The Mexico and Canada fight might not be the best thing for the sport, but it added another dimension to the World Baseball Classic. Watch the video provided by MLB.com as we bring you the brawl that froze the action between two Pool D teams at the WBC in Chase Field located in Phoenix, Arizona.
The irony in a way is that Mexico and Canada surround the United States and the fight took place in the U.S. Okay so maybe that's an ESPN observation, but it's worthy of a mention.
If you're Mexican, you agree with what Mexico did as they defended their pride and retaliated against Canada. If you're Canadian, you understand that your team was trying to add more runs to the scoreboard because they were destroyed by Italy 14-4 and from the looks of it, there is a chance that maybe more than two teams will finish 2-1 or maybe even 1-2. Therefore, the runs scored differential will play a factor in who advances to the second round from Pool D.
Enough chatter. Here's the video.
Actually, maybe if there was more chatter, then punches wouldn't have been thrown, but the Mexicans were clearly insulted by Chris Robinson's bunt. The Mexicans were down 9-3, so in there eyes a bunt was unnecessary.
Robinson laid down a bunt that led to the beginning of a fight that umpires and coaches had a tough time controlling. Emotions ran high and punches were thrown.
Robinson had been a part of two physically related playes earlier in the game.
He made a late slide at second base and then absorbed a huge hit from Mexican outfielder Karim Garcia at the plate. The play at the plate was unavoidable, so there's no way you can blame Robinson for what took place.
The brawl then extended beyond the field as fans behind the Canadian dugout began throwing debris on the field. WBC warned fans announcing they could face criminal charges like reckless endangerment and disruption of a public event.
For Matt Vasgersian, MLB Network's announcers, though he believed the incident should have been avoided, also believes these baseball players don't really understand the rules for the World Baseball Classic. If so, then some players might have ruined their team's chances of winning following their ejection from the game.
According ot WBC rules, players can't participate in the rest of the tournament if ejected from a game.
