SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 16: Nolan Arenado #28 of the St Louis Cardinals crosses home plate after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 16, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado was suspended for his role in a benches-clearing incident against the Mets. He is appealing.
Mets pitcher Yoan Lopez buzzed Arenado up and in, and the platinum glove winner did not take kindly to it. The drama between the two teams had been building for the last few days, and for the Mets all season long — New York entered the season as the most-hit team in the majors.
Just one night after Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch on the head, Arenado received the other side of the star treatment in baseball — that is, when the other team wants retribution, he’s targeted.
Arenado was suspended two games by MLB on Thursday for what they described as “contributing to the incitement of the incident,” though the Cards may see it otherwise.
Nolan Arenado appeals suspension: Does Cardinals star have a chance?
Very rarely are these kinds of appeals successful, especially for such a minor punishment like two games. Odds are, the suspension will be upheld merely because Arenado did incite the benches-clearing incident by motioning out towards the mound. He technically did not charge, which is better than most, but still.
“I respect the decision that the league took,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Obviously, it’s being appealed for a reason.”
Arenado yelled at Lopez to “do it again” after one pitch up and in. Had it been left at that, the two sides would not have charged out onto the field.
Yet, when the umpire and Mets catcher tried to restrain him, all attempt to diffuse the situation was lost.