Who was more to blame: Jose Fernandez or a member of the Atlanta Braves?
Marlins rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez capped off a phenomenal season with a victory over the Atlanta Braves. Listening to his comments, he seemed very remorseful of his actions during the game. Standing there to admire his first MLB home started a bench clearing confrontation with the Braves and catcher Brian McCann after he crossed home plate. It seemed Fernandez was showing up the Braves by watching the home run, but that was not the only strange occurrence during the game.
Fernandez pitched as well as he had for just about the entire 2013 season. Due to an innings limit, the plan was for Fernandez to make his last start of the season. He finished the season 12-6, 2.19 in 28 starts, striking out 187 in 172 2/3 IP. He is currently leading the NL in Ks per 9 IP (9.7) and fewest hits per 9 IP (5.8). He made the NL All Star team and finished the season hitting .220 (11-50) with 1 2B, 1 3B and 1 HR to go along with 5 RBI.
The only mistake he made on the mound was giving up a towering home run to the Braves Evan Gattis, the only run allowed by Fernandez, as he gave up 5 hits, 1 run, walked 3 while striking out 5 in 7 innings for the Marlins. Gattis took a moment to admire the home run, which bothered Fernandez. Later on, we found out the Braves were a little annoyed with Fernandez' bravado after striking out a couple Atlanta batters. The most annoyed seemed to be on deck batter Chris Johnson, who had some words for Fernandez as Gattis was going around the bases. This was the first instance where Johnson was wrong. He had no business involving himself in this. If Gattis had an issue with Fernandez, let Gattis say something. There was no reason for Johnson to say a word.
Fernandez was obviously bothered by this exchange, as he had some words for the Atlanta bench on his way off the field. He has also visibly upset in the Miami dugout after the inning was over. The next thing that happens almost seems like a scene from a movie. Fernandez comes up to the plate. Will the Braves try to send him a message? No. Fernandez hits the first home run of his big league career of Mike Minor. Not only that, but he stands... for a while to admire it, then jogs slowly around the bases without a doubt losing his cool. Once again it is Johnson, who decides to spit at Fernandez as he crosses 3B, with Jose returning the favor. Of course, neither player spat on each other, just near. When Fernandez crossed home plate, he was greeted by McCann, who took his mask off and got in his face.
In my opinion, it becomes strike three for Johnson, who comes charging from 3B to perhaps get in the middle. But the videos show Johnson taking a circle route, choosing not to go towards Fernandez until he had gotten himself behind the home plate umpire. All along, this seemed like a situation that did not involve Chris Johnson. He looked very silly in this whole situation. But so did Fernandez, who apologized after the game and to the Braves team. Depending on where you stand in your opinion, you can say Fernandez started by going too far by playfully taunting the Braves hitters he retired. You can say Gattis started it by watching his HR leave the yard. Maybe everything was fine until Fernandez stood there and watched his own drive leave the yard. However you look at it, both teams looked silly. The Marlins are 30 games under .500 and nothing to be flamboyant about. The Braves are coasting the NL East title; they should not allow a little immaturity get them going like it did. Both teams looked bad, but Johnson looked worse than anybody else in this silly back and forth.