Comments on: Jim Leyland thinks Cole Hamels’ five-game suspension “is way too light”

By: phil0569

phil0569 — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:29:30 +0000

A starting pitcher should be penalized in games started and a relief pitcher should be penalized in team games.

By: zurg4242

zurg4242 — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:39:48 +0000

What a PHONEY!!!! Leyland knows over his 400 year career he has told numerous pitchers to hit batters, and if he denies that he’s full bunk. actually if he hasn’t given the order he’s the only manager EVER to have not. I can’t stand hypocrites.

By: tfoz5150

tfoz5150 — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:22:13 +0000

He’s back now though. Does he do/ say stupid stuff like this from time to time? Yes. But he’s still a money pitcher who I’m sure was just trying to cool down this whole Nats PR thing and let them and his teammates know they’re not going to go quietly. for all I know Charlie could’ve been the one who told him to do it.

By: jcarne9014

jcarne9014 — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:15:16 +0000

Please tell me that you are not serious. So, according to you, stealing home (even on a throw over to first) is no big deal. It is an indication that the pitcher has stopped paying attention and/or the runner on third has big balls.

By: dirtfrompeedysuniform

dirtfrompeedysuniform — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:14:42 +0000

Let me get this straight you morons are talking about Leylands 2 pack a day habit? Who gives a f>

By: dawglb

dawglb — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:19:15 +0000

I am so tired of hearing about Harper “stealing home” on Hamels. It was a little league steal of home (throw over to first), Not a classic Jackie Robinson steal of home.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:19:12 +0000

As a Nats fan, I’m well aware of his reputation and previous actions, more than you are. We were discussing what happened Sunday night. He did nothing but act like a professional.

By: eigglesnosuperbowls

eigglesnosuperbowls — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:57:28 +0000

Jim Leyland on his boy Barry Bonds ,,,,,,,,,,CRICKETS CRICKETS CRICKETS ! Hamels hit a player in the butt with a ball his boy Barry hit himself in the butt with a needle ,,,,,,,,,,,,,CRICKETS !

By: El Bravo

El Bravo — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:10:43 +0000

easier to do this though samkldfjadfjlsajfjafdjzaklfdjija

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:09:00 +0000

Samardzija. Ain’t that hard.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:41:58 +0000

I hear you Aces. My Father started smoking at 11. He smoked for 40+ years then quit cold turkey. People don’t realize that a huge number of 70+ year olds started smoking at very young ages. Different times.

By: randygnyc

randygnyc — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:37:09 +0000

Except that Hamels is not the arbiter of justice in MLB. He had no reason to throw at baseballs new golden goose. That’s why Hamels deserved his hbp and suspension. And for anyone to think this is over, doesn’t know baseball. And nownthat Hamels has this recent suspension, he won’t be able to retaliate.

Hamels lost the moral high ground with anything baseball related when he quit on his teammates and the fans while begging for the 2009 season to end.

By: stuckonwords

stuckonwords — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:31:20 +0000

It’s been reported that he’s losing upwards of $500,000.

By: stuckonwords

stuckonwords — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:29:19 +0000

That’s hard to enforce. As a manager, you could then pencil him in as the starter for the next five days. Point is…how do you determine when 5 starts went by?

Don’t forget, also, that the suspension he has received is costing him upwards of a half million dollars. That’s a pretty serious slap in the face for one beaning. I’m not sure how you justify that it merits more.

By: takingbovadasmoney

takingbovadasmoney — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:27:42 +0000

The Marlboro Man needs to mind is own business. Leyland needs to worry about his Nazi Leftfielder who Jewish pitchers don’t even fear in the five hole and can’t protect the 185 million $ man. I’d never pitch to Fielder with Herr Young batting behind him. Leyland needs to worry about his second basemen who combined are hitting. 140. Worry about your rightfielder who can’t hit his weight and couldn’t throw out Timmy from South Park going from first to third on a line drive one hopper right to him.

By: wpjohnson

wpjohnson — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:03:45 +0000

Who won the game? You are trying to get a bit too much mileage out of that steal of home. It was an exciting play but the game still ended Phillies 9, Nationals 3. Hamels went eight innings and is now 4-1. There will be no asterisk in the record books indicating that, although the Phillies and Hamels won, Harper stole home.

Still, I’m not anti-Harper. He could be good for baseball- if he succeeds. I hope he succeeds, not necessarily for his sake as for the good of the game.

