Cole Hamels Suspended

[ChuckTownTiger 0]

Is it just me or is it silly for a starting pitcher to get suspended for only 5 games. If you're going to take the time to suspend a starting pitcher it should be for at least 8 games so that it actually means something.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/hamels-suspended-5-games-throwing-212201960--mlb.html;_ylt=AqLBjMtobs8_Vlkh0VGFtgQ5nYcB

[Ronald McDonald 0]

Suspending him 5 games will be the equivalent of him missing 1 start. I don't see anything wrong with that. Suspending him 8 games wouldn't change anything. He'd just miss 1 start with an 8 game suspension as well.

[ChuckTownTiger 0]

I'm probably wrong but don't you think he will start the day he comes off of suspension? If so I just feel he should miss his spot in the rotation and not just postponed by one day.

By the way I think plunking should be a fine and not a suspension given the pitcher doesn't throw at someone's head.

[smackydoodle 200]

Sending a message with a plunking is old school baseball, but running to the media after the game bragging about it was beyond idiotic. He deserved to get suspended. Had he kept his mouth shut nothing would've happened to him.

[around4ever 4,140]

Hamels admitting it was intentional was stupid.  Bryce Harper is young, enthusiastic and loaded with talent.  Why shouldn't he play like he does?  I'm sure some of the older players were taking offense to his style of play.  I really have not seen him intentionally showboat or show up the opponent.  He is just playing the game the way it is supposed to be played.  What Hamels did is (and has been forever) part of the game.  Yes, he was sending a message and I'm sure Harper knew it was coming.  It won't be the last "message" he receives.  I don't agree with the unheard of fine or the suspension. 

[Stripe 5]

Sending a message with a plunking is old school baseball, but running to the media after the game bragging about it was beyond idiotic. He deserved to get suspended. Had he kept his mouth shut nothing would've happened to him.

^^This^^

[around4ever 4,140]

Clarification: Throwing at a batter is old school baseball but normally it is done after that player did something showing up the other team or disrepsecting the game.  IMO, Harper has done neither of those.  He is only guilty of playing the game with youthful enthusiasm and enormous talent.  Did that deserve a plunking?  No.  Will it happen to Harper again?  Yes.  In clarification of my last statement in my previous post, Hamels should have been fined but not to the level he was fined.  A five game suspension for a starting pitcher is almost meaningless.   

[AUTUmike 79]

Hamels is an idiot, not only for bragging about it, but also because of his rationale for throwing at Harper in the first place. His statement that it was basically just because Harper was a heralded prospect is beyond stupid, and as the Braves' announcers pointed out with the examples of Chipper, Freddie Freeman, and Jason Heyward, the idea of plunking a up and coming player just because is absolutely NOT part of the game or old school--its just dumb. Old school is throwing inside and occasionally hitting a batter because you're trying to keep the batter honest.

[Bro Johnny Mac 1,572]

He should have gotten 21 games.Old school has NOTHING to do with what Hamels did,he's an idiot.Yes,a pitcher should be able to move guys off the plate,but there is only two reasons to hit a guy on purpose.

1.If he has shown up the pitcher(which Harper didnt do)

2.To protect his team mates(if one of your guys have been hit on purpose,or mabey a dirty take-out slide or an unnecessary running over of the catcher)thats it,thats old school.To hit a guy because he is a rookie and talented is just dumb.

[Ronald McDonald 0]

Sending a message with a plunking is old school baseball, but running to the media after the game bragging about it was beyond idiotic. He deserved to get suspended. Had he kept his mouth shut nothing would've happened to him.

There was nothing old school about this beaning. Cowardly move.

[AUFightingSoldiers 759]

Sending a message with a plunking is old school baseball, but running to the media after the game bragging about it was beyond idiotic. He deserved to get suspended. Had he kept his mouth shut nothing would've happened to him.

There was nothing old school about this beaning. Cowardly move.

Exactly.  And what's even funnier... He made Hamels look like a freakin fool when he stole home on him.

[Ronald McDonald 0]

And I found his postgame comments on Hamels even better. He said Hamels is a good guy and didn't say anything ugly.

[alexava 6,987]

Suspending him 5 games will be the equivalent of him missing 1 start. I don't see anything wrong with that. Suspending him 8 games wouldn't change anything. He'd just miss 1 start with an 8 game suspension as well.

its the $ that he lost by the 5 games that is the punishment. i think you divide your seasons salary by 162 and multiply by 5. i heard its worth about 409,000$

[smackydoodle 200]

Sending a message with a plunking is old school baseball, but running to the media after the game bragging about it was beyond idiotic. He deserved to get suspended. Had he kept his mouth shut nothing would've happened to him.

There was nothing old school about this beaning. Cowardly move.

Actually it was. It's not "modern school", which is what everyone is basing it on. Modern school is getting respect for the inside corner. Old school is if you had a reputation of showing up the other team, there were pitchers who would drill you the first chance they got. Harper was notorious for showing up the other team and the pitchers in the minors. He got a message from a MLB pitcher to keep his antics off the field now that he's in the big boy's league.