When the Dodgers retained a surplus of starting pitchers in anticipation that their top five would not make every start this season, they could not have imagined a scenario like the one that unfolded Thursday night.
Zack Greinke left his start against the San Diego Padres after fracturing his left clavicle in the midst of a benches-clearing brawl that started when the Padres’ Carlos Quentin charged the mound after being hit by a Greinke pitch in the sixth inning.
Here’s the video of the brawl from tonight’s broadcast:
Three Dodgers players were ejected: Greinke, Matt Kemp and Jerry Hairston Jr. So was Quentin.
Hairston re-ignited the brawl by charging toward the Padres’ dugout after most players had return to their respective clubhouses and bullpens. Kemp charged in from center field to join the initial brawl and had to be separated multiple times. It is unclear why Greinke was ejected.
Quentin, Hairston and Kemp could be sidelined for a time if Major League Baseball chooses to suspend them. The greater concern is Greinke.
Clavicle injuries are relatively rare in baseball. Colorado Rockies infielder Clint Barmes, a right-handed thrower, broke his left clavicle when he fell carrying deer meat in June 2005. He did not appear in a game between June 5 and Sept. 2 of that year, nearly a three-month absence. Advances in treatment and the degree of each injury makes a direct comparison impossible, but there are few other data points to compare to.
Quentin has a history of getting in the way of pitches. Last season he led the National League in hit by pitches with 17; the year before with the Chicago White Sox, he led the American League with 23. His 106 HBPs between 2007 and 2012 were the second-most in baseball during the time period.
After the game, reporters in both clubhouses relayed the players’ and managers’ reactions via Twitter:
Quentin: “It’s unfortunate. It could have been avoided. You can ask Zack about that.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) April 12, 2013
#Padres Quentin alluded to history with Greinke. Said it could have been avoided. “That [HBP] was the final straw,” he said.
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) April 12, 2013
Quentin, asked if any remorse: “I did what I did. It could have been avoided.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) April 12, 2013
Don Mattingly said Carlos Quentin shouldn’t be allowed to play until Greinke can pitch
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) April 12, 2013
Hairston said one of the Padres was making fun of Greinke having a hurt shoulder, that’s when Hairston ‘lost it’
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) April 12, 2013
Zack Greinke was asked if he wanted to fight Carlos Quentin. “I can’t remember the last time I wanted to get in a fight with someone.”
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) April 12, 2013
“I never hit him on purpose. He always seem to think I’m hitting him on purpose, but that’s not the case.” -Zack Greinke
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 12, 2013
Matt Kemp confronted Carlos Quentin as the 2 were leaving Petco Park. Clayton Richard, cops, security broke it up.
— Bernie Wilson (@berniewilson) April 12, 2013
Kemp and Quentin were nose-to-nose before Richard stepped in. Kemp kept asking Quentin why he did it.
— Bernie Wilson (@berniewilson) April 12, 2013
As Quentin walked into the parking lot, Kemp told him, “We’ll see, bitch.”
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) April 12, 2013
USA Today has posted a photo gallery of the brawl and the hallway confrontation between Kemp and Quentin here.
