I think everyone saw this coming, after last night. You know it was planned, when there was pitchers warming up in the 1st inning in the Rays bullpen. That is not normal.
Did anyone notice, every time there is a fight, Beckett is always one of the first out there? I wouldn't mind having him on my side.

Excellent recap of the whole "incident," TG. The best part of that brawl video is Coco's escape from the pile through the legs of the Rays' pitching coach. That's really funny.

I don't know what to make of the whole deal. The problem with retaliation with these things it that it usually just leads to more retaliation, and it goes on and on forever.

The next Rays series should be a lot of fun. [Sigh]

Thanks TG - great recap. I cannot wait for the next series and I'm hoping Beckett ends up starting it.

With that said, I'm starting to strongly dislike Coco. He totally overeacted. He knew he was gonna get hit but still charged the mound and put his team mates at risk. I also read a quote from him the other day claiming that if he was playing more, he would be hitting way above .300 with a bunch of homers. Coco, I love your defense, but I'm suprised everytime you manage to hit the ball.

Coco might be adding fuel to the fire with this quote:
After that, people were trying to pull my hair like little girls. Instead of throwing some real punches or something like that...

I think Coco overreacted, too. He *knew* it was coming. Just man up and take your base. With the injuries in the bizarro game, his hot head is going to hurt us.

Thanks for the great postings and video, Texy. I'll check them out when I get to work. T1 > connection at home.

Take your base and don't get punked by the D-Rays. Coco Crisp needs to get hit the next time he comes to the plate too. This time rest of the Sux should let him fight by himself.

Coco did what he did. He got hit by a pitch, and did what he felt he had to. The brawl, the mini-brawl between Youkilis and Manny--it was such a bizarre night, but in the end, I'm smiling because no one got seriously injured from the fight, the Rays lost their starting pitcher, and more importantly, the game.
We lost more and more players through the duration of the game and we still won.

Can't change what Coco did, but I think his teammates will stand behind him no matter what. (as will I)

Um, I'm actually gonna say that Coco punked the Rays, actually.

He got them to be stupid about it and lose their SP and Gomes in the second inning. Coco might be hot-headed, but he wasn't going to lose the game for the team like the Rays did.

It was a case of two parties both having to prove they aren't doormats.

That being said, it is some kind of disgusting to pin a guy down and have teammates take shots at him. Rays, if you're gonna do the fighting thing, at least be men about it.

it was cute though how Jacoby tried to pull someone off Coco by pulling at the back of his shirt - it didn't really work.
Coco was all wild-eyed when all was said and done...I think this has more to do with his anger at his overall position with the team than anything to do with the Rays right now.

the real questions is, Shields v. Richie Sexson = who wins that one?

No wonder the yankees hate your team. I have no respect for teams from boston anymore. I hope Coco gets hurt the next time he faces the Rays.

Brilliant play by coco. Two good rays players gone in the second inning.

And allen, remember the rays fight with the yankees in freaking spring training? You're an idiot.

Can't wait till the Rays play the bums from Boston. I wish Crisp got his ass beat a little more.

You mean you can't wait until the Rays get swept by the Red Sox again? Interesting.

June 30th...Let's get ready to ruuuummmmble!!!

These teams have been rumbling since 2000, at least. It's nothing new- and not at all surprising. What fun is baseball without a rival in your division to make things spicy? Since the Yankees suck this year, it's good to have the Rays- who actually have the talent to win ballgames.

I wouldn't count the Yankees out yet. They usually suck for a few months then pour it on and take 1st place or at least the wild card. It's nice to think that the Rays, Sox, and Yanks all hate each other.

Yes, I know, I know - you're being all rational, Mark. I was trying to bask in the suckitude while it lasts.

Enjoy it while it lasts....haha...

Comments like throwing like a girl doesn't add fuel to the fire. And there is no expectation that Coco was supposed to "take his hit like a man." The Rays knew that Coco Crisp was right in his statement about blocking the bag. Going to the mound was part of the "etitquette.

yeah, mchcranberry, Coco all along was trying to get a .222 hitter out of the Tampa lineup.

Bottom line, Coco should have taken his base and let Jon Lester send one into Jason Bartlett's skull... Bartlett started the whole thing with his bush league blocking of second base on an attempted steal. You don't block second because guys slide head first and can break their wrist. It's an unwritten code of ethics for infielders, that Bartlett ignored. Anyone remember the Yankees also had an issue with the Rays at second base in spring training? Methinks Jason Bartlett is making enemies in every city.

I'd much rather lose Coco for a game (or three) than lose Jon Lester, though. Plus, Coco enjoyed the hell out of himself - which is kind of awesome.

I never want to see a pitcher throwing at a guy's head. That's the kind of shit that can end a career (or a life). I'd rather the guys just go out and dogpile and throw soft punches that don't really do any harm - no one ever gets hurt in basebrawls anyway. It's like a big pillow fight.

