Video: Yankees Throw Punches Instead of Pies in Last Night's Loss

Photo of CC Sabathia restraining Jorge Posada by Kathy Willens/AP

The 2009 Yankees look to be returning to the playoffs in just a couple weeks after last season's first year being left home in over a decade. This year's team has been marked by a level of extroverted charisma and fiery personalities uncharacteristic of the stoic bunch that led the turn of the century dynasty. But last night, late in a game that did not appear to be on its way toward another AJ Burnett pieface moment, some of that adrenaline appeared to turn nasty as Jorge Posada took a cheap shot shove at Blue Jays' pitcher Jesse Carlson and BAM! It was on—bench-clearing brawl, enough of a mess to end with a little blood.

Posada had already been giving Carlson the stink eye after the reliever threw behind the Yankee catcher. Carlson and Jays' manager Cito Gaston later denied any intention, but you can't blame Posada for being suspicious after both teams had gone back-and-forth with hit batsmen earlier in the game. When Posada then had to cross paths with Carlson, now covering the plate as Jorge was scoring on a Brett Gardner double, the longtime Yankee decided to make his displeasure with the pitch known once again, and brushed into him as he passed by. Carlson responded to that with a Serena-ism or two and back came Posada along with Johnny Damon to get down to business. Here's the best version on YouTube this morning, edited in flashback mode to give a real Sunset Boulevard sort of feel to the action.

Little skip Joe Girardi didn't seem to get too fired up about the blindsided swipe taken at him by Toronto's John McDonald back there. After the game, the manager was more concerned with his team not getting into this sort of trouble so late in the season. Girardi said, "I told them, 'There's a lot at stake here and we can't afford to get anyone hurt or lose anyone or get people suspended.' That is not what we want. And this is not what they want. Unfortunately, it's what we got."

We love that Posada was eventually restrained and brought back to the dugout by CC Sabathia—if only we could have seen the big ace cradle Girardi back in his hulking torso. Posada denied afterward that he had started anything and focused on being thrown at. He will likely get suspended for the brawl. For any completists out there, the nine-minute Criterion Collection Canadian coverage of the melee is after the jump.

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By Billy Parker in News on September 16, 2009 12:50 PM

Comments [rss]

JLRodP

baseball is not a sport!

JenChungsBaby

Whatever. This is good for the Yanks long-term. Anything that riles them up and pumps a little emotion into the team is good, even if Posada gets suspended for a few games. In fact, let's bring back Armando Benitez again to bean Tino Martinez and really get the fun started.

PKinNYC

it's punch a B-Jays fan in the face night at The Stadium tonight...wait do they have fans eh???

whitecastlerock

typical Yankee fan response...

smitty

There was no way that Melancon (whose control ain't that great) purposely hit anyone, especially with no motive. Carlson's throw at Jorge was obviously intentional and more "cheap" than Jorge's shove, which was more of a glove brush than a shove (there was no shoulder!) Also, Carlson's position in covering was a little off when Jorge was coming by. Carlson wanted to throw down!

whitecastlerock

Oh the heresy! To think someone threw a ball behind Jorge the great!!! Has he tested positive for steroids yet?

Jen S

We happened to turn the game on at the bottom of the 8th. Pure gold! I haven't seen a brawl this huge in decades!

PKinNYC

you know Posada would have been pissed if he had gotten beaned...but when you miss behind someone that makes you even more pissed. Good for Posada getting with it. The pitcher was clearly out of position behind homeplate when he lined up directly iin Posada's path...and Posada elbowed his glove...big ups to Shelly who came in and landed the elbow to the pitchers forehead...can't wait for the game tonight!!!!

shoobywillis

"both teams had gone back-and-forth with hit batsmen earlier in the game"? i must be looking at the wrong boxscore.

typical yankee arrogance. i wish that the next pitch posada takes is to his jaw.

TheKlaus

Awwww. poow widdle miwionaires getting fussy

Mookie Wilson

Posada is, and always will be, a big whiny bitch.

Nyctini11

Posada? a whiny bitch? Are you sure you're not confused??

All the adrenaline, fights are bound to happen, i'm surprised not more often, it's a game full of men & testosterone... who doesn't love a good bench clearer??

Go Posada!!

longacre

I think you might have a different opinion if Sabathia or Jeter broke an arm or something during the scrum. The ball came nowhere near Posada, he should have laughed and called it a day.

Nyctini11

Oh don't get me wrong, i'm not happy about the impending suspension of Posada, and am grateful there were no serious injuries. The ball may not have come near Posada, but 9 times out of 10 it's a pitcher/catcher team, since the catcher has the best shot at physical confrontation and the pitcher has the best shot at shaking up a batter, they are bound to be the ones sticking up for and taking out aggressions when they feel the other team is attacking theirs. So maybe they didn't get near Posada, but it was clear there was some bad blood brewing from both sides last night, the pot was bound to boil over. We got to see a great brawl cause of it.