So, was McCann right for stepping up to Gomez after he pimped the HR tonight?

[smootness]

Since all these so called "baseball people" are siding with BicthCann, ask how many of them have ever seen a catcher confront someone 30 ft before home plate when the guy is rounding the bases. Anyone who thinks this act is justifiable by any means is ignorant or just simply a brave homer. I've never seen that in my life on any level and baseball is my favorite sport. Players have feuds. It's part of game. No reason for Freeman or McCann to do any of that unless Gomez charges mound. It was very brave-like of recent. MCCann has always seemed like an arrogant spoiled brat. This isn't his first rodeo confronting players after they'd pimped their yard work. Get over it its baseball and throw 4 at his head next AB. That's how you deal with players like Gomez.

Ok, you don't like the Braves, I get it.

Anyone who has an issue with anything Freeman did is insane. I can see thinking McCann shouldn't have come up the baseline, but if anything it was just an unprecedented response to an unprecedented act by Gomez.

In response to thinking the solution is to throw at Gomez, his perception that Maholm had thrown at him previously is what started the whole thing to begin with; obviously that is not the way to deal with him.

[Thick]

Watched it, it seems Gomez was watching the ball. Yeah he pimped it, but no more than the majority in mlb does. Once he started his trot it seemed Maholm said something and Gomez barked back. Then, before he gets to the bag, you can see Freeman jawing at him, Gomez doesn't come back at him until he's past the bag. McCann, well we all know what he did.

Yes, Freeman and McCann acted like bitches. If I was calling that game, McCann would be tossed before anything else, Johnson also, of course.

If a guy pimps a shot against you, you either bean him his next ab, hit the next guy up. Some would hit their pitcher or their best player but that's usually reserved for retaliation of a dirty play. You don't run your mouth or block his path to the plate because he just hit a pissrod off you.

If you listen after the "brawl" was broken up, the announcers talk about who was jawing at who

Not so fast my friend!! Gomez had words with McCann during the at-bat like you said, Gomez hits the bomb stares down Maholm, BUT it was Gomez that started shit talking Maholm between home and first. Then Freddie got involved. If I was McCann, I would have been locking my sights on the next batter, not blocking the plate. Let Gomez do his thing, but his next at bat, he's taking one in the ear hole....then it's chin-checkin' time!!!

[Bo Darville]

I don't watch much pro baseball, so I don't know the history between Gomez and the Braves. However, based on the video, this whole thing could have been avoided if Gomez had acted like a grown man and run the bases. Instead he stood there like some moron to say "look at me, I hit a homerun for a team that won't make the playoffs".

I've got a job and do it well everyday. I do it without acting a fool.

[Dawg Tired]

Seems to me that one can jump on either side, depending on team loyalties. It is absolutely clear, however, that the Braves acted more in the spirit of baseball. Probably game him the ole "stop staring, run it out." Gomez was very demostrative with every exchange while trotting around. That kind of chatter probably happens on most homeruns. Seems that Gomez is more of a punk than most. Conclusion: Gomez is a punk bitch that many in the league don't respect.

[whosyourdawgy]

Reading this thread is funny as Hell. There is either a love or hate for the braves much like the Yankees and Red Sox. And if u had a stamp for each side, you could go thru this thread and clearly stamp which side each person is on. I'm just a sports fan. Don't give a damn about mlb til post season. Not really a fan of any team since Will left the Giants. I didn't see it live, didn't see the pre at bat stare down or any of the past history Just this video. From this video, Gomez appears to have had a bad day til this happened. Don't know if the wife/girlfriend was riding his ass or his mom didn't pack his lunch. Whatever. The dude had a big ass chip in his shoulder and he let all that out when he hit the homer. I know players talk going around the bases sometimes but Gomez was talking way too much crap going around the bases. He was showing up Maholm and the Braves and they stood up. I've also never seen a catcher block hone plate on a homer before like McCann did which was a stupid but ballsy thing to do. If Gonez doesn't pose and glare none of this happens.

Bottom line in my opinion. The Braves need McCann and Freeman for the post season so they don't need to do something stupid and get suspended, and more importantly Paul Maholm needs to stop giving up homers and get some W's or the Braves won't be doing much in the post season. Oh and that was an entertaining few minutes to watch.

