Per Divish and Drayer's tweets. The suspension starts with Opening Day, so they're all real games. Oops.
Jeff's note: As a Mariners fan, I hate this, and think it's ridiculous. If I slip into my objectivity underoos, though, there is enough evidence - not proof, but evidence - that Lee was throwing at Chris Snyder to warrant a suspension. The second pitch came up high, and that's a real dangerous area. While I'm aware that Lee's been struggling with his command this spring, it's pretty hard to miss that bad by accident. You have to discourage that sort of stuff, and you discourage by penalizing.
Ultimately, a five-day suspension is pretty minor, as it probably - but not necessarily - costs Lee all of one start. And if he appeals and gets the suspension reduced by a day, as frequently happens, then he doesn't miss a start at all, and Wak just has to shuffle some names around. I didn't see this coming, but I get it, and in the end, it simply isn't that big of a deal.
Lee has also been fined some undisclosed and presumably insignificant amount of money that I imagine is far greater than what I get paid in a year. America!
-----
Update: Lee, naturally, will appeal
0 recs | 77 comments
god dammit
bagsflyfree - March 17, 2010
Pure and utter bullsh*t.
SeaKoala - March 17, 2010
Swearing is fine here
and in this completely justified.
Eyeball Kid - March 17, 2010
Well then
poo pickles!
Ballard Erik - March 17, 2010
Dude, I know I said it was fine but tone it down a little.
Eyeball Kid - March 17, 2010
*GASP*
My precious sensibilities!
88fingerslukee - March 17, 2010
This is how I always imagined people from Ballard swore.
Terminator X - March 17, 2010
Wow
Harsh
OlSalty - March 17, 2010
DUDE!!!!
That seems a little harsh, doesn’t it? It’s not like he actually hit him.
HitKing69 - March 17, 2010
APPEAL
OlSalty - March 17, 2010
He will.
This isn’t worth getting worked up over
Matthew - March 17, 2010
It's worth getting worked up over if you have tickets to the first two games in Oakland.
Two Rs and Two Ls - March 17, 2010
I'm saying it's not worth getting worked up over
until we know if/when he’s appealing. 90% of players appeal and suspensions don’t take place until after the appeal is settled, which could come at any time.
Matthew - March 17, 2010
Chances are that it'll still be settled before the season starts, I would think.
Two Rs and Two Ls - March 17, 2010
WHAT!?!?!??! For a spring training game incident!?!?
MFAN - March 17, 2010
Couldn't he appeal, pitch until it is resolved, get it reduced to say 4 games and not miss a beat?
Janic - March 17, 2010
I'm sure that is why it is 5 games
Basically a one-game suspension
HitKing69 - March 17, 2010
That's like one million dollars in value right there.
Manzanillos Cup - March 17, 2010
BULLSHIT
Wilder. - March 17, 2010
Whats this do to who starts opening day at Safeco?
Don275 - March 17, 2010
That's the 8th game of the season. Wouldn't be too hard to move him back a few spots so he could make the start.
Goose - March 17, 2010
But do you want to purposely have him make his first start that late in the season,
especially when most starters aren’t fully stretched out anyway?
Thingray - March 17, 2010
Son of a bitch.
SeaKoala - March 17, 2010
What a load of crap, hope Lee gets this reduced.
Heydude - March 17, 2010
Are you serious?
I bought tickets to the second game in Oakland just to see Lee…
OceanBird - March 17, 2010
You should tell MLB that because they'll totally rescind the suspension if they find out
pdb - March 17, 2010
Dude, I already did
Got an appointment with Selig at 5.
OceanBird - March 17, 2010
You must have
been in his frat. I hear Bud will take an appointment with anyone that he paddled in college.
el generico - March 17, 2010
Spring Training finally matters
ungoreatstefan - March 17, 2010
Bullshit.
SethGrandpa - March 17, 2010
I am hoping this gets reduced to two games so that Cliff can start the home opener.
Sec 108 - March 17, 2010
Does it really matter as long as it's less than five?
Depending on when the suspension took effect of course.
Thingray - March 17, 2010
He's only got so many years left in him, this might be his one and only chance to see Cliff Lee pitch
Let him have his hope for god’s sake
Kermit. - March 17, 2010
Or more that I already know which games I am going to and I would love for Lee to start one of them.
Sec 108 - March 18, 2010
Gay!
JMKaustin - March 17, 2010
Lee will appeal
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2011371797_cliff_lee_suspended_five_regul.html
Jeff Sullivan - March 17, 2010
You know. If this somehow gets him to start one of the first two games in Seattle, I'll be less upset.
SethGrandpa - March 17, 2010
Whatever
I was pissed off, until I realized that everything gets reduced. Now my attitude is, whatever.
appleshampoo - March 17, 2010
I'm fucking pissed.
Dewey N - March 17, 2010
You just made the list Snyder.
waldo rojas - March 17, 2010
If this was the Yankees or Red Sox he'd get praised for being a 'tough competitor'.
