Cliff Lee of Seattle Mariners Suspended for Five Games

Am I the only one who is confused by how Major League Baseball hands down suspensions?

Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants hit Prince Fielder in the back on purpose at the beginning of spring training but didn’t get suspended.

Joba Chamberlain of the New York Yankees has thrown at the head of Kevin Youkilis on numerous occasions, but nothing ever happened to him.

But the Seattle Mariners’ Cliff Lee throws over the head of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder and gets suspended five games? Really?

Major League Baseball suspended Lee for the first five games of the regular season because he threw a pitch over the head of Snyder during the Mariners-Diamondbacks spring training game on Monday.

The trouble between Lee and Snyder started in the first inning when they collided as Lee was backing up a play at home plate. In the third inning, Lee was tossed after his two pitches to Snyder.

Snyder walked toward the mound, and the dugouts and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown. Lee denied he was trying to retaliate.

I really don’t see how throwing over someone’s head is worse than plunking someone in the back. I really don’t. If you are not going to suspend Zito or Chamberlain, then how do you suspend Lee?

If baseball is going to hand out suspensions, then they need to have a set policy on how suspensions will be handed out. For example, if a player charges the mound, then he will be suspended for 10 games.

They need something set in stone. As long as baseball continues to discipline players based on random judgment, then their suspensions will never make sense.

Look for Lee to appeal the suspension.

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