My concern is, as I called it, the “sissification” of baseball. Baseball has a hard and tough tradition. That is part of why it is the greatest game. That is part of why it symbolizes our country more than most any other institution. Sending messages is an important part of that history and tradition. Of course, suspensions are a part of the game, too. So be it.

We can say that Hamels sent Harper a message by hitting him in the back. We can also say that Harper sent a message by stealing home on Hamels. Good for Hamels. Good for Harper. Both acts were a fine part of the game.

By: basedrum777

basedrum777 — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:54:03 +0000

Could they do something where his other 4 starts must make a 2 starts before he’s allowed to? Or at least 4 “other starters” must make 2 starts before he can make his next one?

By: ufullpj

ufullpj — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:51:48 +0000

If they actually suspended managers and players for throwing at hitters intentionally, Tony Larussa and the Cardinals might still be suspended.

By: delawarephilliesfan

delawarephilliesfan — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:42:12 +0000

Don’t forget to mention he stole home on him

By: delawarephilliesfan

delawarephilliesfan — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:38:54 +0000

Yes indeed – or in this case, his pitcher threw at a guy, and Leyland charged out of the dugout to punch the guy who was hit!

http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-25/sports/sp-27651_1_kevin-gross

I guess it was okay since everyone claimed Bob Walk hit the Kevin Gross by accident. Nothing to see here, folks

By: jcarne9014

jcarne9014 — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:37:14 +0000

Let me put down my flute long enough to respond. I am not saying Harper has earned his place yet. However, according to you, “He needs to learn how the game is played in the major leagues”…”Learn his place.” So, rather than throwing three strikes past Harper to let him know where he now is, Hamels plunks him and then Harper proceeds to steal home on Hamels! Who showed who what?! Looks like “his place” is crossing home while Hamels has a stupid look on his face. OK…back to my flute.

By: nonmendacium

nonmendacium — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:34:55 +0000

jim Leyland has managed pitchers involved in numerous intentional pitches thrown at hitters. his comments are nothing short of hypocritical

By: pjcostello

pjcostello — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:27:33 +0000

I believe that a 5-game suspension is the same for both pitchers and position players, in terms of their paychecks. Even though starting pitchers play every five days, their contract is based on the league year, not the number of starts they make… in this sense, the punishment is the same no matter the position on the field.

By: wpjohnson

wpjohnson — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:25:51 +0000

Well, I see that jcarne9014 and a few more of the flutists have taken offense to my post. Let’s give Harper a few years to establish a major league biography before we blow smoke about his limited accomplishments to date. Baseball legends are built on volumes of sustained success. Harper has not as yet completed a simple sentence.

It matters not whether he is 19 or 29. He is new. He needs to learn how the game is played in the major leagues. And, to accomplish this, he needs to be roughed up a bit from time to time so that he will remember that, at present, he is an unproven rookie and not an established major leaguer. Call it his initiation. Like it or not, he needs to learn his place. We don’t need affirmative action or political correctness in baseball.

That is true baseball as it has been played since 1869. Of course, I don’t expect those who spent their youth practicing their flutes to understand.

By: delawarephilliesfan

delawarephilliesfan — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:22:36 +0000

I agree. And for the record, he is in my unifrom, and I say it was wrong

By: philsgamer

philsgamer — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:20:25 +0000

Have you followed Harper’s collegiate and minor league career? Do some research, you’ll find the answers you seek.

By: delawarephilliesfan

delawarephilliesfan — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:19:30 +0000

And I said I hope you “toast” him just like that the next time he faces the Nats. What’s the problem?

Hamels should not have hit Harper, as I have said many times.

By: jcarne9014

jcarne9014 — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:13:50 +0000

Not sure what you don’t understand, delaware…Hamels tried to welcome the kid to the majors by hitting Harper and Harper owned him afterwards. Hamels got toasted.

By: delawarephilliesfan

delawarephilliesfan — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:13:37 +0000

That actually happened last August with Utley right after the Giants plunked Shane Victorino. The bat flew right at and hit Tim Lincecum, hardly made a scratch even though it hit his injured knee

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2011-08-07-giants-phillies_n.htm

Sorry for the buzzkill – better luck with your next fantasy scenario

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:13:25 +0000

Cheap shot at Harper aside, the double standard was that Hamels threw at Bryce Harper because he was Bryce Harper, not some utility infielder. It was noteworthy because one of MLB’s top pitchers threw at one of MLB’s top prospects.

BTW, what “unwritten” MLB rule did Harper break? He didn’t charge the pitcher, didn’t spike an infielder.