Blue Jays: MLB Hands down suspensions to two Jays

Major League Baseball handed out a pair of suspensions early Tuesday evening to the Toronto Blue Jays as reported by Scott Mitchell.

Alek Manoah was handed a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for hitting Maikel Franco during this past Thursday’s contest against the Baltimore Orioles.  Manoah was having a rough outing against the Orioles and after surrendering his fourth home run of the game, Franco was hit with the first pitch of his at bat, which resulted in the benches clearing.

I have to admit the incident led me to initially suspect it was intentional, but given that Manoah was pitching in just his fifth career game, it also had me me wondering if emotions and nerves caused him to lose control of the ball.  Manoah has also had control issues through the minors and had already hit four batters for the Buffalo Bisons in just 18 innings earlier in the season.

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After Franco was hit, you can see the pitcher and hitter exchanging words which led to the rest of the teams coming out onto the field.  It almost looked like they cleared things up between them as it appears that Franco is pointing to the bench players to go back as he walks to first base.

Also receiving a one-game suspension is manager Charlie Montoyo, which appears more because he is the manager of a player accused of hitting a batter on purpose.  Montoyo’s response to the umpires as usual was non-confrontational.

Montoyo will serve his one-game suspension Tuesday night, while Sportsnet is reporting that Manoah will be appealing his suspension.

The news came just hours after Hazel Mae announced that George Springer would return to the Blue Jays lineup on Tuesday night.

What are your thoughts, do you think Manoah intentionally hit Franco and is the suspension warranted?