Matt Barnes suspended for four games and fined

[Bellhorn04]

Regardless of the reason Barnes threw a beanball behind Machado's head he deserves more than four games for it. I suspect he meant to throw it behind his tochas but lost control of it somehow. He should pay dearly for that mistake. In real life you pay for your mistakes. The rule should be "nothing over the belt" when you are seeking retribution. A 95 mph fastball to the head, even with a helmet on, not only threatens a player's career but his life as well. Barnes is getting off easy IMO.

 

I would assume that the suspension is the same as has been handed out for similar cases before. You can't just arbitrarily start jacking up the penalties without some sort of advance notice.

[Maxbialystock]

MLB did not penalize Machado, who made the slide that presumably triggered the retaliation by Barnes. Most sports news commentators (if not all) have agreed with the MLB decision.

 

What Barnes did was clearly intentional--he meant to hit Machado (but missed him). Machado did make a hard slide into 2B, but it was clearly intended to beat the throw from Bogaerts and almost did. When it happened, Machado gave every indication that the spiking was unintended--and that's exactly the way Pedroia saw it and said so.

 

Pedroia's toughness in my opinion is beyond question. if he thinks the spiking was no big deal, that's what it was. Farrell and Barnes were wrong to retaliate.

[Bellhorn04]

We'll never know for sure, if Barnes was aiming at his head. He might have missed by a foot or more.

 

It's a dangerous road to take, and the league did well with their punishment, but I do think Barnes was expected to do something.

 

Maybe the O's will be less likely to make slides that that against us going forward.

 

First let's see if the O's throw at one of our guys in the upcoming series.

[Station 13]

First let's see if the O's throw at one of our guys in the upcoming series.

 

That would come off even more foolish. Barnes and Eddie had one job, they flunked. Move on.

[FredLynn]

I would assume that the suspension is the same as has been handed out for similar cases before. You can't just arbitrarily start jacking up the penalties without some sort of advance notice.

 

The league can't do it. But the Red Sox management can impose further penalties if they have the guts to do so. Bottom line is this: you do not throw at a guys head. If you miss location IMO you should pay dearly for your mistake. Four game is not "dearly"....most of those games Barnes would not even have appeared more than likely. So its what-two games of participation he is missing?

[Spudboy]

The entire affair is painted in fail.

[S5Dewey]

The league can't do it. But the Red Sox management can impose further penalties if they have the guts to do so. Bottom line is this: you do not throw at a guys head. If you miss location IMO you should pay dearly for your mistake. Four game is not "dearly"....most of those games Barnes would not even have appeared more than likely. So its what-two games of participation he is missing?

 

IMHO you're confusing throwing AT someone's head with a ball getting away from a pitcher and going near the head. If I thought for an instant that Barnes was throwing AT Michado's head I'd support what you're saying - but I don't. And that's JMO.

 

I think the 4 games is appropriate because it's probably twice what a starter gets for the same thing. MLB likes to give starters a 5 game suspension for throwing at a batter or essentially one start. In the case of Barnes as a reliever it's not known how many appearances he's missing but my guess is that it's more than one.

[Bellhorn04]

The league can't do it. But the Red Sox management can impose further penalties if they have the guts to do so. Bottom line is this: you do not throw at a guys head. If you miss location IMO you should pay dearly for your mistake. Four game is not "dearly"....most of those games Barnes would not even have appeared more than likely. So its what-two games of participation he is missing?

 

So what - you think Barnes was acting totally on his own and that Farrell had nothing to do with it?

[dgalehouse]

A few points: 1- Common sense would indicate that Farrell wanted Machado drilled. 2- Pedroia is taking heat for his comments , but can you blame him for not wanting to be associated with throwing at a guy's head. 3- How much do we know about Barnes ? What kind of a guy is he ? 4- The right thing to do would have been to retaliate the next time Machado came to the plate. Drill him in the ribs. Warnings would then be issued and that should have been the end of it. 5- The idea that they couldn't do that because Wright is a knuckleballer is ridiculous. He certainly has a good enough fastball to get the point across. 6- While the Sox certainly needed to retaliate , the whole thing was not handled properly. And that has to be on Farrell.

[jacksonianmarch]

It doesn't matter where he aimed. The execution is the determinant. Also, it should have ended with ERod. ERod tried to drill him low and ended up walking him. If you're going to drill a guy, it's easiest to aim for his hip or lower back. Once you start riding higher, you're risking a fight.

[FredLynn]

IMHO you're confusing throwing AT someone's head with a ball getting away from a pitcher and going near the head. If I thought for an instant that Barnes was throwing AT Michado's head I'd support what you're saying - but I don't. And that's JMO.

