Come To Think Of It: Josh Beckett Suspension Unwarranted

Boston Red Sox 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.

According to the Associated Press, "Beckett also was cited for aggressive actions after the pitch that led to the benches clearing Sunday, according to Bob Watson, vice president for discipline in the commissioner's office."

This prompts several questions from me. First, just how does Bob Watson determine a player's intentions?

Does he have a crystal ball? Is he clairvoyant?

Here's what Beckett had to say after the bench-clearing brawl last Sunday:

"I've never hit anybody in the head, and it's not really on my list of stuff to accomplish. But people can think what they want to think," Beckett said. "I know Bobby Abreu. He knows I'm not trying to hit him in the head. Obviously, there's been a lot of emotion in this series with them — not only facing us, but obviously the tragedy that all of them went through."

The Angels have gone through a terrible tragedy, but that does not give anyone the right to get off easy for starting a fight. Assuming that Beckett didn't throw at Abreu on purpose, then who else started the fight?

Even the umpires didn't think he was thropwing at him on purpose.

Second base umpire and crew chief Joe West said, "Did he throw it up and in? Yes. Do we believe he threw it at Abreu? No."

So is Watson going to fine Joe West too?

Sure, Beckett said something to Mike Scioscia. But only after the Angels manager remained on the field to argue with the umpires. If he had gone back to the dugout like he ordered his players to, that would not have happened.

My second question is how does Torii Hunter come off with only a fine? How were his actions not considered aggressive?

Hunter went berserk and was ejected by West and had to be restrained by a teammate.

Yet he doesn't get suspended and Beckett does? Wow.

Beckett is appealing his suspension, delaying any penalties until after a hearing.

The suspension will probably be reduced, and being a pitcher means that Beckett will only miss one start, in all likeliood anyway. But it's the principle that bugs me.

There is justice, and there is blind justice. To Watson, it must be one and the same, come to think of it.