Joe Torre says the MLB has told the Red Sox and Orioles to stop throwing at each other
Torre also thinks Chris Sale threw behind Manny Machado intentionally Tuesday.
The MLB is warning the Red Sox and Orioles: Knock off the beanball.
Joe Torre, the league executive in charge of discipline, told Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred held a conference call Wednesday to tell both teams to expect punishment if they continue to throw at each other.
“If this stuff continues, there will be some discipline,” Torre said.
According to Rosenthal, Torre also hinted that Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale may be punished for the 97 mph fastball he threw behind Manny Machado. Both dugouts were immediately warned after the first-inning pitch, which Machado called “f—— bull—-.“
And the war simmers on…. #RedSox #Orioles pic.twitter.com/Pv6bGqydxY
— David Wade (@davidwade) May 2, 2017
Torre said he believed Sale threw at Machado intentionally.
“That’s something we don’t really tolerate, throwing behind somebody . . . that’s something that’s dangerous,” he told Rosenthal. “It looked like it was intentional. Chris Sale is a great pitcher. When he throws the ball behind somebody, unless it’s a rainy day. I don’t see that being by mistake.”
Torre also said the Machado slide that injured Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia last month — and seemingly incited the still-simmering feud between the two teams — was a “clean” play.
“He plays hard,” Torre said. “The slide at second base, I know the Red Sox took exception. I thought it was a hard slide, a clean slide. Unfortunately, somebody got hurt.”
Machado has since been thrown at twice — once by reliever Matt Barnes, who was suspended four games for the fastball he buzzed by the 24-year-old All Star’s head, and once by Sale in Tuesday night’s game. Farrell told reporters Wednesday he was unaware of any potential discipline for Sale.
Farrell said he had never been on a conference call like that to discuss an on-field feud. Unaware of any potential discipline for Sale.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) May 3, 2017
John Farrell said it was not communicated to him that Sale could receive a punishment
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) May 3, 2017
Despite interpreting intentionality in Sale’s pitch, Torre also said he didn’t think Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy hit Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts on purpose.
“Could it have been on purpose? I guess, knowing the circumstances. But knowing the situation in the game where it was 2-0 and you’re bringing Hanley Ramirez, hot as a firecracker up to the plate. It didn’t make sense in that regard,” he told Rosenthal.
Read Torre’s full comments here.
