Yankees suspension?

Question

I'm a little confused. I just read that Clemens and Torre have been suspended - Clemens for five games (he’s appealing) and Torre for one.

In May A-Rod apparently yelled something that made the Blue Jays player miss catching a pop fly. Now they meet again. A pitch is thrown behind A-Rod and later in the game he's hit with another pitch. Clemens retaliates by hitting a Blue Jays batter. Benches clear a couple of times throughout the game; the end result is the suspensions. Did I miss something? I'm not a fan of either team and I haven't seen the replays of any of the pitches. The only thing I've actually seen was the missed pop fly. Sure A-Rod probably yelled something and I agree maybe it is little league, but does that mean the Jays should get 2 free shots at him? I know that refs are trying to keep more control of the retaliations. But how can Clemens get a 5 game suspension if the Jays get two free shots at A-Rod. I’m not taking sides. I’m just trying to figure out why.

OK - I didn't know about the incident with sliding. That's why it sounded very one sided.

Answer 1

The guy above me is correct - the suspensions were pretty much automatic once Clemens hit a batter after being warned by the umpire.

I'm a Jays fan, and even I personally think the suspensions are silly. A-Rod's yelling on that popup was pretty lame, but retaliating by drilling him with a pitch was equally bad. Clemens was just sticking up for his teammate. Too bad they couldn't have instead hit Josh Towers with a pitch - preferably in the head, to keep him out of our rotation.

Answer 2

I haven't missed a pitch all season for the Yankees so I can tell you exactly what you need to know. The reason for the suspensions are due to the most ridiculous baseball rules ever. If a warning is issued and a pitcher hits a batter he is tossed from the game and suspended (usually 5 games) and the manager gets a game for "telling the pitcher to hit the guy". This rule is riduculous because of you point: Why should one team be able to hit someone and the other team not be allowed to defend their players? In my eyes the rule should be changed to allow the team to retaliate THEN issue the warning. OR toss out the first pitcher when it is seen as intentional.

Answer 3

1st.. they aren't refs, they're umpires. 2nd... A-Rod yelling at a fielder is not little league. It's smart baseball, and anyone who has played cannot honestly say they would do anything they could to help their team win. I HATE THE YANKEES. More than alot of ppl would like to believe (I'm a Phillies fan btw). These suspensions are terrible. I like that the Blue Jays felt so fired up about A-Rod's actions that they threw at him. I also like that Roger Clemens retaliated (so did Larry Bowa lol). This downward spiral of sticking up for teammates in professional sports is sickening. When the skill player on an NHL team is getting headhunted, I believe that fighters on that team should be able to go and stand up for their stars by perhaps seeking a fight on their next shift. BUT NO, the NHL wants to decrease fighting (something that has long been a part of hockey). Throwing at baseball players is something that has long been a part of baseball, and their suspending Clemens (who i hate) for 5 games is ridiculous. I wish the Phillies would deliver through on some threats i.e. Hamels throwing at Lo Duca (before any warnings are given)... or Utley throwing his bat at Scott Olsen (if he ever pitches again)... and next season throwing at Prince Fielder for his recent ludacris actions after being hit by a pitcher and then attempting to hurt J-Roll when sliding into 2nd. Why not retaliate like one always used to be able to do

Answer 4

The incident with Clemons came after a warning had been issued to both teams.

The pitcher and the manager for the blue jays were fined for the 2 pitches in question, but were not suspended. So they at least got some penalty (fine) for what started this mess this time.

Answer 5

I think that the incident with Clemens happened after both managers were warned. So, in essence, both teams had free shots until the warning. A-Rod and Duncan also slid hard into 2nd base before the warning. I am guessing though that once the Umps issued the warning it was going to be suspensions after that. Btw, I am a die hard Yankee fan.

Answer 6

They had to suspend Roger for 5 games beacuse he will only pitch for 1 anyways...both teams were told after towers hit a-rod that the any more incidents would lead to automatic ejections and 1 game suspension..Personally I think its funny that in baseball the benches and bullpens clear and yet everybody seemed to be just standing around and watching a-rod and matt stairs yell at each other

Answer 7

A-rod also did a dirty slide into second a little while ago, as well as another memebr on the yankees during that game, and usually when they want to hit someone, they go for the star player...hence A-rod and Alex Rios...but the blue jays pitcher prob should have been suspened for the second pegging.

Answer 8

It's BS. Getting thrown out o the game was good enough. The umpire's now are too fast to toss someone and to give warnings. I know that baseball doesn't want any brawls, but sometimes when there is a brawl guys are suspended for less games. The other day a pitcher got tossed for hitting a batter with a knuckleball? WTF? To add to that, I didn't see him getting suspended for 5 games. MLB needs to be more consistant with their fines and their suspentions. Hard slides are part of the game, it has been going one for a hundred+ years. Everyone does it. Duncan's slide was great. Kicked the glove. Exactly what you are supposed to do.

Answer 9

I don't think the suspensions were unwarranted...a little steep, but not unwarranted...Joe shouldn't have received time off...

But the Jays pitcher and John Gibbons should have definately should have received a suspension...come on, throwing at A-Rod twice??? Clemens was just getting his guy's back in enemy surroundings. Let's see these wussies do this at the Stadium..

Answer 10

dang im a great yanks fan 4 existence yet cc seb is purely too sturdy to get suspended and we want a sturdy catcher however the yankees have it won besides so who cares they're annoying relating to the worldwide sequence