MLB quietly loves Rangers-Blue Jays drama
Former three-time All-Star and theScore MLB insider Vernon Wells offers his takeaways on the Rougned Odor suspension, and the most heated rivalry in baseball. The following is from a conversation with theScore's Dan Toman.
Was 8 games for Odor enough? Should MLB have sent a stronger message?
I think all suspensions that are handed down are made knowing they will ultimately be reduced. My guess is Odor's will be cut down to five, and the league knew that when it arrived at that number. The league quietly loves this. Since Sunday’s brawl, the Rangers-Blue Jays drama is being talked about as much as the NBA playoffs! So, no, I don't think the league should have sent a stronger message.
Given the emotions that had spilled over from last's year bat flip and what was unfolding with the HBP and slide, something was bound to happen. It just so happened that Odor connected, which is rare to see, especially for people at home who were able to see the confrontation so clearly on the broadcast. But make no mistake, the league doesn't mind seeing this, just as long as no one gets hurt.
Odor said he respects Bautista and thinks the feud is now over. As a former player, is it over or is there still unfinished business?
In a player's mind, it's never over. Odor landed his punch so of course it's over in his mind, but Bautista and the Blue Jays will remember this for a long time. We can only hope they see each other again in the playoffs. It'll make for some entertaining TV.
How does this rank among the rivalries you experienced during your playing days?
This brings me back to the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry in the early part of the 2000s. We're talking about two teams that have a true dislike for each other. That was one wild rivalry - you had Don Zimmer trying to take out Pedro in the playoffs, stars like Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek, at the height of their careers, fighting each other at home plate. It was surreal.
But this Rangers-Blue Jays rivalry is right up there. Jose's bat flip not only stirred up emotions during that Game 5, it kickstarted a whole culture debate in baseball. So now there's just so many layers to this thing. Odor and Bautista, Dyson and Bautista, Holland and Blue Jays fans, Banister, Gibbons, Pillar, Bush - this is an old-fashion hatred. It's rare when that occurs between two teams that aren't in the same division, and MLB's got to be loving that.
Do you guys follow these rivalries when it's not your teams? Are you guys watching SportsCenter and talking about it?
Players see everything! Calling players on the two teams to get the unseen or unheard. We're just like fans but with more access.
Will this change how Bautista expresses his emotion on the field?
Ha, no. I believe that's what makes him who he is. He could care less if his actions rub the opponent the wrong way, because he's not their teammate. Jose’s at his best when he's playing with that fire.