 

I think the 4 games is appropriate because it's probably twice what a starter gets for the same thing. MLB likes to give starters a 5 game suspension for throwing at a batter or essentially one start. In the case of Barnes as a reliever it's not known how many appearances he's missing but my guess is that it's more than one.

 

I don't think he was throwing at his head either. I think he made a mistake. But this is the kind of mistake that you should pay dearly for....like drunk driving, spousal abuse etc. There is the potential for great bodily harm. Fortunately Machado escaped without being hit at all, but it could have been much worse. Barnes is not paying heavily enough for what he did.

[FredLynn]

So what - you think Barnes was acting totally on his own and that Farrell had nothing to do with it?

 

I don't think its relevant, but I am quite sure Farrell had something to do with throwing at Machado. Just not at his head. Barnes made a mistake you cannot make. Throw it in the dirt behind him if you have to. That would have gotten the message across much more effectively.

[Station 13]

I don't think its relevant, but I am quite sure Farrell had something to do with throwing at Machado. Just not at his head. Barnes made a mistake you cannot make. Throw it in the dirt behind him if you have to. That would have gotten the message across much more effectively.

 

You believe Barnes was told or was aiming for the head of Machado? The guy could not even find the plate over half of his pitches.

[FredLynn]

You believe Barnes was told or was aiming for the head of Machado? The guy could not even find the plate over half of his pitches.

 

As I wrote many times, I think that he was either told to throw at Machado or at the very least he was given the green light by Farrell-just not at his head. He missed. You cannot miss there. Ever. Or you should pay very dearly. What would have happened if it turned out differently, if he actually hit Machado and ended his career? Is four games enough now?

[mvp 78]

As I wrote many times, I think that he was either told to throw at Machado or at the very least he was given the green light by Farrell-just not at his head. He missed. You cannot miss there. Ever. Or you should pay very dearly. What would have happened if it turned out differently, if he actually hit Machado and ended his career? Is four games enough now?

When was the last time a career ended after a hitter was hit in the head?

[Jack Flap]

I don't think he was throwing at his head either. I think he made a mistake. But this is the kind of mistake that you should pay dearly for....like drunk driving, spousal abuse etc. There is the potential for great bodily harm. Fortunately Machado escaped without being hit at all, but it could have been much worse. Barnes is not paying heavily enough for what he did.

 

Good to know we're not being overly dramatic here.

[jacksonianmarch]

When was the last time a career ended after a hitter was hit in the head?

 

Adam Greenburg

Tony Conigliaro

Mickey Cochrane (s*** helmet)

Ray Chapman (No helmet)

 

Lots of players are now down for awhile with concussions. It can alter careers significantly. It might not end them, but it could severely limit their ceilings for sure

[FredLynn]

When was the last time a career ended after a hitter was hit in the head?

 

You can google it as well as I can. Tony C comes to mind. I can understand a player ACCIDENTALLY getting hit in the head, but not as a result of a pitcher intentionally throwing at him and missing location. You just cannot do that. Its like drunk driving. Its asking for trouble.

[a700hitter]

Adam Greenburg

Tony Conigliaro

Mickey Cochrane (s*** helmet)

Ray Chapman (No helmet)

 

Lots of players are now down for awhile with concussions. It can alter careers significantly. It might not end them, but it could severely limit their ceilings for sure

Paul Blair became a so-so offensive player after his beaning. He could not keep from bailing out. He was expected to have a big offensive career, but that never happened. Doug Griffin's career was effectively ended by a Nolan Ryan heater to the helmet.

[Slasher9]

But this is the kind of mistake that you should pay dearly for....like drunk driving, spousal abuse etc.

 

did you seriously just compare chin music in the game of baseball to beating a woman? smh.....

[Spudboy]

A few points: 1- Common sense would indicate that Farrell wanted Machado drilled. 2- Pedroia is taking heat for his comments , but can you blame him for not wanting to be associated with throwing at a guy's head. 3- How much do we know about Barnes ? What kind of a guy is he ? 4- The right thing to do would have been to retaliate the next time Machado came to the plate. Drill him in the ribs. Warnings would then be issued and that should have been the end of it. 5- The idea that they couldn't do that because Wright is a knuckleballer is ridiculous. He certainly has a good enough fastball to get the point across. 6- While the Sox certainly needed to retaliate , the whole thing was not handled properly. And that has to be on Farrell.

