Hamels suspension - how long should it be?

[bweiser831]

I'd say minimum of two months (because it will be appealed and reduced).

Not for hitting Harper, but for utter stupidity.

[Lurker765]

from rotoworld:

MLB suspended Cole Hamels for five games and fined him an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at Nationals' outfielder Bryce Harper during Sunday's game.

Hamels hit Harper with a fastball in the first inning of Sunday's game and later admitted that it was intentional. The suspension is the appropriate course of action here, though it's hardly a severe punishment, as his next start will merely be pushed back by a day. Hamels will not appeal and will begin serving the suspension Monday night.

[Judge Jude]

Ceremonial only.
10-game would entail missing a start...

[bweiser831]

Ceremonial only.
10-game would entail missing a start...

when will baseball realize this?

[Sour Masher]

Yeah, I never get the 5 game suspension for a starter...maybe they just can't come up with a way to do it fairly, and worry that it will cause appeal issues if they suspend a starter for longer than a reliever for the same thing?

[popeye]

Yeah, I never get the 5 game suspension for a starter...maybe they just can't come up with a way to do it fairly, and worry that it will cause appeal issues if they suspend a starter for longer than a reliever for the same thing?

I'm with you. But I certainly don't think it would be unfair to give a longer suspension to a starter, so as to ensure that he actually misses some (more than insignificant) time. As is, it's a sad joke.

[JudeBaldo]

Does he say why he hit him?

[Riff Raff]

Does he say why he hit him?

he's old school.

[mjl]

I'm with you. But I certainly don't think it would be unfair to give a longer suspension to a starter, so as to ensure that he actually misses some (more than insignificant) time. As is, it's a sad joke.

I assume that the number of games means that they lose (#games/162) of their salary for the year, which means that they can't arbitrarily decide to suspend a pitcher 10 games just to make sure he misses a start.

[TS Garp]

Just the fact that he felt the need to brag to everyone about how "old school" he is tells you everything you need to know about this moron. Hamels has always struck me as being one of the softest players in the league.

[Riff Raff]

Interestingly Zimmerman plunked Hamels as well. Hamels best watch his "old school" ways as eventually someone will pitch at his arm.
This was not a smart move in a contract year.

[BuckyBuckner]

I think they only suspended him for 5 games because MLB didn't really care that Hamels plunked Harper. People have been hit by a pitch thousands of time without suspensions (even intentional ones) but I think he got the suspension because he admitted it was intentional. MLB doesn't want pitchers admitting that. If they did care about the beaning it would have been a 10 game suspension. Just my take.

And I do agree that the 5 game suspension for starting pitchers is a joke.

[Lucky]

I'd say minimum of two months (because it will be appealed and reduced).

Not for hitting Harper, but for utter stupidity.

Minimum of two months? That's crazy talk.

Not at all unusual for a cocky rook to get plunked. If Hamels had thrown at his head, that would be a different matter.

Everybody knows (for the most part) when a pitcher hits someone on purpose. They never get suspended. Admitting that he did it is what got Hamels suspended, and properly so, but the penalty shouldn't be any more severe for plunking Harper than it should for plunking Konerko or anyone else.

Other than the Harper plunking, when has anyone called for a two month suspension for a pitcher hitting someone nowhere near the head?

[revo]

I'd say minimum of two months (because it will be appealed and reduced).

Not for hitting Harper, but for utter stupidity.

2 months for intentionally hitting a batter? That's a lil harsh, no? I'd gather to say 99% of pitchers have intentionally hit a batter before.

[JudeBaldo]

he's old school.

Well that's idiotic but I give him credit for admitting it. But I'm also happy with the way Harper paid him back. Hamels looked embarrassed.