OAKLAND, Calif. _ Major League Baseball has handed down its punishments to Oakland A's outfielder Ramon Laureano and Houston Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron for their roles in Sunday's brawl. Cintron has received a 20-game suspension and Laureano a six-game suspension, per multiple reports.
Punishments were issued in response to a fight that broke out when, after Laureano was hit by a pitch, Cintron began hurling fighting words at Laureano. The A's outfielder tried to brush him off, but Cintron's comment about Laureano's mother angered him, and Laureano charged the dugout.
"I regret charging that guy because he's a loser," Laureano said in an interview with ESPN.
Astros catcher Dustin Garneau, a former Athletic, wrapped Laureano up to prevent punches from being thrown.
The kerfuffle started when Laureano was hit by a pitch for the third time in the three-game series. He tried to explain to the inexperienced rookie pitcher, Humberto Castellanos, how to properly throw a slider so that it wouldn't hit a batter. It escalated when Cintron said something offensive.
"When it comes to social distancing during a pandemic I look like not a very smart guy," Laureano said to reporters. "But you're emotional, especially about when it's about your mother."
Per MLB's new rules, coronavirus-related social-distancing protocols mandate harsh punishments for physical contact with opposing teams: "Fighting and instigating fights are strictly prohibited. Players must not make physical contact with others for any reason unless it occurs in normal and permissible game action. Violations of these rules will result in severe discipline consistent with past precedent, which discipline shall not be reduced or prorated based on the length of the season."