 

It doesn't matter where he aimed. The execution is the determinant. Also, it should have ended with ERod. ERod tried to drill him low and ended up walking him. If you're going to drill a guy, it's easiest to aim for his hip or lower back. Once you start riding higher, you're risking a fight.

 

Yes and yes.

 

This whole thing was poorly handled. I hope that it does not disrupt the clubhouse or the season.

[Slasher9]

Pedroia's toughness in my opinion is beyond question. if he thinks the spiking was no big deal, that's what it was. Farrell and Barnes were wrong to retaliate.

 

if it wasn't a big deal where the Eff was our second baseman the past 3 games?

[mvp 78]

You can google it as well as I can. Tony C comes to mind. I can understand a player ACCIDENTALLY getting hit in the head, but not as a result of a pitcher intentionally throwing at him and missing location. You just cannot do that. Its like drunk driving. Its asking for trouble.

 

So if it hasn't happened in 50 years, why use it as a bogeyman now?

[mvp 78]

did you seriously just compare chin music in the game of baseball to beating a woman? smh.....

 

No kidding... gross.

[mvp 78]

if it wasn't a big deal where the Eff was our second baseman the past 3 games?

 

These dopes are more worried about their fantasy guys I guess?

[a700hitter]

The danger is always there when a player is firing the ball at 90-95+. I think there is more danger today than in era's gone-bye when pitching inside was more a part of the game. If you watch some films of games in the 1950's, even the superstar hitters didn't dig in and at the plate, and they bailed out on curve-balls. They were in the batters box with light feet and they were much more adept at dodging inside pitches. It was really hard to hit Willie Mays and plenty of pitches tried to plunk him, but he could dive, jack-knife and dodge all sorts of pitches. Today, guys dig in like they are planting a tree. They wear helmets and body-armor. And many don't know how to avoid getting hit by the inside pitch because they are always diving into the pitch.

[Kimmi]

I don't think he was throwing at his head either. I think he made a mistake. But this is the kind of mistake that you should pay dearly for....like drunk driving, spousal abuse etc. There is the potential for great bodily harm. Fortunately Machado escaped without being hit at all, but it could have been much worse. Barnes is not paying heavily enough for what he did.

 

Well, Machado made a 'mistake' with his late slide and he actually injured Pedroia. He was not penalized in any way. Ironically, there is a rule against late slides, to protect the infielders. There are no rules against chin music.

 

Not that I'm in any way condoning throwing at someone's head. But I also do not believe Barnes was trying to hit Machado in the head.

[Kimmi]

Pedroia's and Barnes' comments today about the incident:

 

 

Alex Speier‏ @alexspeier 1h1 hour ago

 

Pedroia on Sunday's comments and whether he was calling out teammates: 'We all talked about that. We're going to keep it in house...

 

Pedroia (cont): 'We all feel good about each other and we have each others' backs. Everybody knows how everyone feels about each other'

 

Barnes on whether he was confused by Pedroia's comments: 'Absolutely not. Dustin's a great teammate.'

 

More Barnes: 'Everyone in this clubhouse has one another's back. We're all a unit.'

 

Farrell said Pedroia would have been in the lineup today.

 

Farrell: 'I didn't feel any rift in the clubhouse because of what transpired. Any conversation that was needed was had.'

[Kimmi]

Good find by Evan Drelich:

 

"Dustin Pedroia has some explaining to do.

 

Maybe he can clarify everything. Maybe he called Matt Barnes on Monday to explain what he meant when he told Manny Machado on the field for all the cameras to capture, “It’s not me, it’s them.”

 

But the most prominent voice in the Red Sox clubhouse in a post-David Ortiz world definitely has some explaining to do.

 

Let’s remember Pedroia’s words in 2012 during a radio interview with WEEI.

 

The second baseman revisited famous comments he made about Bobby Valentine that season, when Pedroia spoke up in defense of Kevin Youkilis after Valentine was critical of Youk.

 

“I’m proud to a point where, you know, to be a team leader, you need to have your teammates’ backs under any circumstances,” Pedroia said. “I felt like Youkilis was kind of thrown in a corner by himself. When the top dog comes down on you that hard, you know, I felt like Youk needed someone to be there for him to have his back.

 

“I would rather have people calling [into radio stations] saying however they feel [about me] than for me to walk into work and have to look at Kevin Youkilis and have him say, ‘Hey, man. He didn’t have my back when I needed him the most.’ To an extent, I’m proud that I said that because Youk knows now that under any circumstances I’ll have his back. That goes for all my teammates. I love them.”

Under any circumstances, Dustin? All of your teammates?

[mvp 78]

Et tu Dustin?