denied, he’ll miss one start at most. Imo, that’s not enough.
A baseball season can go south in a hurry.