Sebastian Valle shoves Rene Tosoni while still wearing his catcher's mask
"You can't hurt us; we're Canadians", said Team Canada manager Ernie Whitt after tonight's bench-clearing brawl between Canada and Team Mexico. Whitt is a Philadelphia Phillies roving hitting instructor. Two Phillies teammates – one who frequently caught the other in the Phillies' system found themselves on opposite sides. And one was very critical of another.
Phillies reliever Phillippe Aumont was not happy that Phillies catcher Sebastian Valle instigated the brawl by shoving Canadian batter Rene Tosoni after Tosoni was hit by a pitch. Previously warned by the umpire, Team Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon beaned Tosoni anyway. Tosoni started walking towards the mound. Instead of simply restraining Tosoni, Valle shoved Tosoni. To make matters worse, Valle instigated a fight while cowering behind his catcher's mask. Wuss.
Aumont took to Twitter immediately:
Aumont has since deleted the tweet.
Maybe because they are teammates and have a relationship it's easy for Aumont to call out Valle. Or who knows – maybe the Phillies acquired Tommy Joseph because Valle has a history of such behavior. If an athlete wants to fight, take off the mask and fight fairly. Valle did not do so.
So how about it, you ask us Phillies fans? I am glad we have Joseph.
