Beckett Suspended for Six Games
And the hits just keep on coming!
Josh Beckett has been suspended by Major League Baseball for six games (and fined an undisclosed amount of money) after MLB determined he intentionally threw a pitch near the head of Bobby Abreu and for his “aggressive actions” after the pitch that led to the benches clearing Sunday, according to Bob Watson, vice president for discipline in the commissioner’s office.
In the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s near-brawl, here’s what umpire crew chief Joe West had to say:
“[Beckett] took too long delivering the ball, so Abreu called time, which is normal,” West said. “Then Beckett, in the middle of throwing the ball, threw the ball. [He] should throw the ball, rather than trying to stop and maybe risk an injury.”
West defended his belief that Beckett was not trying to harm Abreu.
“Did he throw it up and in?” the umpire said. “Yeah. Do we believe he threw it at Abreu? No. Would we have warned him had both benches not emptied? Probably not. But because both benches emptied, we did issue a warning.”
I’m surprised the “unbiased” Bob Watson didn’t tack on an extra game suspension for some kind of minor uniform infraction.
Per Fox Sports, Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher was suspended for one game and fined, and he was to serve the penalty Tuesday night. In addition, Watson fined Angels manager Mike Scioscia and players Torii Hunter and Justin Speier.
How are Beckett’s “aggressive actions” after the pitch worse than Torii Hunter GOING AFTER THE UMPIRE?
I’d have to think he’ll appeal and my guess is that he’ll get it knocked down to 5 games still missing only one start.
I still don’t think Beckett did it on purpose. He was in the middle of his wind-up when time out was called! Beckett is a big guy, how is he supposed to just stop all that momentum?
…
I really just don’t even know what to say at this point.
And again I ask – What deity did this team piss off?
Nothing will make me believe Becks did that on purpose, short of him coming out and saying “Yeah, I threw at his head. And I’d do it again!”. Other than that, not buying it.
This season is already so frustrating and maddening…and it’s only 7 games in!
I think this is ridiculous. Yes, Beckett took a bad mistake and made it worse by mouthing off and walking towards the ump, Abreau and then Scioscia. He should have just stayed on the mound and let them all work it out…however, that’s not the Becks we know and love. He had something to say and hell be it if he wasn’t going to say it.
I hope he does appeal it for no other reason than the ruling says he intentional aimed a ball at a player’s head.
And yeah…Torii and Speier get no game suspensions? And Scioscia who not only complained, but an inning later came out and did it again. Aurgh!!
Please help me understand how Beckett gets a six-game suspension but was not ejected from the actual game, and allowed to finish the game, while those who were ejected from the game only receive a one-game suspension.
Apologies if I’m being both dense and biased here.
@starr4: I’m pretty sure we’re all trying to figure that one out.
@starr4: Twinkie is right… this makes no sense at all.
I didn’t see the actual play, butI dare anyone to throw a perfect strike at 90 MPH when the guy suddenly jumps out of the batter’s box.
Abreu has every right to jump out, but the potcher can’t control where that ball ends up if he’s already in motion.
Bottom Line: I’m gonna chalk this up to the emotions the Angels were feeling after the death of a teammate… because the only other reasonable suggestion is that they’re just bitter from us sweeping them year after year in the playoffs.
My question: does the MLB think Josh was going to intentionally throw it at Abreu’s head before time was called? If so, this makes no sense since Bobby moved when time was called, and therefore the pitch at his head would be off.
If they think he was going to throw a regular pitch until he realized time had been called…well, that is even nuttier. How could he intentionally change the direction of the ball while in mid-throw, while the batter was also moving?
It is beyond clear that this is an accident. It was certainly clear to Joe West on the scene. By suspending him, they are making a statement that West was wrong.
As for the number of games, pitchers always get suspended for many games, because being suspended for one or two games means nothing to them, as they only pitch every 4th or 5th game anyway.
I’m sort of baffled that the only suspension for the Angels is ONE GAME for Hatcher and that’s it.
Don’t forget, this is Bob “Never Met A Sox He Didn’t Want to Penalize” Watson.
I’m never going to agree that Beckett intentionally aimed at Abreu- for two reasons:
(1) He’s never done it before, so why in the world would he start now? And for such a benign reason as Abreu calling a late timeout? It’s not like someone on the Angels went after one of his teammates- Abreu was just pulling a Julio Lugo in the batter’s box. It’s beyond insane to suggest that a guy who has never in his life thrown at a batter’s head intentionally would choose that moment to completely change his character.
(2) He goes fucking ballistic anytime someone else does it.
Texy – this is my feeling too. Has Beckett ever gone headhunting before? I mean, has it even ever been questionable? I don’t know of a time when it has ever been alleged. Besides, my guess is if he wanted to hit Abreu, he would have.
WTH? I first read about this on the Globe, and I didn’t believe it. Does it suck that the ball nearly hit Abreu in the head? Yeah. But did Beckett intend to do that? I don’t think so. Maybe his reaction was a little too fiery for some people’s liking, but hey, at least in Boston, we don’t brainwash our players into perfect, media-friendly puppets.
And why is Bob Watson allowed to have part in these kinds of decisions anymore? It’s clear that he is biased. He and Scott Boras should go picnicking and never come back.
Wow, I got so angry/annoyed that I actually forgot that I live in New York, and not Boston, for a minute.
