Matt Barnes suspended for four games and fined

[a700hitter]

I could not believe what I was seeing when they had the camera on him. I kept hopping that the "them" he was referring to was not his pitchers, and had some other explanation. His post game comments clarified that he was throwing the pitchers under the bus. That may be the last time that anyone of his teammates has his back. Edited April 26, 2017 by a700hitter

[dgalehouse]

"I overslept....". " I didn't know the gun was loaded...."....... " I don't know how that substance could have gotten into my system" .............." The dog ate my homework" ............" The pitch just got away from me"..........

[Bellhorn04]

I think the best way to settle this s*** between us and Baltimore would be for the managers to get in the ring for 3 rounds, with gloves, and try to knock each other out. I'd have to put my money on Farrell - with that lantern jaw he'd be tough to take down. But I'm sure Showalter would have a few dirty tricks up his sleeve.

[FredLynn]

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?

 

I don't blame Pedroia. Before that pitch was made Pedey said he wasn't holding anything against Machado...."thats baseball" I believe is what he said. Then his team mate endangered the career and the life of another player. Just as I would not support a friend who was involved in a near accident because he elected to drive drunk, Pedroia is appropriately not supporting Barnes for what he did. That is real leadership, regardless of his comments from another time.

[mvp 78]

Endangered the career and life of another player!!!!

 

Get a grip. No one has hadtheir career ruined in 50 years. Did you clutch your pearls when Pedro pitched inside too?

[Fisk]

Endangered the career and life of another player!!!!

 

Get a grip. No one has hadtheir career ruined in 50 years. Did you clutch your pearls when Pedro pitched inside too?

 

Juan Encarcion, Dickie thon, Tony C., Adam Greenburg, Mike Jorgenson, and Kirby Puckett might think differently.

[a700hitter]

I don't blame Pedroia. Before that pitch was made Pedey said he wasn't holding anything against Machado...."thats baseball" I believe is what he said. Then his team mate endangered the career and the life of another player. Just as I would not support a friend who was involved in a near accident because he elected to drive drunk, Pedroia is appropriately not supporting Barnes for what he did. That is real leadership, regardless of his comments from another time.

If he agreed with itnor not, he should have kept his mouth shut or taken it up with Barnes and the manager in private.

[FredLynn]

Endangered the career and life of another player!!!!

 

Get a grip. No one has hadtheir career ruined in 50 years. Did you clutch your pearls when Pedro pitched inside too?

 

You're right; its never happened before, and it won't happen again. What you are writing is factually incorrect. The batter doesn't have to be killed to make beanings dangerous, and this one was intentional to a degree. But before you spout off again, read this article:

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1304213-mlbs-worst-hit-by-pitch-moments-ever

 

 

As I wrote elsewhere, accidents happen. Pitches do get away from guys. The difference between this situation and all the others is that Barnes was throwing at Machado-not at his head-but at him nonetheless. I have no problem with him doing that, but he has to miss LOW, not high. He should have gotten at least 10 games for his mistake. There should be ZERO tolerance for that crap, and the penalties should be heavy, not just four games. If it were up to you I suppose we could just wait until the next guy gets maimed or killed in that situation. A clear message should be sent to MLB pitchers: you miss high there, and you pay the price.

Edited April 26, 2017 by FredLynn

[FredLynn]

If he agreed with itnor not, he should have kept his mouth shut or taken it up with Barnes and the manager in private.

 

That I can buy....this was a matter to be discussed in the clubhouse, privately.

[Nick]

Pedroia could been seen saying, "That's not me, that's them," implying he was angry that Barnes' pitch had gone behind Machado's head in the eighth inning.

 

He's not my captain.

[Spudboy]

I think the best way to settle this s*** between us and Baltimore would be for the managers to get in the ring for 3 rounds, with gloves, and try to knock each other out. I'd have to put my money on Farrell - with that lantern jaw he'd be tough to take down. But I'm sure Showalter would have a few dirty tricks up his sleeve.

