'I WASN'T TRYING TO HIT ANYBODY': Rangers Asdrubal Cabrera suspended four games for tossing equipment
Updated: June 21, 2019 8:32 PM EDT
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Texas Rangers third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, centre, stands on the dugout steps after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington. (Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports)
Texas Rangers third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing equipment from the dugout toward umpire Bill Miller during the sixth inning game of Thursday's game against the Cleveland Indians.
Joe Torre, Major League Baseball's chief baseball officer, made the announcement. Cabrera indicated he would appeal the decision, and the Rangers released a lineup for Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox that listed Cabrera batting sixth and playing third base.
The incident began after Cabrera was called out on strikes by Miller. He went to view video of the pitch and, from the dugout, yelled his displeasure at Miller, who ejected him.
Texas manager Chris Woodward went to discuss the issue with Miller. Meanwhile, Cabrera was standing in the dugout and video displayed him throwing his batting gloves and shin guards toward home plate, close to Miller's feet.
Asdrúbal Cabrera gets ejected and throws his batting gloves towards the ump, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/ASfSclj5Wv
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 21, 2019
"I wasn't trying to hit anybody," Cabrera told reporters Friday after the suspension was announced. "I think the umpire is the last guy you want to hit. I was just trying to throw the gloves out there to let him know I was (unhappy) instead of walking back to home plate."
Woodward thought Cabrera wasn't given much time to verbally express his opinion.
"I thought it was a quick (ejection)," Woodward told reporters. "He didn't give him much of a chance. He threw him out really fast. So I was out there arguing. In mid-argument, I felt a thing hit my foot and it hit Bill Miller. It's pretty steep (punishment)."
–Field Level Media