Mlb Bans Contreras For Throwing Bat During Argument With Umpire

Major League Baseball has suspended St Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras for six games aft he threw his bat while arguing pinch umpires connected Monday night.

Contreras’ bat deed his ain coach, and nan subordinate besides spiked his batting helmet and threw a bucket of bubble gum from nan dugout connected to nan field.

The incident came successful nan seventh inning of Cardinals’ 7-6 location triumph complete Pittsburgh erstwhile Contreras went down connected 3 pitches and was caught looking connected onslaught three.

Contreras was ejected aft arguing pinch location sheet umpire Derek Thomas, and his outburst continued arsenic Cardinals head Oliver Marmol and hitting coach Brant Brown held him backmost from nan umpire. After throwing his helmet to nan ground, Contreras tossed his bat down him, hitting Brown successful nan arm. He vanished it disconnected pinch nan bubble gum toss. Marmol was besides ejected during nan sequence.

Contreras said he didn’t understand why he was thrown retired of nan game. He said he based on balls and strikes but didn’t reside a circumstantial transportation and didn’t opportunity thing disrespectful.

“Apparently, he heard thing [he thought] I said. I did not opportunity that,” Contreras said.

Crew main Jordan Baker told a newsman that Contreras and Marmol were ejected for “saying vulgar stuff” to Thomas. Baker added that Contreras made interaction pinch Thomas.

MLB besides fined Contreras an undisclosed amount. He is appealing his suspension, which different would person begun connected Tuesday against nan Pirates.

Contreras, 33, is batting .261 pinch 19 location runs and 72 RBIs successful 121 games this twelvemonth for nan sub-.500 Cardinals, who are trying to enactment successful nan National League wildcard race. Contreras was a three-time All-Star during his seven-year stint pinch nan Chicago Cubs and is simply a profession .258 batter pinch 171 homers and 540 RBIs.