Update by Joe D: 

Wally Backman, Jordany Valdespin and Armando Rodriguez were officially issued suspensions by the Pacific Coast League for their part in a bench-clearing incident on Monday.

Backman was handed down a two-game suspension while Valdespin and Rodriguez were issued three-game suspensions.

Rodriguez was also demoted to Double-A Binghamton and will serve out his suspension there.

Looks like the Mets didn’t have to handle this internally.

Original Post

The Las Vegas 51s are preparing internal suspensions and fines for Jordany Valdespin, Wally Backman, and Armando Rodriguez for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl on Monday evening. It was Mike Puma of the New York Post who first reported this — and I was a little disappointed at his word choice, which makes it seem a lot like it’s purely Valdespin’s fault. The Las Vegas Inside Twitter account went on to confirm the main culprits by name.

Valdespin was in the middle of a good night and hit a three-run home run — while holding onto the bat until about halfway up the first base line — and ended up getting plunked for it. Since the 51s are more “Wally-ball” type players, Armando Rodriguez stepped up and fired a fastball that hit IF Grant Green of the River Cats. A little jawing between Rodriguez and Green caused the benches to clear.

If you ask me, Sacramento went a little overboard in reacting to some antics from Valdespin, and it was interesting to see Wally and his teammates stand by him. The talent will always be there with JV1 and his value is highest with us. There’s a lot of pressure to perform for a New York team and Valdespin found himself caught in the media doghouse early…that’s a tough label to break away from.