Crystal for DH - March 17, 2010
They warned us
The fans of the team that had this guy tried to tell us he would be trouble when we traded for him. The season hasn’t even started and he’s already getting himself suspended
……
Wait, nevermind. I’m thinking of someone else. My bad.
ThundaPC - March 17, 2010
Will MLB be willing to completely nullify the suspension by reducing it to the point that he doesn't actually miss a single start though?
Do SPs often get their suspensions reduced to this point?
moyerLIVES - March 17, 2010
No idea
He’ll lose money either way, though, so a reduced suspension isn’t a meaningless suspension.
Jeff Sullivan - March 17, 2010
How long before we see the positive spin where the suspension allows Cliff Lee to put in some extra work and reduce his overall workload?
Janic - March 17, 2010
And now Cliff Lee is PISSED
Watch out, baseball!
lemonverbena - March 17, 2010
5 game suspension @ $9M/yr = $277.7K
Pocket change, or what I make in 5 years, whichever way you want to think about it.
doublemazaa - March 17, 2010
I don't think he is being suspended without pay.
He will likely be fined 10K or less.
Wilder. - March 17, 2010
Oh, right.
I guess this why I shouldn’t drink tequila at work.
doublemazaa - March 17, 2010
I don't see what one has to do with the other...
Thingray - March 17, 2010
Dude, tequila on St. Patrick's Day?
Not that I partake or anything, but… come on… seriously?
thehemogoblin - March 17, 2010
The best ever
Is going to a Mexican restaurant on St. Patrick’s Day, and an Irish bar on Cinco de Mayo.
ungoreatstefan - March 17, 2010
You avoid the crowds I guess.
xero3k - March 18, 2010
So, lets recap:
A) Barry Zito pegs Prince Fielder a week ago, for the celebration way back in September.
-outcome of A) No suspension whatsoever.
B) Ron Washington tested positive for Cocaine last season, not coming forward until this was found out.
-outcome of B) Probably interview on OTL with Bob Ley
C) Cliff Lee gives ambiguous chin music to a guy who could have injured his leg
-outcome of C) 5 game suspension
The MLB, ladies and gentleman.
blueside714 - March 17, 2010
Zito hit Fielder in the back, while Lee threw a ball at or near Snyder's head
I agree that MLB’s track record on the subject is spotty, but I understand the distinction here.
Jeff Sullivan - March 17, 2010
I think all the needs to be said is Lee threw "at" someone and Zito "hit" someone.
Dumb.
SethGrandpa - March 17, 2010
It's my personal belief that the head should represent a zero-tolerance area
Jeff Sullivan - March 17, 2010
I dunno, intentionally throwing at his head seems like kind of an extreme response and out of character for Lee.
Maybe he meant to throw at him but didn’t mean to put it so high. It’s so hard to separate intention from bad control in spring training I just don’t think this should matter so much.
OlSalty - March 17, 2010
It probably shouldn't, but if they're planning to be more strict about this stuff, I approve of it
I imagine Lee will make his case in the appeal, and if he gets it reduced, it’s no problem. But I really hate pitches at and over the head.
Jeff Sullivan - March 17, 2010
This fucks up my plans
Poochie - March 17, 2010 via mobile
Bought tickets for the 17th I take it?
BrianL - March 17, 2010
I did too. :(
doublemazaa - March 17, 2010
: /
Poochie - March 17, 2010
Wait, don't we start the season on the road?
JAH - March 17, 2010
This is a tough one for me
I firmly believe that throwing at someone intentionally is barbaric and has no place in today’s baseball.
At the same time, though, MLB’s enforcement of this, and things like it, has been so spotty that I don’t know that this was the appropriate place for them to take a stand.
Jeff makes a good point regarding the relative severity of this and the Zito situation, but at the same time, it’s not fair to anyone that we have to guess why one guy got suspended and the other didn’t.
Some level of consistency would be nice.
Jeff Nye - March 17, 2010
I don't know what is more frightening. Getting a pitch thrown at your head, or seeing this before he throws it.
kentroyals5 - March 17, 2010
He kind of looks like a clown when he smiles like that.
SeaKoala - March 17, 2010
Hahahaha this is the worst
Kermit. - March 17, 2010
Oh my goodness
That was so great.
Fearless Frog - March 17, 2010
That crop of Chris Snyder kills me
Kermit. - March 18, 2010
That absolutely scares the hell out of me.
batura - March 18, 2010
Um...
I feel that I must point out that “Underoos” is a trade name and should therefore be capitalized.
Yours,
Someone who had some
section331 - March 17, 2010
This is an odd remark, now that I think about it
I’m sorry.
section331 - March 18, 2010
There's no evidence at all that Cliff Lee was throwing at Snyder.
There’s evidence that Lee was throwing near Snyder, but that’s his job as pitcher.
No harm; no foul.
Llewdor - March 18, 2010
.
They should allow any pitchers/batters with beef amongst eachother to partake in a 2 round boxing match during the all-star break to settle the scores.
d0nkey - March 18, 2010
Wouldn't go well for Lee.
Snyder does kickboxing to stay limber in the offseason.
DbacksSkins - March 20, 2010
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