Major League Baseball has slapped Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo with an undisclosed fine for his comments about Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, CSNPhilly.com has learned.
A spokesman for Major League Baseball confirmed that Rizzo had been disciplined, but would not say what the discipline was.
Rizzo is the second person to be disciplined in the wake of Hamels admission that he intentionally hit Washington rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch in Sunday nights game between the Nationals and Phillies. Hamels was suspended five games and received an undisclosed fine. The pitcher is currently serving that suspension. The Phillies have announced he will pitch Sunday against San Diego.
Hamels hit Harper, the Nats much-hyped 19-year-old outfielder, in the back in the first inning and after the game told reporters that he was giving Harper an old-school welcome to the big leagues.
That prompted Rizzo to issue an angry response in an interview with the Washington Post on Monday.
Cole Hamels says hes old-school, Rizzo said. Hes the polar opposite of old-school. Hes fake tough. He thinks hes going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie whos eight games into the big leagues? He doesnt know who hes dealing with.
Rizzo also called Hamels plunking of Harper classless, gutless and (bleeping) chicken (bleep).
MLB
Rizzo, through a Nationals team spokesman, confirmed that he had been fined, but had no comment.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com