Pitcher CC Sabathia and manager Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees are both displeased with the five-game suspension given to Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster after he threw at Alex Rodriguez. It is unlikely that Dempster will even miss a start while serving his punishment.
Girardi says that he worries the minimal suspension could entice other pitchers to throw at Rodriguez without fear of missing starts:
"I think when you talk about suspensions, if you suspend a position player three games, he misses three games. You can suspend a pitcher five games, even six games, and he might not miss a start if the off days come into play. That’s why I think everything has to be taken into account when you make a suspension. Not just in this case; all the time (USA Today Sports)."
Pitcher CC Sabathia expressed a similar sentiment:
"I thought he at least should miss a start and he’s not going to do that. I don’t think it does anything. You don’t throw at a guy four times. He violated every code in every way. … I’m sure if it happens again that hopefully somebody will see that this isn’t enough and that guys need to be suspended longer."
What do you say, FinSiders? I know Rodriguez isn’t exactly a sympathetic figure, but do Girardi and Sabathia have a point here? Share your thoughts on the suspension in the comments below.
[Source: USA Today Sports]