Julian Tavarez Wins by TKO

by Randy Booth on Mar 27, 2006 5:55 PM EST in News

We know about Julian Taverez's past. And we were all hoping he could go through his career as a Boston Red Sox and not have an 'incident.' Well, sorry. That ain't happenin'.

After Joey Gathright slide into home and apparently spiked Tavarez while he covered the plate, Tavarez swung and landed a shot right on the chin of Gathright.

Tavarez then connected with a punch, and players rushed the field. Jonathan Papelbon came running out from the bullpen, and he and Papa Jack pulled Gathright out of the scrum.

Devil Rays outfielder Carl Crawford and Gathright were gesturing toward the Sox dugout, but there were no other incidents (though we believe Tavarez was yelling from the dugout).

In the bottom of the eighth, newly acquired Red Sox first baseman Hee-Seop Choi was plunked by Rays pitcher Wayne Franklin, and the umps warned both sides.

And winnah ... by TKO ... Julian Tavarez!

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Comments

JOKE

What a joke this is.....the guy needs to learn some maturity/tact/class....but i dont expect tito to say anything cause he has no backbone.

by Alex being Alex on Mar 27, 2006 6:12 PM EST reply actions

I'm Patrick Kennedy from the Devil Rays blog on the SB Nation netowkr, DRaysBay. For the most part, I admire your work and the intelligence of the posters here, so I thought about going over to the Sox's official site and bitching to the morons over there who are actually defending Tavarez, but then I thought, what could that possibly accomplish? So I came over here, where I know I can speak to some intelligent fans.

Anyways, there is no excusing what Tavarez did. This is a disgrace. I am aware of our previous altercations, Pedro v. Gerald Williams, Trot Nixon v. Ryan Rupe, last season, etc. This I view as completely seperate. I have my reasons for not liking the Red Sox, but I don't like Tavarez dating back to his days with the Cardinals. He is a complete and total nutjob, and I don't really fault the team for it, but he is a disagrace.

www.draysbay.com

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Mar 27, 2006 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

RE:

I haven't seen a video clip of it yet, but I certainly would like to. There is about 0 things that justify punching a guy in the chin, but I'd still like to see it from start to finish.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 27, 2006 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

response to draysbay guy:

you have no place speaking here, you're an independent "sportswriter" for a minor league team. Your opinion is irrelevant, but I'm sure that won't stop you from throwing it around.

by boo9radley on Mar 28, 2006 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Flameage

Oh, SPARE ME.

Given that after a SOX player PUNCHED a RAYS player, Patrick is still speaking here in a reasonable and polite voice, I'd rather have HIM talking here than YOU, if this is how you plan to be about it.

More polite and insightful DRays fans and fewer mindless Red Sox idiots, please. I'd rather be the only Sox fan in a poilte fandom than one of a legion of idiots.

Also, you're a damn slander on Boo Radley's good name.

by NinetyNineTails on Mar 28, 2006 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Fan of any team welcome IMO

I'm happy to read posts from fans of any team. In fact, I'd like to see more of it. It'd be interesting to get the opinions of a few Reds fans regarding the recent Arroyo-Pena trade. I'd even welcome Yankees fans if they can discuss (note I didn't say rant, flame, or bluster) baseball and their opinions intelligently.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 29, 2006 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

Stupid move by Tavarez

Even if he was spiked by Gathright (which is not at all certain), even if he didn't realize he stepped on Gathright, and even if he didn't realize Gathright was trying to get him to step off his leg, there is still no justification for Tavarez punching a guy on his knees.

Especially in Spring Training.

I'm not looking forward to more D-Rays/Sox brawls this year (already an annual tradition), putting players at needless risk of injury.

This Sox fan thinks Tavarez deserves whatever suspension he gets.

by Hudson on Mar 27, 2006 6:36 PM EST reply actions

Should be punished

Tavarez should be suspended at least a week at the start of the regular season without pay, even thought that hurts the team. There's no call for that monkey-business, especially in spring training.

Punching a guy who is already on the ground has no place in baseball.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 27, 2006 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Bad News

This Tavarez business.