 

8 oz gloves with thumbs.

 

None of that pussy Sugar Ray Leonard s***.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Spudboy

[Spudboy]

If he agreed with itnor not, he should have kept his mouth shut or taken it up with Barnes and the manager in private.

 

Yeah I agree with this.

 

The Sox look foolish now trying to stay mute as if the barn door is now magically closed.

 

The whole thing is f***ing dumb. Baseball has some really dumb and arcane unwritten rules.

 

I say everyone should start flipping bats like Joey B.

 

f*** it.

[Bellhorn04]

If he agreed with itnor not, he should have kept his mouth shut or taken it up with Barnes and the manager in private.

 

Agree 100%.

[S5Dewey]

You're right; its never happened before, and it won't happen again. What you are writing is factually incorrect. The batter doesn't have to be killed to make beanings dangerous, and this one was intentional to a degree. But before you spout off again, read this article:

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1304213-mlbs-worst-hit-by-pitch-moments-ever

 

 

As I wrote elsewhere, accidents happen. Pitches do get away from guys. The difference between this situation and all the others is that Barnes was throwing at Machado-not at his head-but at him nonetheless. I have no problem with him doing that, but he has to miss LOW, not high. He should have gotten at least 10 games for his mistake. There should be ZERO tolerance for that crap, and the penalties should be heavy, not just four games. If it were up to you I suppose we could just wait until the next guy gets maimed or killed in that situation. A clear message should be sent to MLB pitchers: you miss high there, and you pay the price.

 

I'm not sure I follow the logic here. Are you saying that if a pitcher is aiming for the inside half of the plate and the ball gets away from him and hits the batter in the head it's only part of the game, but if he's aiming for a batter's hip or thigh and the ball gets away from him and hits the batter in the head he should get a 10 game suspension?

 

I can support 10 games (or more) for malicious intent but not for having a ball get away from a pitcher, regardless of where it ends up.

[Bellhorn04]

If MLB really wanted to curtail beanball wars and brawls they could do it with punitive measures. But how far do you want to go to make it a nice, peaceful, safe little game?

[cp176]

If MLB really wanted to curtail beanball wars and brawls they could do it with punitive measures. But how far do you want to go to make it a nice, peaceful, safe little game?

 

I'm all in. if a bat slips out of a batter's hands and goes into the dugout, what is the punishment going to be?

If a throw gets away from a ss and someone gets hit and hurt, what is the punishment going to be?

 

Were these types of "accidents" accidental or intended?

 

While we are at it, blatant cheating should be punished as well. If a player traps a ball, he should freely admit it.

 

I'll be watching Pedroia very closely when he returns. When he turns the next double play and goes low on the throw in attempt to defend himself, he needs to be punished. He was intentionally trying to hit a defenseless base runner.

 

Time to clean this foolish game up.

 

While we are at it, maybe we should take a look at professional football as well. A law is broken on every play but those gladiators get away with it. I know what you are thinking - football players are tough. Baseball players should not have to in situations where they might get hurt needlessly. We can do more to protect them!

[a700hitter]

I don't seemore legislation of the game being the solution. There are already too many rules. Let the game police itself. Back in the 1960's Juan Marichal bludgeoned John Roseboro over the head with his bat fracturing his skull. It was shocking. That was an assault with a deadly weapon and completely outside of the unwritten policing rules of the game. Had Marichal not been a HOF caliber pitcher, he might have been banned from the game. He played for about 9 or 10 more seasons. Crazy stuff occasionally happens, and I can't see a zero tolerance policy being enforced by MLB. They will always put financial interests first. If Bryce Harper punches an umpire in the face, he is not getting banned. He will get a stiff fine and anger management training. If Ruben Tejada punches an umpire, he will get banished.

