Ear-y Minor League Altercation (A Second Opinion)

Editor's Note: Sax and I both bring all our journalistic integrity to this riveting tale. See Sax's article below.

From the always reliable NY Post.

Los Angeles Dodgers minor league teammates Alex Guerrero and Miguel Olivo got into a fight Tuesday during a game with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he was disappointed to hear about the altercation, and the team is looking into it.“It’s something we don’t condone and it’s something that we don’t think is constructive,” Colletti said at Citi Field, where Los Angeles opened a three-game series against the New York Mets.

“Obviously, people can have disagreements. That happens many times in many places. But when it gets beyond that level, I think it’s over the line.”

The Los Angeles Times reported that agent Scott Boras said Olivo bit off a part of Guerrero’s ear. Colletti said he doesn’t think either player sustained an injury that would keep him from playing. The Dodgers released a statement saying the baseball operations department “is aware of the altercation and is conducting an investigation into the matter.”

“I’ve talked to the coaches, I’ve talked to a lot of different people. They’re still looking into it. So until we know exactly what happened and what precipitated what, don’t have anything else really to add to it,” Colletti said. “I’ll talk to everybody that I think can help us understand what took place.”

Guerrero, an infielder from Cuba, signed a $28 million, four-year deal with the Dodgers in October. He was beaten out for the starting second base job by Dee Gordon in spring training. Olivo has displayed a hot temper on the field before, charging at Jose Reyes and missing with a wild punch during a dustup between the Marlins and Mets late in the 2007 season. The 35-year-old catcher appeared in eight games for the Dodgers this month, marking his 13th season in the majors.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported the fight happened in the dugout during the eighth inning of Albuquerque’s 7-4 loss to Salt Lake, briefly delaying the game, and both players were removed from the lineup soon afterward.

The Los Angeles Times reported the disagreement began with Olivo getting upset that Guerrero failed to tag out a runner after a throw from Olivo, according to Boras.

Miguel Olivo repeatedly lunges at Alex Guerrero during pitching change.

Why Can't We All Get A Lobe?

I can't make this shit up. Backup backup backup journeyman catcher Miguel Olivo got so steamed during a minor league game, he fought with Dodgers prospect Alex Guerrero in the dugout and bit off part of Guerrero's ear:

Dodgers prospect Alex Guerrero was the victim Tuesday of a Mike Tyson-like ear chomp by triple-A teammate Miguel Olivo, according to Guerrero’s agent, Scott Boras.

Guerrero, a Cuban infielder who is in the first year of a four-year, $28-million contract, was scheduled to undergo plastic surgery to reattach the part of his ear that was bitten off by Olivo in a dugout altercation, Boras said.

“This is a first for me,” said Boras, who has represented players for more than three decades.

The alleged incident occurred in Salt Lake City, where the Dodgers’ Albuquerque-based affiliate dropped a 7-4 decision.

Olivo became steamed after his team gave up a stolen base in the seventh inning, according to Boras. Olivo blamed Guerrero for failing to tag the baserunner in time, the agent said. A video posted on the Albuquerque Isotopes’ website showed Olivo attempting to charge Guerrero during a pitching change later in the inning. The players exchanged words as they walked off the field at the end of the inning.

“Guerrero was in the far end of the dugout,” Boras said. “He went to the front to get his bat and helmet to hit. As he walked across, Olivo decked him.”

Ned Colletti, of course, was all over this like Inspector Clouseau:

"We're still looking into it," he said. "We don't condone it. I don't think it's constructive. There will be disagreements, but beyond that it goes over the line."

Unreal.

Get well soon, Alex! And don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Miguel!

Post-Game 28 Thread: Dodgers Stay On Target (Field)

DODGERS 9, TWINS 4

Despite the Twins getting to Dan Haren early for two runs in the first (Jason Kubel, two-run single to left, that was benefitted by errors by both Carl Crawford and Miguel Olivo), the Dodgers rallied to retake the lead in the second and didn't look back after that. Dee Gordon had an RBI FC followed by a Yasiel Puig double to make it 3-2 through 1.5 innings. Matt Kemp and Juan Uribe each had an RBI in the third to make it 5-2 Dodgers. Uribe, Olivo, and Crawford all had RBI in the 7th to make it 8-4 Dodgers, and then Olivo snuck in a sacrifice fly to left to score Andre Ethier and make it 9-4 in the ninth.

All in all, 15 hits for the Dodgers, while Haren went 6.2 IP and gave up 6 H and 4 R, 3 ER, 7Ks with 3 BBs. Haren's depth into the seventh allowed us to save our bullpen for the second game of the doubleheader this evening. If not for adding three more errors to our season tally of 29 errors (leading the majors; Gordon had a throwing error to add to the other two), this would be a pretty good win. Now, if we could only win the night game and notch the sweep...