“It's an incident I regret and from which I have learned” - When Gary Sanchez apologized for his behavior in a bench-clearing brawl against the Tigers
Early into the 2017 season, Gary Sanchez and the New York Yankees got into a scrum with Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers. The incident stemmed from some back-and-fourth arguments throughout the game.
Cabrera and Austin Romine got into it at home plate, which led to both benches clearing. And it was not just your standard pushing and shoving, as things got physical.
The brawl resulted in a handful of suspensions and fines, including Sanchez. He was suspended for four games, but the league reduced his suspension to three. He was quick to issue an apology in a post on Facebook (via The Sports Xchange):
"I want to apologize for my actions during the last Detroit Tigers series. The heat of the moment and my desire to protect my teammates led me to commit some errors during the brawl," Sanchez said.
People were critical of Sanchez's role in the brawl. He threw a few punches that some would argue were cheap shots, but he said he just got caught up in "the heat of the moment".
"It's an incident I regret and from which I have learned. I know to some these may be mere words, but they are words that I feel the need to express because I sincerely feel this way, and for respect to you, the fans, the Yankees organization, the Detroit Tigers and the game of Baseball," he added.
Sanchez would go on to miss the following series against the Baltimore Orioles. After that, he returned to the lineup to help his squad navigate the American League East.
Gary Sanchez was not the only player to receive a suspension for their role in the Yankees-Tigers brawl
Gary Sanchez was not the only player punished for his role in the Yankees-Tigers brawl. Miguel Cabrera received the biggest punishment, getting suspended for seven games.
The league deemed Cabrera was the one who incited the brawl. Austin Romine, who was on the other side of Cabrera's initial shove, received two games.
Furthermore, Detroit pitcher Alex Wilson was handed a four-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Todd Frazier. Manager Brad Ausmus also received a suspension for one game for Wilson throwing at Frazier.
It was one of the more memorable brawls from recent years. The two teams truly didn't see eye to eye, and neither club was going to back down from the other.