O's: Four days for that?
I'm trying to make sense of the suspensions announced by MLB for series of purpose-pitch skirmishes in Boston over the weekend. This kind of thing is usually pretty routine, but I raised an eyebrow at the fact that Kevin Gregg received the same four-game suspension as David Ortiz.
Not to let Gregg off the hook for knocking Ortiz off the plate, but he didn't ever hit Ortiz with a pitch and he wasn't the one who charged the mound and started the brief melee. He did yell at Ortiz for swinging at a 3-0 pitch in a blowout game, but that happens all the time in baseball. It appears that he was punished heavily because Ortiz took offense. If you watch the replay of the confrontation, Gregg gave Ortiz a shoulder to stop his charge and dodged a haymaker before taking an ineffective swing back.
I don't see where that rates an equal suspension, but I guess the fact that they were the two main combatants -- and perhaps the recognition that four days for Gregg may only cause him to miss one or two appearances -- creates a somewhat logical framework for that decision.
The only other multi-game suspension was assessed against Michael Gonzalez for throwing behind Ortiz, and that one is hard to argue. Several other players were fined for their roles in the bench-clearing incident.
We're still waiting to find out why Buck Showalter was suspended and -- apparently -- Terry Francona was not. I always thought that when the manager gets an automatic ejection after both benches have been warned that it came with a one-game suspension. Dan Connolly is trying to run that down and will have an update on Orioles Insider.
> 
Comments
I thought you were talking about tonight's game when i read the headline.
Posted by: jim66 | July 14, 2011 9:50 PM
In its statement, MLB says Gonzalez intentionally threw at Ortiz two days later after both sides had been warned.
That is why Showalter was suspended.
Posted by: Bud | July 14, 2011 11:06 PM
I find it humorous that, in all this, the one pitcher who intentionally threw at and actually hit a batter only received an "undisclosed fine". Lackey's drilling of Lee was textbook old school, even its location and Lee was the second batter he struck.
Doesn't seem that Joe Jr is quite the baseball person his father was.
Posted by: Robert Hoke | July 15, 2011 4:31 AM
Well, looks like the league officedoesn't have much respect for the O's either. Maybe it is time for Buck to keep the Badboy image going. At least Gongzo pitched the best he has pitched in last night's game. # up, 3 down.
The team showed more fire during those games than they have for awhile. Can not hurt to be viewed as a tough, hard nosed team. Even the league is trying to fire up the team. Why else would they be so one sided in the punishment?
Posted by: Rchard, Old O's Fan | July 15, 2011 7:31 AM
Can we talk about Pedro Beato, an RP with the Mets, whom in his rookie year has held opposing batters to a .201 average? Why does this matter? Because we drafted him in 2006, but didn't have him on our 40-man roster and he was taken from us in the Rule 5 draft.
Good thing Cesar Izturis, Chris Jakubaskaus, Hendrickson, Duchsherer, etc. were kept on the 40-man instead. They've been a big help.
Also wise is having 3 left-fielders, none of whom have earned a full time job, but also probably won't play their best without one.
McFail
Posted by: Ace | July 15, 2011 10:00 AM
I agree w/ the suspensions. I thought the "haymaker" came after Gregg had missed with his offbalance swipe.
I also thought that Gregg left the fat man little choice; he threw at him three times and then barked at him as he went up the line.
So, I perceive Gregg as the "passive aggressor" , and i'm really really glad he did it. Because the red sox are punks. Hats off to Kevin Gregg. Enjoy your down time.
Posted by: onceawarrior | July 15, 2011 11:43 AM
I thought this headline was a commentary on last night's game by the Orioles. Seemed just as fitting.
Posted by: Groundskeeper | July 15, 2011 3:41 PM
Pete, I'm not making excuses for the O's getting beat, but this whole thing in Boston is ridiculous. Is there a process for a team to file a protest/complaint against the umpires?
You cannot look at that series and tell me it was objective. Ortiz charges the mound after not even getting hit...then the next day, two Orioles are hit before a warning is finally issued...then in the next game, an Oriole is hit, but a warning isn't issued until after a Red Sox player is hit with a pitch that clearly was not intentional. And now, after 4 Orioles and only 1 Boston player getting hit, the O's receive more suspensions and heftier fines.
This is an absolutely ludicrous display with a powerhouse team getting preferential treatment.
And I think if Gregg had wanted to hit Ortiz, he could have done it in three tries. Clearly the ump didn't think there was intent in that instance.
I hope Selig gets off his duff and does something about this because it's garbage.
Posted by: Christopher | July 15, 2011 4:05 PM
Based on the title, I thought you were referring to the wait for last night's crapfest.
Posted by: dcb | July 15, 2011 4:23 PM
So what gonzo threw behind big Papy.. Lackey hit our guy and only got fined...this shows how biased baseball is...let's see...4-5 orioles hit..1 redsox hit...3 orioles players suspended ..1 redsox suspended...please tell me how this works out...not to mention both Reynolds and Vlad had to leave game hurt...and it turns out Vlad's hand is broken...Papy charged the mound...yet whole thing appears to be blamed on Orioles...not MLB favorite Redsoxs....bring this up national media.. And get your buzz on!
Posted by: BuzzBee | July 19, 2011 3:26 PM