[illinoisredsox]

I don't seemore legislation of the game being the solution. There are already too many rules. Let the game police itself. Back in the 1960's Juan Marichal bludgeoned John Roseboro over the head with his bat fracturing his skull. It was shocking. That was an assault with a deadly weapon and completely outside of the unwritten policing rules of the game. Had Marichal not been a HOF caliber pitcher, he might have been banned from the game. He played for about 9 or 10 more seasons. Crazy stuff occasionally happens, and I can't see a zero tolerance policy being enforced by MLB. They will always put financial interests first. If Bryce Harper punches an umpire in the face, he is not getting banned. He will get a stiff fine and anger management training. If Ruben Tejada punches an umpire, he will get banished.

 

Which umpire? There are a few that are held in such high esteem that the players and mangers might take up a collection and give the cash to Harper (or Tejada).

[a700hitter]

Which umpire? There are a few that are held in such high esteem that the players and mangers might take up a collection and give the cash to Harper (or Tejada).

Kulpa, Joe West?

[Slasher9]

Eff Pedroia. very very disappointed in him.

[Kingface]

Eff Pedroia. very very disappointed in him.

 

Agreed. His reaction kind of shocked me.....

[a700hitter]

Agreed. His reaction kind of shocked me.....

Me too.

[Station 13]

Pedroia has a motor mouth. Never thought he was more than a court jester to appease the media.

 

He never had to be the man of the clubhouse growing up with Ortiz, Lowell, Youkilis there.

[S5Dewey]

Pedroia has a motor mouth. Never thought he was more than a court jester to appease the media.

 

He never had to be the man of the clubhouse growing up with Ortiz, Lowell, Youkilis there.

 

Well... I think that's kind of harsh... but there's no doubt his role on the team is changing. His behavior a couple of days ago does concern me though. (Concern? HAH! It's more than a concern.)

[cp176]

Me too.

 

same

[mvp 78]

I'm all in. if a bat slips out of a batter's hands and goes into the dugout, what is the punishment going to be?

If a throw gets away from a ss and someone gets hit and hurt, what is the punishment going to be?

 

Were these types of "accidents" accidental or intended?

 

While we are at it, blatant cheating should be punished as well. If a player traps a ball, he should freely admit it.

 

I'll be watching Pedroia very closely when he returns. When he turns the next double play and goes low on the throw in attempt to defend himself, he needs to be punished. He was intentionally trying to hit a defenseless base runner.

 

Time to clean this foolish game up.

 

While we are at it, maybe we should take a look at professional football as well. A law is broken on every play but those gladiators get away with it. I know what you are thinking - football players are tough. Baseball players should not have to in situations where they might get hurt needlessly. We can do more to protect them!

 

This! We need to treat the MLB the way we treat the PGA. If someone sees a wrong call while watching at home, they should be able to contact MLB and get the scores adjusted!

[mvp 78]

Eff Pedroia. very very disappointed in him.

 

I was down on him before it was cool.

 

[mvp 78]

Pedroia has always been more Grover Dill than Scut Farkus.

[Emp9]

I think what most people are missing out of all this is that Pedroia and Machado are.... wait for it.....FRIENDS. If something similar happened with Ortiz and Torii Hunter, I wouldn't be surprised if Ortiz handled it the same way Pedroia did.

 

Here's another thing most are missing. Pedroia already handled the situation himself, that night. He didn't need the Red Sox to, evidently, go behind his back two days later and re-handle it for him. Think about your everyday life or business even. You have a perceived problem or misunderstanding with a client or a family member. You address the issue personally and solve it. A few days go by and other family members or business partners take it upon themselves to get involved after you put an end to the issue. After you made it known that it wasn't an issue anymore or wasn't to begin with. You'd be pissed right? I know I'd be pissed. The Red Sox went against Pedroia's wishes, that were in fact publicly stated, to let it go. It's kinda hard to take back a public statement paraphrasing " I talked to him, we're friends and it's baseball, let it go". The Red Sox didn't have his back. They ignored him and reveled in typical mob-mentality b.s. hiding behind a "We got your back, bro" facade.

[mvp 78]

If one of your friends is an absolute shitbag like Machado, you may be one too.