Boston pitcher Josh Beckett has been suspended for six games and fined by Major League Baseball, which determined he intentionally threw a pitch near the head of the Los Angeles Angels’ Bobby Abreu last week. (source: SI.com/Feedzilla)
Our instinct: There will be a lot of discussion on this one. Former Yankee GM Bob Watson who is Major League Baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline and vice president of rules and on-field operations, over ruled the umpires on the field in giving Beckett the suspension. Watson and the Red Sox have been at odds since 2007 when he issued the following statement:
“There’s going to be, for lack of a better term, a Francona Rule,” Watson said. “You can only wear your uniform top or jacket. You can’t wear your nightshirt, or whatever it is. You can wear it before games, or after games, but not during games. You have to have your uniform top at all times.”
Here’s where Beckett hung himself. Abreu called for time late and was granted it. Beckett, who was in his windup came to the plate as he rightfully should, no problem there. However, Abreu was backing out of the box and the pitch still wizzed by his head, no where near where Jason Varitek was set up. To top it off he had to walk towards home plate like a punk. He might as well of picked up a broken bat and tossed it Abreu.