I understand he's a fiery guy, and that things can happen in the heat of competition...but that doesn't mean its not wrong.

What I would like to see, is punishment in the form of games. Probably 5-10 games. Any more than that, and he's likely "being made an example" of, something I DO NOT want to see.

I do like having Tavarez on the team (not for this reason), but I am also concerned that this is certainly not the end of this bad blood with the Rays.

by Matt Rivers on Mar 27, 2006 8:50 PM EST reply actions

This doesn't help.....

"He hits like a woman."

-Gathwright

by Matt Rivers on Mar 27, 2006 8:55 PM EST reply actions

RE:

...oh no... I smell a plunking in the future.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 27, 2006 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

He'd better not get hit......

Damon Hollins, Carl Crawford, and Joey Gathright are a very tight-knit group, and whoever hits Gathright is going to get an immediate beatdown like Tavarez did today.

www.draysbay.com

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Mar 27, 2006 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

Well...

From the picture above, it doesn't exactly look like the manliest punch. Was it a closed-fist slap? I'll shut my mouth before Tavarez comes looking for me ;)

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 28, 2006 8:35 AM EST up reply actions

gathwright

yeah gathwright, it must have been a very womanish punch, since your helmet flew off and you fell down into the dirt. Gathwright, you're a minor league player for a minor league team, you should just keep your worthless mouth shut from here on out.

I notice Gathwright didn't have the balls or strength to hit Taveraz back...

by boo9radley on Mar 28, 2006 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

Errr...

Isn't the common consensus that Tavarez is rather a psycho asshole?

And it did look like kind of a sissy punch. More a slap with knuckles, really...

by Devine @ Over the Monster on Mar 28, 2006 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

He does punch like a girl........

It doesn't take a lot for one to knock someone's helmet off, or make them fall down when they are off balance.....and it seems to me that the "minor league team" Gathright played on knocked the Red Sox out of first place last season. Go ask the Indians or Yankees about this "minor league team" before opening your mouth.

www.draysbay.com

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Mar 28, 2006 5:40 PM EST up reply actions

DRays not terrible

Olney (take it or leave it) recently wrote that the Rays could be a wild card contender in the NL. The AL is simply a powerhouse right now.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 29, 2006 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Sheffield

Another interesting tidbit....

http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/436721.html

2003-

After Tavarez hit him with a pitch, Atlanta Braves outfielder Gary Sheffield glared while slowly walking to first. He carried his bat the entire 90 feet and only gave it up upon reaching the first base bag.

by Matt Rivers on Mar 27, 2006 9:18 PM EST reply actions

this too

Crazy - 2003
Still angry over an incident where they feared a Tavarez pitch had broken the arm of first baseman J.T. Snow, Giants manager Felipe Alou mentioned what to that point had been an unspoken assumption - that Tavarez has a history of beaning ex-teammates.

I wonder how JT feels about sharing a locker room with this guy again?

Psycho...

by tommy.otm on Mar 28, 2006 12:24 AM EST up reply actions

History

Let's not forget....

He's played with a bunch of teams, so he's got lots of ex-teammates.

I hope this guy pitches lights-out. Otherwise, there's not much of a reason to like him. I'm actually hoping he gets a long suspension or is traded, or plays his way off. The last thing the team needs is a thug image.

by Matt Rivers on Mar 28, 2006 12:27 AM EST reply actions

Though on the bright side...

... Lenny D will be sticking with the team when camp breaks.

by tommy.otm on Mar 28, 2006 12:30 AM EST reply actions

Only until Wells comes off the DL

Wells is starting the season on the DL, making space for DiNardo.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 29, 2006 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

The Clubhouse

Tavarez may consider himself a sweetheart off the field, but that just speaks to how creepily deluded he sounds. This is textbook stuff from an abusive personality.

It was a questionable signing, and has already gotten worse. I hope he punches another telephone (you know, in the dugout where he's such a nice guy) and gets out of our hair.

by alfredoz on Mar 28, 2006 12:04 PM EST reply actions