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Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin dropped his appeal Sunday and began serving an eight-game suspension by baseball for charging and tackling Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke after being hit by a pitch in San Diego. Greinke suffered a broken collarbone and will miss at least eight weeks of games. The game tonight at Dodger Stadium will be the first meeting between the Dodgers and Padres since last week's incident, which was followed by an angry confrontation off the field between Quentin and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. Quentin's comments this weekend made clear he didn't want to be seen as avoiding a showdown with the Dodgers. "I will say this about the Dodgers series -- I will obviously miss this one, but I will be part of the rest of them. We play them many times," he told reporters. "There are a lot of emotions concerning what has happened. One of their players was unfortunately hurt, but baseball will be played on the field."
Meanwhile, Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis tweeted Sunday that Dodger fans should stay calm at the stadium tonight, especially toward Padres fans.
. @dodgers fans: What's done is done....please respect the Padre fans at Dodger Stadium tomorrow and do what you do best! Cheer US on!
— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) April 15, 2013
It was at Dodger Stadium, of course, where Giants fan Brian Stow was jumped and beaten by two angry and possibly drunken Dodgers fans on opening day in 2011. Stow was left brain-damaged and is currently living in a care facility in Northern California. Since then, the Dodgers have increased security at the stadium and conducted an education campaign about fan behavior.
Today's game is also the local instance of the baseball-wide Jackie Robinson Day celebration. Every major league player will wear number 42 today. There's nothing notable about today's anniversary — it's the 66th anniversary of the day when Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers — but have you noticed there is a movie out about Robinson? The City Council honored Robinson's niece along with retired Dodgers outfielders Tommy Davis and Lou Johnson on Friday, and UCLA unveiled a mural on Sunday at Jackie Robinson Stadium, where the Bruins play their games on the federal reservation west of Westwood. Robinson's widow Rachel is expected at Dodger Stadium for the ceremonies tonight.
Previously on LA Observed:
Native Intelligence: He interviewed Jackie Robinson near the end
Dodgers photo of Kathy Robinson Young, Lou Johnson and Tommy Davis in the City Council chambers: Juan Ocampo.
