Toss into Stands Costs Rodney Three Games
by Ian Casselberry on Sep 8, 2009 3:05 PM EDT
in News
17 comments
Remember when Fernando Rodney threw the baseball into the stands after finishing off his tortured save Friday night in Tampa? (You can see a video clip here.)
Maybe it wasn't that big a deal to those of us in Tiger Town because we were searching for oxygen or had just finished throwing something ourselves after Rodney gave up two hits, two walks, and two runs while almost blowing a huge win. Jim Leyland didn't seem too concerned about it, either.
Here's how TBO.com's Marc Lancaster described the incident:
It wasn’t a toss, either—the ball whizzed into the press box, which is in the second deck behind home plate, and ricocheted hard off a table top. Nobody was hurt—a little less crowded in here tonight with all the football going on—but Rodney is damn lucky his spotty control didn’t lead to the plunking of some kid in the seats.
I thought Lancaster's reaction was overblown, though I admit I didn't see the play when it occurred. But apparently, his feelings were in line with how Major League Baseball viewed the situation.
Rodney has been suspended for three games for that toss. He'll also be fined an undisclosed amount. The suspension would take effect immediately, beginning with tonight's game in Kansas City. However, the Tigers say they intend to appeal.
But there is a precedent in MLB's decision, according to Jason Beck. Diamondbacks pitcher Chad Qualls was also suspended for three games and fined $3,000 when he threw a ball into the stands two years ago, when he pitched for the Astros. Qualls's appeal was denied.
I'm surprised at the penalty, though I certainly understand the potential danger in what Rodney did. That baseball could've struck anyone who wasn't looking or otherwise defenseless. It wasn't the same as tossing a ball to a fan hoping to get a souvenir. Rodney just whirled around and chucked that ball without much regard for where it was going. (Rodney says he "threw it to the right spot," whatever that means. I guess that means the press box.) It was an emotional reaction.
Thanks to those who posted this news in the comments of our last two posts. (This week's poll was well-timed, eh?) There's already been some reaction, but post your thoughts here. Was the suspension warranted in your mind or is MLB overreacting?
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As soon as he did it
i knew he’d get a call from the Commissioner.
And I don’t think it’s too harsh. It wa stupid, it was childish, it was deliberate and somebody could have gotten hurt. Not a smart move at all.
But on a completely different note — this Onion video about the Lions is hilarious.
by NCDee on Sep 8, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rodney Suspended:
I think the suspension was real harsh. The ball did not hit anybody. Or hurt anyone. Should he have thrown it? No, but three games seems too severe to me.
by Curtisro63 on Sep 8, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MLB is making a statement.
That statement is don’t be stupid. 3 games seems a bit excessive but what Fernando did was really stupid and deserved to be punished.
by 13194013 on Sep 8, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so..
who else is…happy?
I mean, Lyon had 2 1-2-3 innings against the Rays…
by actioncuse on Sep 8, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The irony of FR possibly giving up the role he fought for so hard last spring
for being childish in September is too much for me to compute
by murrajo on Sep 8, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
appeal til he needs a rest
then drop the appeal and rest the 3 days
by wiltfongjr on Sep 8, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whining Tampa Bay reporters
Need to shut up. Their reaction is bush league.
Besides, Todd Jones used to fire balls into the upper deck after wins. Why is this an issue now?
A lifelong Tigers fan
by ewild on Sep 8, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm understanding of the suspension
Clearly it was bizarre and out of the realm of normal. In addition, there’s precedent as Ian mentioned and I’d be willing to bet that the Minor League incident where a pitcher threw a ball out of anger into the stands and it hit a child had something to do with following up with the Qualls precedence. It’s a message from the MLB that they are not going to tolerate pitchers/players throwing balls aimlessly into the crowd (and not just lightly tossing, but throwing it very hard). I agree with wiltfongjr above — appeal and have him drop it when they think he could use the days off.
by Detroit4lyfe on Sep 8, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rodney
There might be some precedence with this when qualls did the same thing, but it still seems harsh.
There just isn’t any consistency with bob watson and mlb.
It really makes me wonder if this is selective discipline to teams that “Pay Over Slot” in the draft, and have high payrolls.
As recently as this year, garza and jenks both admitted to actually throwing at batters with no discipline.
whatever, hopefully the suspension is dropped by a game, and Rodney learns from all this.
However to broach another subject, old liver lips bud selig, and bucky tooth bob watson are purposely out of touch with what they choose to be. Time to vote the ins out , and get some consistency in those high baseball offices, maybe by the next CBA.
by KalineCountry on Sep 8, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
IMO
I don’t think a suspension is needed for something like that. He threw it upward and was looking where he was throwing it.
It reminded me of basketball players throwing the ball up at the end of games.
It was still not necessary, and a fine would have been OK.
Either way, at this point in the season going against KC, does it really matter? Just get it over with now and take a long Labor Day break.
by actioncuse on Sep 8, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
excessive...
But since mr. I is not on buds good side due to the porcello bonus, we aren’t going to get leniency on something like this. Rodney shouldn’t have done it but one game would more than prove the point.
by rook34 on Sep 8, 2009 5:01 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
if this is the price of Rick Porcello
we got the steal of the century. Heck, I’d trade a year-long Rodney suspension for the rights to Porcello.
by Trysdor on Sep 8, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to say I told you so....but
when I saw him do that, my first reaction was WTF!!!! My mind then then jumped to “this is bad….real bad!” I thought something like this might happen. I bet Bud and his cronies don’t come off the 3 game suspension. Thank the lord for Brandon Lyon!
"Without deviation from the norm, 'progress' is not possible."
by Zappatista on Sep 8, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Suspension is harsh
I’d reserve a suspension for in-game actions: brawls, beanings, etc. An out-of-game action (which I consider this since the game was over) should get a very heavy fine. If the fine wasn’t a slap on the wrist, it would make the point that this was a potentially dangerous act and shouldn’t go unpunished – but also that it wasn’t game-related and should just hit the wallet instead of hurting the team. Generally in any sport I don’t like the idea of suspensions for non-game stuff. Just go for the money in that case, and no one would have penalized but Rodney himself.
"For myself I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use being anything else." -- Winston S. Churchill
by Baroque on Sep 8, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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