[smootness]

more importantly Paul Maholm needs to stop giving up homers and get some W's or the Braves won't be doing much in the post season. Oh and that was an entertaining few minutes to watch.

We can definitely agree on this, though overall he pitched fairly well yesterday...just didn't get any help. The offense has been terrible lately and has to get at least lukewarm again, or we aren't going anywhere in the playoffs.

[Bo Darville]

A lot of this is the way some people think. Some folks must be clowns, idiots, egotistical morons, dancers, self-promoters, etc. Barry Sanders rushed for over 2800 yards his final season of college ball (let that number sink in). He rushed for over 15,000 yards in the NFL. He usually just handed the ball to the ref. No dancing or acting like a fool. On the other hand, our own Fred Brown has caught 2 passes for 27 yards. He has only played in 3 games out of 14 in his days at MSU. He spiked the ball after one of his 2 catches, resulting in a 15 yard penalty. He was also ejected from the game later for yet another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. He acted like a clown. Why can't Gomez just run the bases? For the record, I'm in the Barry Sanders camp (achieve greatness but act civilized), while many on here are in the Fred Brown camp (celebrate like you won the lottery, but achieve nothing). That's fine.

[wobblyh]

This important question to me is, does the run count? He didn't touch home plate before the brawl. How does that get scored?

[smootness]

This important question to me is, does the run count? He didn't touch home plate before the brawl. How does that get scored?

It's a run due to interference, I believe.

[wobblyh]

It's a run due to interference, I believe.

That makes sense. My dad is a stickler for rules and gets pissed every time guys take their helmets off coming around third on a homerun. Yells at the tv that they should be out. I once tried to suggest that might not be a rule anymore (or ever in MLB) but he wasn't having it.

[smootness]

That makes sense. My dad is a stickler for rules and gets pissed every time guys take their helmets off coming around third on a homerun. Yells at the tv that they should be out. I once tried to suggest that might not be a rule anymore (or ever in MLB) but he wasn't having it.

Ha. Yeah, pretty sure it isn't a rule. I guess it's possible there's a specific rule that you can't intentionally take your helmet off, but guys have their helmets fly off running the bases all the time.

[notsofarawaydawg]

Haters gonna hate and it's always the other teams fault. Go Braves !!

[Coach34]

What it comes down to is this:

Everything in sports and society today is about being brash and getting noticed. Get the attention...and this is why baseball is on the decline.

Baseball is about being respectful, respecting the game and people before you. Having some humility. Old school baseball guys arent going to put up with that bullshit and are going to get in your ass when you are disrespectful of other players and the game.

[Fader21]

Here is my thing. McCann Gomez and Johnson should have all been ejected. McCann for blocking the plate on a homer even after an ump was clearly telling him to move. Gomez for his part and Johnson for the cheap shot

[smootness]

The problem with just ejecting everybody involved is that the message you send is, you'll be ejected if you act like a punk all the way around the field, but you'll also be ejected if you try to do anything about it as the opposing team.

McCann didn't really do anything ultimately; he just stood in the basepath. I don't see that as reason for ejection. Freeman apparently was ejected for throwing an elbow; I didn't see it, but fine. Maybe toss Reed Johnson, but all he really did was shove.

[Fader21]

Reed clearly punched Gomez in the head. No push at all. I don't agree with freeman getting ejected. I didn't see him elbow Ramirez. But I agree with someone else. You let him touch the plate then you say what you gotta say. He directly didnt do what an ump told him to.

[smootness]

He directly didnt do what an ump told him to.

I'm sure an ump would tell everyone to stay in the dugout. So do you toss everybody?

The bottom line is, I've literally never seen somebody do what Gomez did, and as an ump you have to understand the opposing team is going to react to that. Toss out anybody who throws a punch or an elbow or whatever (I didn't see Reed Johnson's punch but I never saw a close-up of it; if he did, he should have been tossed), and let everybody else keep playing.

[Fader21]

Well we would have to agree to disagree on the McCann part. I wish there was a baseball ump on the board to share his thoughts. I'm not talking a little leaguer ump though

[smootness]

There was an MLB ump that weighed in last night. He didn't toss him.

[CJDAWG85]

What is the history between these 2? Gomez took a big hack on the previous pitch and stared Maholm down. Then connected and started the chaos.