Jose Iglesias Suspended for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
San Diego Padres infielder Jose Iglesias has been suspended for one game and fined for inappropriate conduct towards the umpires. This incident occurred during the last game of the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs, according to the 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 2, where the Padres were eliminated from the postseason by Chicago. After the 3-1 defeat, the Padres had a heated exchange of words with the umpire team as they left the field. A video of the confrontation went viral on social media. Home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn called a third strike on Bogaerts in the ninth inning, on a ball 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. Once the game was over, the umpires had to go down the stairs of the visiting dugout to leave the field. Reyburn exchanged words with Bogaerts and Iglesias, who reacted with anger. It is not clear who started the discussion.MLB will implement an automated ball-strike system (ABS) next season. Iglesias, who is eligible to become a free agent this fall, could appeal the suspension. If he does, the sanction would be postponed until the appeal process is finished. The Padres, with 90 wins, made the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons, but failed to win a playoff series for the first time in that period.“He ruined the whole game, you know?” Bogaerts commented on Reyburn’s decision. “We can’t go back, and talking about it now won’t change anything. It was bad, and thank God for the ABS system next year, because it’s terrible.”
Xander Bogaerts
