Major League Baseball has issued the following discipline stemming from incidents that occurred in the May 16th game between the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros at Houston's Minute Maid Park. Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement. Houston pitcher Russ Springer has been suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing multiple pitches at San Francisco's Barry Bonds during the top of the fifth inning. Unless appealed, Springer's suspension is scheduled to begin tonight, when the Astros are scheduled to host the Texas Rangers. If appealed, his suspension will be held in abeyance until the process is complete. In addition, Astros manager Phil Garner has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount for the intentional actions of Springer after warnings had been issued to him earlier during Bonds' at-bat. Garner is scheduled to serve his suspension on Monday, May 22nd, when Houston is scheduled to play at Washington. (MLB.com).
Please hear me out. I'm not trying to call attention to Barry Bonds at all in this blog. I'm a little shocked and frankly upset at how Russ Springer just went after a batter. It's one thing to pitch around someone, or get behind in the count and then just decide to walk him. But Springer's actions on this past Tuesday evening definitely looked like it was an intent to injure.
The first pitched ball in the at-bat to Bonds nearly hit in the high hip/buttocks area. However, due to the speed of the pitch (most likely a breaking ball) Bonds was able to get out of the way. The next pitch was low and inside nearly getting Bonds on the left foot (again he was able to get out of the way). The third pitch was again inside, this time higher near the San Francisco lettering on Bonds' uniform. The pitch was close enough to hit the knob of Bonds' bat. Pitch four. Inside. High. Bonds couldn't avoid it. He turned his shoulder and took the pitch (allegedly clocked at 92 MPH) on the upper right shoulder.
Now the good stuff. After the first pitch in the at-bat Springer was warned by the plate umpire, and also received a nice staredown from Bonds. After the fourth pitch in the at-bat Springer was ejected for throwing at Bonds.
More good stuff, and here's the stuff I can't understand. Why would and why do fans cheer when players get hurt, or something bad happens to them? This is exactly what happened to Bonds. Yes, Bonds is the source of much controversy for "unknowingly" taking steroids and being very close to tying and overtaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record. But to cheer when he gets hit? What if he got hit in the head? What is the motivation behind such behavior? It happened again when Rasheed Wallace turned his ankle during the Pistons/Cavs playoff game. Yes, Rasheed opened his mouth and made a guarantee that the Cavs wouldn't win again on their home floor drawing the ire of Cavs fans all over the place. But does that mean that you cheer when he's injured?
So the fan says or thinks (speculation of course) I can do whatever I want. I paid my ticket and I'm allowed to boo or curse or do whatever I want to spur my team on to victory. That may be the case. But what does it say about you as a fan? Of course your able to do what you want within reason at a sporting event. However, I think that it shows a lack of class that you can't show some concern for someone who may be injured.
Now on to Russ. My question to you is what were you thinking? If you wanted to walk him (Bonds) then walk him. It was the top of the fifth inning and the score was 11-3 Giants. You can't tell me Russ that you were missing your spots. You were trying to hit him. You could've missed way outside, you could've talked it over with Mike Matheny and did an intentional walk. But the way you went about the whole at-bat was so blatant. I actually credit Bonds with showing restraint and not saying something to Springer or escalating the situation by doing something to provoke him (Springer) or his Astro teammates.
So that's all I really have to say. Springer deserves his suspension. It doesn't matter if he threw at Bonds or another batter (though the fact that it was Bonds makes the whole situation bigger).
Oh and I'm still not a witness.
Jonathan
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