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26 Responses to “Cliff Lee Suspended”

1. John Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 5:34 pm

   I didn’t see the AB’s with Cliff, but I am a bit surprised to see a pitcher suspended in ST. Was Cliff really throwing at Snyder? No offense to Chris – but he’s not really the type of guy that would be a target for a plunking.

2. BurrGundy Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 5:35 pm

   Spring training games mean something to me, especially when the pitching looks like it is coming around. Joe Blanton pitched five innings giving up two runs on seven hits. Also, the bullpen held the Yankees scoreless for four innings, and Contaras looked better. It’s ALWAYS good to see the Phils beat the Yankees, even in meaningless Spring training games. Hope the pitching keeps improving !!!

3. John Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 5:35 pm

   Don’t you mean steaks? as in Rib-eyes? That was one of my grandfather’s favorites.

4. Paul Boye Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 5:45 pm

   Apparently, Lee tripped over Snyder backing up a play at the plate. Snyder was instructing the runner coming home to slide, and I guess Cliff objected to his placement and thought he was interfering.

   He may have thrown at Snyder in his next AB, but I think the suspension is silly for a pitch not actually making contact.

5. BS Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 5:59 pm

   Cliff’s obviously still PO’d about getting traded. We should ask Seattle to kindly send him back to us. It’d be for his own good.

6. Manny Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 6:06 pm

   CLIFF LEE CAN DO NO EVIL.

7. Chuck Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 6:15 pm

   Who’s Cliff Lee again?

8. George Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 6:29 pm

   Throwing at someone’s head is totally different than throwing at someone’s back. The latter can bruise, the former can kill. And yes, concussions are the same (so is death) no matter the time of year, and deserve discipline during the season. Anything else would be meaningless. Zito probably threw intentionally, but one must consider the intended target (head or back) when giving suspensions, fines or whatever. He sent his message, but not in a particularly dangerous manner.

   I don’t particularly care about Washington’s drug use. He did admit it; he did go to rehab. His honesty and determination, I think, will have a bigger impact than his former habit. Of course, if he relapses, all bets are off.

   I agree with BurrGundy; spring games mean something. If they didn’t, teams would dispense with them.

9. Colin Says:
   March 17th, 2010 at 7:35 pm

   I think at this point beanballs have become a part of the game. My guess is that MLB doesn’t necessarily want to be too restrictive with it unless it shows a genuine desire to harm someone, i.e. throwing at their head.

   And if I was the Rangers I’d start buying the coke for Ron Washington. They were significantly better last season… maybe the coke had something to do with it lol

10. Al in Seattle Says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    Regarding the Cliff Lee incident, he threw one ball really inside to Snyder. The next pitch went over Snyder’s head, and then he (Snyder) started to walk to the mound. Dugouts emptied, no punches were thrown, and Lee got tossed for no good reason while Snyder stayed in the game. Lee said he was trying to throw inside, but the grip got away from him. This suspension is an outrage and the Mariners should fight it tooth and nail to nullify it.

11. John Says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    Thanks Al – I would be peeved too. Especially since that was only his 2nd start of the spring. I think with the knowledge that pitchers, (players in general) are getting back to the grind of daily baseball has to be kept in mind. Not saying this applies at all times, but this really seems like a case of ‘no harm no foul’ to me.

    Funny how once I leave Seattle the M’s start winning!!! I do miss hearing Dave Niehaus call games though, he’s no HK, but really does a fantastic job.

12. shag beta sigma delta Says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    I too care about ST games, if not for the the sheer joy to watch baseball, to see how well the players kept up with training etc. over the winter. Like Ryan still losing wait, and seem a couple times trying to go to left field. Along with seeing some of these guys that play AAA or AA that many of you on here seem to know so much about. It was fun watching Brown dominate lesser pitching, and making defensive plays running out infield hits. So say if anybody cares I think most of us do. It is baseball after all the greatest sport there is

13. Carlton for Wise Says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    Hitting a batter with an off-speed pitch is not comparable to a fastball at the head. A few years back, umps warned (or ejected, can’t remember) Rheal Cormier on a curveball that hit a batter early in spring training. At the time, Cormier was working out of the windup, one of Kerrigan’s bad ideas. He was allegedly uncomfortable with winding up and a pitch got away from him. Was it dangerous or intentional? Doubt it.

