José Iglesias Suspended for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
San Diego Padres infielder José Iglesias was suspended for one game and fined for unprofessional conduct toward the umpires during the final game of the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs, MLB announced on Friday. Xander Bogaerts, also an infielder, was fined an undisclosed amount for his behavior during the interaction that followed the last out at Wrigley Field on October 2, when the Padres were eliminated from the postseason by Chicago. The Padres engaged in a heated exchange of shouts with the umpiring crew as they left the field after the Cubs’ 3-1 victory. The video of the confrontation was widely viewed 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 below the zone. Bogaerts, enraged, argued with Reyburn, while manager Mike Shildt ran onto the field to defend his player and speak with Reyburn. After the game ended several minutes later with two Padres stranded in scoring position, the umpires had to walk down the steps of the visiting dugout to leave the field. Reyburn then seemed to exchange words with Bogaerts and Iglesias, who became enraged. It was not clear who started the argument.MLB will institute an automated ball-strike challenge system (ABS) 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. “I mean, 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
