NEWSLETTER
After erupting at Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who’d called him a “motherf*****” in a discussion with the umpire, Yadi Molina received a one-game suspension.
That, despite the fact that in erupting at Lovullo, Molina was shoving the homeplate umpire to try to get to the D-Backs manager:
Benches clear in St. Louis after an exchange at home plate involving Yadier Molina and D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. (via @FSMidwest) pic.twitter.com/hPnH6LofTh
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 8, 2018
Willson Contreras once received a two-game suspension for throwing his mask to the ground, and having it bounce backwards and hit an umpire in the leg. That suspension was later reduced to one game, but still. Molina is appealing this suspension, by the way.
I cannot fathom a circumstance where another catcher besides Molina – regardless of what was said about him – would get away with this kind of physicality without being ejected, and then with a mere one-game suspension. Molina is kind of on his own special island when it comes to the leeway he’s given by umpires.
If Molina’s suspension is ultimately upheld and the decision takes a while, it’s conceivable he could miss a game next week against the Cubs. It’s also conceivable that the Cardinals will just pick a day when he was going to get a day off anyway, and then have him drop the appeal and sit one out without actually losing anything at all.
