José Iglesias Suspended for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
San Diego Padres infielder José Iglesias was suspended for one game and fined for unsportsmanlike conduct towards the umpires. The incident occurred during the last game of the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB. Xander Bogaerts was also fined an undisclosed amount, due to his behavior during the post-game interaction after the last out at Wrigley Field on October 2nd. The Padres were eliminated from the postseason by Chicago in that game. The San Diego team had a heated exchange with the officiating crew as they left the field after the Cubs’ 3-1 victory. Videos of the confrontation were widely circulated on social media. Home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn called a third strike on Bogaerts for the first out of the ninth inning, on a pitch that appeared to be outside the zone. Bogaerts, visibly upset, argued with Reyburn, while manager Mike Shildt came onto the field to defend his player. After the game ended, the umpires had to go down the stairs of the visitors’ dugout to leave the field. Reyburn exchanged words with Bogaerts and Iglesias, who were furious. It was not clear who started the argument.MLB will implement an automated ball-strike challenge (ABS) system next season. Iglesias is eligible to become a free agent this fall. If he appeals the suspension, the sanction would be suspended until the appeal process is complete. The Padres, with 90 wins, made the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons, but failed to win a postseason series for the first time in that period.“He ruined the whole game, you know?” Bogaerts said about Reyburn’s call. “We can’t go back in time, and talking about it now won’t change anything. It was bad, and thank God for the ABS next year, because it’s terrible.”
Xander Bogaerts
