Josh Beckett's non-pitch at the head of Bobby Abreu will cost him a start for the Red Sox.(Unless, as usual, he appeals.)
Major League Baseball on Tuesday suspended Beckett six games -- even though he wasn't tossed from Sunday's game at the Los Angeles Angels.
Because of the brouhaha that followed, resulting somewhat from Beckett's not being punished at the time, Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher has been suspended for one game, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia and players Torii Hunter and Justin Speier were fined.
Hatcher has to serve his suspension tonight. Beckett can put off his suspension by appealing.
MLB's announcement said Beckett was suspended for "intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of the Angels' Bobby Abreu and for his aggressive actions after the pitch that incited the bench-clearing incident."
In Sunday's game, Abreu called timeout at the plate because Beckett was holding the ball for a long time. Umpire Paul Schreiber granted the request, but Beckett followed through with his delivery, and the ball sailed high and tight to Abreu.
Abreu and Beckett had words, the benches cleared and, when the teams had started to disperse, things heated up again.
Beckett said later: "I've never hit anybody in the head. It's not like it's on my list of (stuff) to get done. People can think what they want to think. ... When I finally go to where I'm looking at the plate, I'm already halfway through my delivery. I'm not going to stop there and possibly hurt myself. It could have gone anywhere."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-14-2009 @ 3:04PM
rodhshld said...
The ones that really need to be suspended not fined are the Umps. Shame on them for not doing their jobs. Especially that over weight one who talked smacked to Hunter then turned his back like a coward. No wonder Umps get no respect, they don't earn it.....
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8-23-2009 @ 12:08AM
jack ryan said...
its not the umps and did the right thing turning his back on hunter because if he goes after him hunters coach would be mad.
4-14-2009 @ 4:53PM
NachoD said...
Do players who get suspended get drug tested? Beckett's behavior and "aggresive actions" would definetely lead me to beleive that not only was his pitching sailing above Abreu's head but Josh was sailing above his own head.
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4-14-2009 @ 4:44PM
Martin said...
Rather than suspend him, I would prefer that he be required to bat against the Angels the next time he faces them, preferably without a batting helmet.
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4-14-2009 @ 4:49PM
rodhshld said...
Thats right he did the right thing by turnig his back like a coward after he let whatever he had to say come out of his big fat mouth. If Umps want respect then they need to keep their pie holes shut and just do their jobs which is obvious they didn't seeing how Beckett got slammed with a 6 game supension. Thank goddness someone higher up watched the video, took out the emotion and saw that he intentionally threw at his head. I'm not an Angels fan, I just happen to be watching the game with family and friends at that moment....enough said...
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4-14-2009 @ 4:53PM
rodhshld said...
Maybe when batters start losing their grips on the bat after a high inside head shot and it goes in the direction of the pitcher, this kind of bs will stop.
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4-14-2009 @ 6:57PM
jphil05750 said...
This is just one of many things wrong with MLB
The instigator, if he is a pitcher, should be suspended for 30 days which would translate into approximately 6 starts.
6 days mean only 1 start. As a starting pitcher the remaining 5 days are spent relatively free since he does not bat nor relief pitch
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4-14-2009 @ 9:13PM
Nancy said...
Whats that supposed to mean "unless of course he appeals?" As a Sox fan, Beckett was wrong in what he did. But of course he should appeal. Wouldnt Joba have appealed had he been suspended for throwing 3 times at Youk's head???
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4-14-2009 @ 10:48PM
tobrien28 said...
Nancy how do you read anything bad into "Unless, as usual, he appeals"? It's a statement that the suspension is 6 games unless there is an appeal. You read too much into a statement of fact, which is pretty insecure.
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