Weighing in on Manny Machado's Dust-Up with Yordano Ventura

Jun 7, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) is restrained by pitcher Chris Tillman (30) during a brawl in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 9-1. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

In the first inning, something happened that you probably didn’t even notice, in the midst of the Orioles scoring four runs (should have been six, if not for a fantastic catch by Lorenzo Cain).

Yordano Ventura threw a pitch that rode in on Manny Machado, before Manny would go on to keep the hitting train going.

In the second inning, Ventura again went in on Manny, missing him. Manny gave him a long stare, and then ‘flew out’ to left on the next pitch. The pitch looked like it might have a chance to leave the field for a home run, but got caught in the wind and was just a shallow fly ball on a strange play.

After the play, Machado was yelling at Ventura. Cameras didn’t show if Ventura was yelling back, but I imagine it wasn’t a one-sided conversation.

Then, came the fifth inning. Ventura drilled Manny with a 99 mile-per-hour pitch in the back, and Manny didn’t even hesitate, going at Ventura and coming close to solidly landing a punch.

Of course, everyone is an expert in the situation and wants to weigh in. Both of these players have tumultuous pasts. especially Ventura.

Ventura was involved in three benches-clearing incidents in three starts in April of 2015, including a nasty melee with the Chicago White Sox.

He also hit two Orioles last September 12, including Machado with a similar pitch to the one on Tuesday night. Manny wasn’t real happy then either.

Machado was involved in several incidents involving the Oakland Athletics in June of 2014. A shoving match at third base after Josh Donaldson tagged him out started things. Then Fernando Abad threw at Manny’s knees, and Manny threw his bat in the direction of the pitcher.

At the time, Manny was labeled as a kid (at the time 21) who needed to mature and keep his emotions more in check. For the most part, he has.

Until last night.

Buck Showalter warned one of the top players in the AL right now what might be coming. And as soon as Manny was hit, it appeared both players knew what was coming.

Salvador Perez didn’t make a huge attempt to stop Manny, and the fracas was on.

Both got ejected, both will get suspended.

Was Manny wrong? Only in the sense that he will be suspended and in the end it will hurt the team.

Ventura has thrown at him before. Ventura missed him twice already, then drilled him with the hardest pitch of the game thrown by Ventura.

He has a right to defend himself, and his manager had no problem with it.

Is Ventura in the wrong. I’d say yes. Obviously I am biased, but I can take a more neutral look than most. My wife is a Royals fan, and loves baseball. She knows about Ventura’s antics, as do I.

While many people like to talk about the Royals’ antics, I think for the most part they left that in 2014. Sure, the team plays with a lot of emotion, and is very aggressive, but that is how they play, and I have no problem with it.

Ventura, I do. And, from what Ned Yost said, Salvador Perez did, and what many national writers are writing, most others put him at fault too.

Weighing in on Manny Machado’s Dust-Up with Yordano Ventura

By Nate Wardle | Jun 8, 2016