“I know I’m going to be suspended for a couple of games”, Odor said.
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Odor, a third-year second baseman from Venezuela, on Monday spoke to news reporters for the first time about the incident that has dominated highlight shows and sports headlines all over the country the last two days. The teams received warnings, but the Toronto right fielder slid into Odor anyway, which led to the fight.
Meanwhile, Blue Jays manager said Monday it wasn’t the retribution that bothered him, but the timing.
On the baseball diamond, the Toronto Blue Jays were finishing off a series against the Texas Rangers when their star, outfielder Jose Bautista, was hit by a pitch late in the series finale.
When asked if he regretted anything that happened, he said, “No”. “They did it in a lot of different ways – they did it sliding hard into second base; they did it by drilling guys – but when it was done, it was always done”. So when Odor saw Bautista slide hard into second base after getting hit by a pitch from the Rangers’ Matt Bush, he knew Bautista wanted a confrontation.
“I think it’s over”. The bench clearing brawl between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers on Sunday was just the aftermath.
Despite punching him Sunday, Odor said he respects Bautista because he “plays hard”.
Major League Baseball hasn’t yet announced punishments for any of the players involved in Sunday’s altercation, but Odor is likely looking at a fine and a suspension.
Odor claimed self-defense, which if you’ve seen the sequence of events, you’ll know is a ridiculous statement.
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In addition to Donaldson, there was another A’s connection because pitcher Jesse Chavez, now with the Blue Jays, sent a message by hitting Prince Fielder with his next pitch. “Things happen during those situations that, they’re ugly, they look bad, it’s not good for anybody”.
