MILWAUKEE — An MLB spokesman confirmed that Major League Baseball has completed it’s investigation into a verbal altercation between Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and the umpires from the Nationals 1-0 loss to the New York Mets last Thursday.
Rizzo has been disciplined by MLB but no details of that discipline will be announced. The matter is considered closed.
The Nationals were incensed by a call first base umpire Phil Cuzzi made for the second out of the ninth inning on Thursday, errantly calling Jayson Werth out on an infield grounder that would have given the Nationals runners at the corners and their best scoring opportunity of the day.
Manager Jim Riggleman argued the call, as did Werth, but it was to no avail. When the game was over one batter later, several Nationals jumped the rail of the dugout to make their feelings known as the umpires made their way off the field. Those tensions reportedly spilled over into the tunnel outside the Nationals clubhouse when catcher Ivan Rodriguez and Rizzo had it out with the umpires again.
The Washington Post reported Monday that Rodriguez had also been fined for the incident.
– The Nationals designated right-hander and Rule 5 pick Brian Broderick for assignment on Saturday, May 14. Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals accepted Broderick back into their organization and returned half of the $50,000 draft fee to the Nationals.
Broderick pitched well enough to make the team out of spring training but, a converted starter, struggled in the relief role for the Nationals. He posted a 6.57 ERA in 12 1/3 innings of work.