But then again, Red Sox Nation is infiltrating everywhere!
@Texy: Ah, the good times and memories of Joshie when Joba decided that Youk’s head was a target. Yeah…that’s a guy who aims for people’s heads.
I do think Josh added to the drama, but given that it is Josh…I actually think he handled himself well. He didn’t get into it in any way that could be seen as physical. He yelled and pointed his finger in people’s faces, but in no way was he the most aggressive person on that field.
I did love the passive aggressive actions of Joshie throwing warm up pitches while the Angels argued like hot heads that he should get tossed. It was like giving them the finger saying…I’m not getting tossed so fuck off.
If Becks is suspended…then by all that is fair and decent, so should Hunter and Speier. They were the most aggressive on the field…and the ones who wanted to take things to a physical level.
Let’s see the possible positive…maybe this suspension will angry the testy Sox and awake their crankilicious bats.
I’m completely baffled at this whole situation. Not thrown out of game – yet suspended. Torii (et al) thrown out of game and got no suspension. I’m really at a loss.
Coupled with the Lowrie issues and the apparent in ability to WIN games has me in a tail spin.
First off, I have to laugh at those who think this is some sort of Great Yankee Conspiracy. Over at the Globe’s site at least five people claimed that. Please, don’t be so paranoid. As an FYI, Bob Watson only played two years with the Yankees. He spent most of his career with the Astros and–surprise!–a year with the Red Sox. Read your history, kids.
Secondly, it’s my belief that Josh got suspended not for the pitch–as others have noted he’s not a headhunter–but for what he said to Scioscia and for coming off the mound. If he’d stayed on the mound and kept his mouth shut I think nothing would have started. I love Josh’s intensity as much as anyone but he screwed up when he left the mound. Like it or not the pitcher is usually held accountable in a situation like that. Not a conspiracy, just the truth.
@Trish: First off, no one here said anything about a Great Yankee Conspiracy. Please, don’t be so paranoid. As an FYI, Bob Watson was the general manager of the Yankees, too. Read your history, kids.
Secondly, as the press release from the MLB clearly states, he WAS INDEED suspended for both “intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of the Angels’ Bobby Abreu and for his aggressive actions after the pitch”. He would never in a million years be suspended purely for coming off the mound. Additionally, nowhere at all are any comments to Scioscia included as part of the reason for the suspension. If they were, Scioscia would have been suspended for the very same thing.
I don’t see anyone arguing that Beckett’s bravado and marching off the mound was not what escalated that incident. All I see are people confused about how in the world they decided Beckett intentionally threw at Abreu– because THAT is what caused the suspension. Barking and walking off the mound alone would never have led to a suspension.
@Trish: Hey Trish…calling us “kids” because we don’t agree with your take on things…is just childish all in itself. And, we do know our history. In fact, Texy linked to a page which goes in depth about his history. His time with the Red Sox and some of his comments afterwards are well known…as well as his history of suspensions with the team, warranted or not.
I agree that Beckett didn’t make the situation better with his reaction. No doubt. However, a suspension is more than his behavior afterwards….it specifically states that the throw was intentional. I’d appeal that if I was Beckett too. Plus, if his behavior was aggressive so was the behavior of all those Angels who actually got ejected in the game. Fair is fair.
And what I came here to post….wanna know why I love Becks. This quote in response to Scioscia saying he was disturbed with how Beckett reacted, showing no remorse, etc.
Beckett’s response today:
“I don’t really feel like I did anything. It’s unfortunate,” Beckett said. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. Am I supposed to go give him a hug? I wasn’t really in a hugging mood right then. I don’t really know what they wanted me to do.”
LOVE it! Now, I would have paid a million bajillion dollars to see Becks walk up to Abreau and try to bear hug him. LOL LOL LOL LOL Love him!
@shelley1005: love the quote by beckett. sorry for lower-case–on hold with ms support–kill me know.
I hate Microsoft with the passion of a thousand suns. Sorry, I’m just ticked right now. /rant
I really hope we kick the A’s bums tonight. I need to yell at something ;-)
Beckett rocks.. “I wasn’t really in a hugging mood…” I love that dude.
I definitely agree with Joe West. My take: Beckett may have wanted to back Abreu off, but not in this fashion. Maybe he was just setting up to pitch inside and, when he let it fly after time was called, it just happened to stay in. Regardless, the suspension was unnecessary, especially since he wasn’t even ejected during the game.
Justin Speier is comparing Beckett’s actions to Clemens throwing the broken bat at Piazza
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-josh-beckett15-2009apr15,0,2184591.story?track=rss
“Speier said Beckett’s actions reminded him of the incident in the 2000 World Series, when then-Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens hurled the barrel of a broken bat at then- Mets catcher Mike Piazza while Piazza was running to first.”
@Jayne: Speier is a douchewad who was itching for a fight, and was promising to throw at the head of other players. So if Beckett is Clemens for letting that pith fly, does that make Speier Clemensx10?
Texy: totally agree.
@Jayne: It was brave of you to go find that on the LA Times website. After the influx of Angels trolls I’ve seen here and elsewhere, I didn’t have the stomach to read the Times after the announcement was made.
Texy: LOL, I resisted it as long as possible, because I *knew* reading their reaction would piss me off more, but I kept seeing links to it, and references to it, and finally gave in … I’m just annoyed that all the whining the Angels did over this has now apparently paid off.