Will MLB Fine Jake Arrieta for "Dent in his Skull" Comment?
Jake Arrieta had an eventful Saturday night, giving up 6 runs on 11 hits in 4.1 innings pitched.
He hit three batters, including Todd Frazier, who wasn’t happy about getting plunked in the elbow and said some shit to the umpire. After the game, Arrieta stated, “Frazier’s not happy about it, he can come see me and I’ll put a dent in his skull.”
Writes Jim Salisbury today at NBC Sports Philadelphia:
Major League Baseball can discipline Arrieta, probably in the form of a fine, for making such an extreme threat, but no conclusion had been reached as of Tuesday afternoon.
Oh yeah, Arrieta has a messed up elbow. Bone spur issue, apparently.
Also Salisbury, after the jump:
According to a source, Arrieta will have have tests on the elbow this week. He has pitched with discomfort in the elbow for some time and his performance has suffered.
…
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto knew that Arrieta had been dealing with an elbow issue for some time.
“I know he’s getting an MRI or an X-ray,” Realmuto said at the All-Star Game. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know Jake and if there’s a way he can pitch through it he’s going to try.”
Arrieta has a $20 million player option for next season, which feels very no bueno at this point in time.
Here’s the plunk in question and Jake’s post game comments:
Tension rising in New York.
Todd Frazier was hit by a Jake Arrieta pitch, and then ejected a few seconds later after he exchanged some words with Arrieta and umpires. pic.twitter.com/6ht8SLYk2r
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 7, 2019
Jake Arrieta vs Todd Frazier in UFC240 👀 pic.twitter.com/9bzGSqL5dr
— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) July 7, 2019