When the pushing and shoving, along with another one-run loss (2-1 to the Red Sox) had settled, here’s what we learned about the fifth-inning fracas in the Mariners’ dugout:
Manager Don Wakamatsu believed second baseman Chone Figgins should have made a better effort to catch an errant throw from outfielder Michael Saunders, and by letting the ball roll away it allowed Boston’s Mike Cameron to reach third after a double. So when Figgins got back to the dugout before the bottom of the fifth, Wakamatsu told him he wsa pulling him from the game. Figgins reacted and, based on descriptions of those who spoke about it, there was a lot of anger that turned into pushing and shoving, and several jumped into separate the opposing factions before someone got hurt.
Figgins didn’t speak with the media. Here is what Wakamatsu said:
“It was a situation where in the fifth inning I didn’t think there was much effort on that backup and I made the decision to take him out of the ballgame.
“One thing people have got to understand is that everybody in that dugout cares. Tempers fly a little bit. But what happens in there stays in there.”
Wakamatsu said Figgins would not be suspended, but he wouldn’t say if Figgins would start Saturday night’s game against the Red Sox.
Wakamatsu has talked a lot this week about accountability on a team that has committed a series of basic mistakes, many of them while baserunning. To a great degree, he had defended players on the baserunning problems and didn’t remove anyone from those games (One reason, he’d said, was because he only had two healthy players on his bench because of injuries. Friday, he had four available reserves, so benching Figgins was easier to do from a replacement standpoint).
“You’re talking about baserunning plays and not all of those were cut-and-dried. I thought this (Figgins’ play) was cut-and-dried. We’re playing good baseball and there’s situations where we have to make plays, and I didn’t think it was made there.”
Russell Branyan, who wasn’t available because of a sore back, was among many trying to break up the melee. Here’s his description: “Wak went down to tell Figgy he was out of the game and I think Figgy wanted to tell his side of the story, and tempers flared. It happens. We’ve underachieved mightily. From last year to this, it’s been a pretty big letdown. People are pressing. We’ve got to come together, play tough. We’ll probably talk about it tomorrow.”
Pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith, who also was in the middle trying to separate the opposing parties: “I’d rather have guys who care too much sometimes than teammates who don’t care enough.”
Starting pitcher Jason Vargas: “I was just happy to get out of the inning without giving up that run. I was surprised and saw things start to happen. I just tried to keep people under control, from it getting out of control before people started getting hurt. I think everybody did a good job of keeping it together and not letting it get further than it did.
“Everybody just wants to play good and is frustrated. It’s been a rough first half and eventually things like that are going to happen when people are frustrated. But we’ve got to play tomorrow and we’ve got to get along in here for the next couple of months. Hopefully we’re past it and we’ve sorted it out.”
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