    I realize it’s a judgment call, but let’s be realistic. If an ump views an incident that he deems both truly intentional and dangerous, an ejection may be justified. It’s hard to believe it would get to the point where the baseball overlords mete out the loss of a start like they did for Cliff Lee.

    So Lee’s punishment seems like an overreaction. I hate when an incident like this erupts and only one side gets hit with the ejection and suspension. That’s a bigger problem.

14. Heather Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 7:34 am

    I’m pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but maybe someone can clarify: When Cliff Lee is given a 5 game suspension, does that mean 5 games that he would start, he is suspended for? Or just the first 5 games (which he would only pitch one of those days anyway).

    So effectively, isn’t this really a one game suspension if it’s just for the first 5 days?

    Thanks.

15. George Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 7:42 am

    One side only got hit with a suspension because one side only instigated the near brawl. You don’t heave fastballs at a player’s head, especially if–as was indicated by Al in Seattle–the prior pitch was also way inside.

    Maybe Snyder was in Lee’s way on the home plate backup–mistakes do happen in ST games–but that’s still no excuse to try to hit him twice. Lee deserves what he got.

16. Chuck Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 8:22 am

    IF this is the case with Lee’s “intentions”….it’s interesting because 1) Does he have an “anger problem” that can be ultimately detrimental to the team (we certainly didn’t see that last year).

    Or 2) were his actions justified in some way. Yeah, I know there is “no excuse to try to hit him twice” as you’ve said, George.

    But what was really going on there? It’s not like Cliff Lee exactly has the reputation of being a “head-hunter”. SOMETHING had to have happened to cause him to do what he did.

17. PhxPhilly Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 9:03 am

    I guess Cliff’s aim is not quite so good in Spring Training. Tried to hit him the first time and missed. Made sure he got the message loud and clear the second time.
    This is EXACTLY the type of thing in my opinion that should be grounds for ejection and possible suspension. In meaningless games pitchers are more likely to do something like this. Lee’s reaction after that second pitch should be able to tell you if he meant to hit Snyder or not.
    I’m pretty sure in ST if you want to avoid something like that, your second pitch is not “up and in”. Who cares if you walk him. It’s ST. Work on the next guy.

18. Chuck Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 9:48 am

    Picking up on the theme of “meaningless” games…..I found this, as I was poking around, from http://www.riveraveblues.com….a Yankees blog…

    The entry is from “tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size”
    at 9:40 AM today. He says”

    “Heh…..I like how the only spring training games that “matter” are games against the Phillies. We should petition Bud Selig’s office to cut the Grapefruit League in two separate leagues. We don’t ever want any ST games scheduled against the Pirates, Astros, Nationals, Blue Jays, Mets, Marlins, Braves or Orioles: THOSE TEAMS SUCK AND THE EXHIBITIONS ARE WORTHLESS! WORTHLESS! We want to be in the Grapefruit Premiere League: Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins, Phillies, Cardinals and Rays. Just a seven team round robin. Everyone else is BENEATH US.”

    Intesesting comments. Typical of an arrogant Yankees fan. But he DID include us (tells me that they actually DO respect the Phillies). Notice that his list has that the Braves “SUCK” and that the Tigers are “premiere”…..

19. Georgie Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 10:02 am

    That seems so out of character for Cliff Lee, he never showed signs of that when he was here. I absolutely think he is REALLY ticked off about being traded, he wanted to remain in Philly in the worst way. No, I’m not bringing up the trade again, just saying, it may be weighing on his mind.

20. fan at Birth Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 10:04 am

    Lee got the suspension only because he chucked his pitches at his head. Halladay is still around the first 5 games haha

21. WFC010 Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 10:16 am

    You know, Roy Halladay accidentally beaned Jim Thome during a Phillies/Blue Jays Spring Training game like 6-7 years back, while Larry Bowa was still our manager, and Bowa was cursing so much that people had to hold Halladay and Bowa back from eachother.

22. Georgie Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 10:47 am

    When ISN’T Bowa cursing so much????

23. Brett Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    I miss the days when getting a ball thrown at your head was the standard reward for hitting a home run in your previous at bat.

24. NickFromGermantown Says:
    March 18th, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    I don’t know why this is “interesting”. There should be no debate. Doing such a thing is dangerous.

25. philsgirl Says:
    March 19th, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    I think Dom Brown said he was worried Verlander might try a little brush-back if he had to face him again after his second HR..

26. Sigma Lenses Says:
    May 21st, 2010 at 7:51 am

    Awesome blog, I love Photogrpahy

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