A Man, A Plan, Alcantara!

If Izzy Alcantara’s parents had had the decency to relocate to Panama before the birth of their son — and not remain in their native Dominican Republic, as they so rudely chose to do — this post might benefit from a narrative complexity generally unseen on the internet.

As it is, it (i.e. the present post) is merely an attempt on the part of the author to participate in the totally planned-out and in no way impromptu On-Field Violence (Or Not as Much) Day here at NotGraphs.

While people punching people always makes for good entertainment, Alcantara’s forethought in the above-embedded melee is particularly noteworthy.

Believe everything Wikipedia says when it says the following:

On July 3, 2001, after being brushed back a second time by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons pitcher Blas Cedeño, Alcántara turned around, kicking catcher Jeremy Salazar, karate-style, in the mask before charging the mound, throwing an unsuccessful punch at Cedeño before turning around as other players joined the fight until he was tackled by Kevin Orie. The incident cost Alcántara a six-game suspension and his spot on the International League’s All Star squad.

In Izzy’s defense, the Providence Journal offered this explanation: “What happened may have been simmering for some time. By his actions, it appears Alcantara knew something might occur that night. After the game Alcantara insisted Cedeño was throwing at him. Early in May, Alcantara slammed two home runs off Red Barons pitcher Pete Zamora, who later hit Alcantara with a pitch and was suspended and fined by the league. On July 2 Alcantara belted another home run off Zamora and may have, in Zamora’s view, hot-dogged it a little around the bases. In Alcantara’s mind, the July 3 eighth inning eruption was no innocent development and may have been planned as retaliation by Red Barons pitchers.”

Despite the fact that Alcantara was generally known as somewhat of a difficult character, it’s really impossible to feel anything but admiration for the extent of his forethought in this particular instance, it being generally the case that the catcher is the first player to reach a pitcher-ward batter.

Hail, Alcantara!