Re: Dayton game turns into a brawl....
Decisions today on Dragons' brawl fines
Midwest League official says suspensions also coming related to July 24 fracas at Fifth Third Field.
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Thursday, July 31, 2008
DAYTON — Midwest League president George Spelius said suspensions and fines for last Thursday's Dayton-Peoria bench-clearing brawl will be announced today, July 31.
"I don't want to talk numbers right now," said Spelius, mindful that eight Dragons, seven Peoria Chiefs and both managers were originally ejected from the game, although all were reinstated pending Spelius' investigation.
He did say Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo would not be banned for life, as some have suggested.
"I can't do that," said Spelius, who has been studying umpire reports and tapes of the brawl at Fifth Third Field. "I'm just a Class A president. I don't have the right to suspend for life."
Spelius made it clear, however, that Castillo probably would not pitch in the Midwest League again this season. During the brawl, Castillo threw a ball allegedly aimed at Dayton second baseman Angel Cabrera. However, the aim was poor and the ball hit a fan in the stands.
Castillo was arrested and stayed in jail until he made $50,000 bond. He was also taken off the Peoria roster by the parent Chicago Cubs and put on the organization's rookie team in Arizona.
Meanwhile, the Dragons and parent Reds released Cabrera on Monday, with farm director Terry Reynolds stating only that Cabrera was not a prospect.
The Dragons had outfielders Justin Reed and Denis Phipps ejected along with second baseman Kevyn Feiner, catcher Devin Mesoraco and pitchers Henry Arias, Jeremy Horst, Jeff Jeffords and Luis Montano.
It is believed they and probably a few more will face penalties.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/con...spdragons.html
Re: Dayton game turns into a brawl....
Announcement of Dragons brawl punishments delayed
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Friday, August 01, 2008
DAYTON — Suspensions and other penalties for the Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs had to be postponed at least one more day, Midwest League president George Spelius said Thursday, July 31, "because the National Association (of Minor League Baseball) is looking at the tape and I have to listen to them."
Spelius had hoped to announce penalties late Thursday afternoon.
Spelius said he expects resolution today of the matter regarding the brawl at Fifth Third Field between the teams last week. The bench-emptying melee included a ball thrown into the stands — hitting a fan — by Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo, who was removed from the Chiefs roster the next day by the parent Cubs.
The Reds, parents of the Dragons, also took action, releasing second baseman Angel Cabrera on Monday. Farm director Terry Reynolds said Cabrera was released only because he was not a prospect, but Dragons manager Donnie Scott said several times this season, his player had failed to live up to a sportsmanship code.
It was some actions by Cabrera in the game last Thursday that may have led to the brawl.
Just after the brawl, the umpires ejected 15 players and both managers, but both the Cubs and Reds said so many players were unavailable, they would have to use pitchers in the outfield and did not want to do that. So Spelius suspended the ejections and said he would let the players play until he reviewed the entire situation.
Originally, the Dragons had outfielders Justin Reed and Denis Phipps ejected along with second baseman Kevyn Feiner, catcher Devin Mesoraco and pitchers Henry Arias, Jeremy Horst, Jeff Jeffords and Luis Montano, while Peoria's ejections included outfielders Brandon Guyer and Cliff Anderson, infielder Jovan Rosa, catcher Mario Mercedes and pitchers Castillo, Steve Vento and Audy Santana.
Because the tape of the incident includes several other players, it is believed some of them will be punished as well.
Spelius works out of an office in Beloit, Wis. The National Association is in St. Petersburg, Fla., and oversees all of minor league baseball.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/con...8spbrawls.html