Jason Bartlett has figured out the only way he's going to be a household name is to cause fights in every city he plays.

I found this on bostonherald.com -- thought you might like it =)

GO YANKEES!

Good point about the BA... but I think Gomes was just a bonus. I mean, if you can take two, why not?

the funniest part about all this is seeing baseball players trying to fight

Yeah it was a hot headed move by Crisp, but i think Shields sad attempt at manhood should be ranked just below the lame mound charging skills of Robin Ventura. On the other fact what kind of a sissy is Gomes to jump in like that after Crisp was down...I saw no Sox player sucker punch Shields when he was restrained...of everyone, he should get the longest suspension. Make it like the NHL, 3rd man in feels the heat. Gomes fat useless bat should be sitting out for the next 2-3 months for that cowardice.

Yeah the rays did fight with the yankees in spring training..... but this tops that.

Rays will sweep at the Sox at the end of the month when they are back in FL. I will be there and hopefully can tell Coco how much I hate him.

Nice rumble in the Fen last night. Excellent recap, TG.

Coco's a punk. Even Manny and Youk going at each other in the dugout.. All around good night.

Last night's game was great. Fighting then spanking the Rays for the win. I loved it when Sheild's punch missed Coco, then Coco right hooked him in the neck and also the way Coco escaped from the pile up by coming out between someone legs then putting up this hand to fight again. Loved it! All-in-all great game!

-I hope Ellsbury gets better soon!

Coco is a head case and deserves what he brings on himself.

Please, enlighten me - what exactly has Coco done in the past that makes him such a "head case" and a "punk"?

Wait, let me guess... you're Yankees fans, right?

Lindsay, I definately agree with you about Coco not liking his position on the team. I think he screwed himself though with his comments after the game basically acknowledging that he had this planned by faking going to first to keep Navarro off. Give him credit recently he's had some good hits in the games (like his double on Tues) but the whole situation is not going to make Tito more apt to pick him.

Hopefully Manny did alot of meditation today so he and Youk can get over whatever their problem may have been.

*Lyndsay ...didn't mean to spell your name, my cousin spells it the other way sorry

I was personally all for Coco charging the mound. Sure, maybe it wasn't the most mature thing, but I think that a charge is something we should have expected from:
- a guy as into the game as Coco
- a guy who openly admitted he'd fight
- a guy who's dad was a boxer (and Coco too, I believe)

The Red Sox have a lot of fight in them. They were out there pretty damn quick, but the DEVIL Rays had the advantage of already being out on the field - they didn't need to leap over railings or push through the dugout opening to get onto the field.

Allen, I will be there too- can't miss this one for the world. I betcha Beckett will be pitching the first game of the series and we all know what will come of that! *evil laugh*

Just some points

1) This all started with Bartlett and his knee down. Coco is gonna get upset about it I mean I think he's a little sensitive about his hands and base stealing given the fact he broke his pinky in 2006. So he's going to be a little sensitive about it. Coco has a "this for that" code so he decided to respond that way. Is it a smart move? Not really, but he believes in that sort of schooling and I'm okay with it. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

2) The Rays were straight up idiots and gave up the game by throwing in the second inning. Wait till later in the game you dumbshits. When you're down by 2 runs with one of your better pitchers up and still plenty of baseball to play, you just don't do that no matter what. Let Coco sweat it out a bit and THEN retalliate.

3) I'll openly admit that if I was going through shit Coco was going through and someone dropped a knee like that, I'd be pissed. I'd probably tit for tat that too because that's shady. I mean I'd make sure it wasn't Iwamura though. And if someone threw at me and I KNEW it was intentional, fuck I'd charge the mound. But that's just me

And I found Coco's postgame comments hilarious. It's refreshing to see someone discuss their role in a brawl so nonchalant and openly.

Nice of Gomes to punch Crisp while he was pinned under the catcher. What a PUNK!

"I say tit for tat, I think I got the worst of it because I'm running out there and they can get to me before our guys can get to me to help."

What is this? Dazed and Confused? Start the fight and wait for the mob to break it up? Quit bitching.

The funniest thing about this is the fact the brilliance in Coco's actions all around.

Barlett blocks the bag and hurts his thumb so he takes out Iwamura then tries to punch Shields. Something tells me he got the wrong guys there.

Bartlett blocked the bag, Coco expected it to be him covering the bag again... but the Rays shifted their defensive plan, and it was Iwamura covering the bag the second time instead. But Coco had already started his slide by the time it was clear Iwamura was there (and not Bartlett). He can't magically stop time and pull out of his slide.

Shields hit him with a pitch, so he charged Shields.

Doesn't sound like he got the wrong guys at all.

Coco got what he had coming. What a punk!! Shields missed, then coco missed and then the beat down was on. Lot of youth and hormones on the Rays. By the way, what kind of grown man calls themself "Coco Crisp"? That pretty much says it all right there. And I'm sure Gomes would have been more than happy to go toe-to-toe with Fruity Pebbles.