The Kansas City Royals have brawled their way to the top of the American League Central. Yordano Ventura was at the center of last week’s scuffle with the Athletics – hitting Brett Lawrie with a pitch before reliever Kelvin Herrera came on to throw behind Lawrie. Herrera then pointed to his head after being ejected, a gesture widely taken as a threat. Prior to that, Ventura instigated a shouting match with Angels star Mike Trout. And Thursday, he was ejected again for yelling at Adam Eaton and inciting a brawl with the White Sox – a move that ended up with six players suspended, including Ventura for seven games, and another fined.
Ventura had already set the tone by drilling Chicago slugger Jose Abreu, a move for which White Sox ace Chris Sale retaliated by hitting Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas. Among the reactions across baseball, a tweet from Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson: “Dial it down Yordano Ventura. … dial it down, several notches.”
Image Credit: ANDREW A. NELLES AP PHOTO
The consequences were ugly. Lorenzo Cain sparred with Jeff Samardzija, his opening day antagonist. Chris Sale was furious, and later visited the Royals clubhouse in search of a fight. Volquez took a wild swing at Samardzija and received a five-game suspension. Cain was suspended for two games, as was reliever Kelvin Herrera. Both Sale and Samardzija received five-game bans. All involved parties will appeal the decision.
Ventura sounded apologetic after the game. He said it hurt him to see his teammates fighting the opposition after he failed to keep his cool. Ventura appeared aware of his reputation within the game, one debated endlessly these past few days on television, as a young pitcher unable to control his emotions.
The Royals cherish Ventura’s talent, and they lavished him with a five-year, $23 million contract before this season started. They raved about his maturity and emotional stability. Yet the first month of 2015 has called both qualities into question.
In the wake of these incidents, team officials have rallied around him while still insisting his behavior must change. Manager Ned Yost advised Ventura that opposing clubs would pinpoint his emotions to vex him. Teammates like Volquez, Jeremy Guthrie and Chris Young counseled Ventura that his talent is enough to trump any challengers.
In the wake of these incidents, team officials have rallied around him while still insisting his behavior must change. Manager Ned Yost advised Ventura that opposing clubs would pinpoint his emotions to vex him. Teammates like Volquez, Jeremy Guthrie and Chris Young counseled Ventura that his talent is enough to trump any challengers.
“Really, at the end of the day, he doesn’t deal with high-emotional situations very well,” Guthrie said. “They take him to a place that others sometimes don’t get to. It’s on both ends. It takes him to an elite performance level. But it also takes him to an emotional level that can be misunderstood and, at times, inappropriate.”
Yost speculated that opposing clubs would now utilize these tactics to hound Ventura during games. On Thursday, members of the Royals mentioned how Samardzija chirped at Ventura from the opposing dugout. Ventura did not have to deal with this treatment as often in 2014, when he was a rookie pitching third in a rotation that included James Shields.
If Yordano Ventura was pitching in the National League, this probably would've never happened. He wouldn't be nearly as reckless and confrontational as he is pitching in the American League. The reason being is that he would have to come up to bat face the opposing pitcher. In the American League, his teammates are the ones that face the retaliation. His teammates could get injured after getting beaned by the opposing pitcher or during a brawl and consequently missing playing time.
After the major brawl against the White Sox, he and his teammates Lorenzo Cain, Kelvin Herrera, and Edinson Volquez have faced suspension. This greatly hurts the Royals because they have lost a great outfielder and three great pitchers for 5 to 7 games. This could deflate a team that has been doing very well this season.
It is one thing to be a team that plays with intensity and heart, but the Royals need to gain control of their emotions or else they are going to be in for a long season.
Christine O'Connor
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