Blue Jays player throws helmet at an umpire and gets a 4 game suspension

[Harry]

This must be a joke.  I don't officiate baseball, but I am a fan.  A player threw a helmet which hit an umpire and the player only got a 4 game suspension.  Why isn't MLB protecting their umpires?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1U31PVAl0

Blue Jay Lawrie gets 4-game suspension for hitting umpire with helmet

Major League Baseball has suspended Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie for four games for an outburst Tuesday in which he threw his batting helmet, which bounced off the ground and struck umpire Bill Miller.

In the ninth inning of Tuesday's game in Toronto against the Tampa Bay Rays, Lawrie faced Rays closer Fernando Rodney. With a count of three balls and one strike Lawrie took back-to-back pitches from Rodney. Miller called both strikes, sending Lawrie back to the dugout.

Trouble was, when the third strike was called, Lawrie had already taken two steps toward first base, thinking he had drawn a walk. He spun around, took two steps back in the direction of the umpire and threw his batting helmet to the ground. It bounced up and struck Miller.

Besides the four games, Lawrie was also fined an undisclosed amount, according to a report on MLB.com.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/17/blue-jay-lawrie-gets-4-game-suspension-for-hitting-umpire-with-helmet

[TampaSteve]

I saw this the other night.
If I'm not mistaken something similar happened a few years ago.  When he was in the minors, BJ Upton, flipped a bat at an Umpire.  And I think he got hit pretty stiff with like 20 or more games, or more, suspension.

Nevertheless, although it seemed unintentional to hit the Umpire with his helmet, he certainly intended to throw a tantrum & should subsequently be responsible for his equipment he threw.

Bumping an Umpire is one thing, but to have him hit by an object as  a result of your tantrum is different.

4 games seems a bit light.

[TxKeith]

They always get off easy and what does that say to the kids watching?  Whether it is throwing a helmet, flipping a bat, or spitting at an official; if it was my decision the suspension would be permanent, available for employment elsewhere, i.e. another career.  I have felt that way even before I became an official.  When I was a player, that is what would happen if we showed any disrespect to an official or coach.

Oh well I will end my tantrum, have a great season as we start to prepare.

[clearwall]

I remember reading that this is his first offense, so you kinda have to
Take him at his word that it was an accident. Went off too much, so suspension is warranted. I also wonder if the league looked at the two calls that set him off. Those were horrible. Imo, Lawrie had reason to be upset at those.

[Rulesman]

I remember reading that this is his first offense, so you kinda have to Take him at his word that it was an accident...I also wonder if the league looked at the two calls that set him off. Those were horrible. Imo, Lawrie had reason to be upset at those.

You can't be serious?

[NWA_UMP]

As a baseball ump and a football ref, no matter the call the actions of the player must be punished if they are deemed to be inappropriate. 4 games is a slap on the wrist. He should get 4 games just for throwing the helmet out of anger...tack on time since it hit the ump.

[TampaSteve]

Regarding my earlier response to update who threw the bat.
It was Delmon Young in 2006 when he was in either AAA or AA & it was a 50 game suspension.

[bossman72]

MLB will never crack down on this because they need it for TV.  Sadly, tantrums like this entertain the fans which draws more ratings and ticket sales.  Baseball is boring, period.  So, they need this Jerry Springer stuff to keep it interesting.  No matter how much of a farce the managers and players make of a game with outbursts like that, they will never come down with huge penalties for doing so.

Just like NHL will never get rid of fighting - fans like it too much even though it's a disgrace to the game.

[Harry]

MLB will never crack down on this because they need it for TV.  Sadly, tantrums like this entertain the fans which draws more ratings and ticket sales.  Baseball is boring, period.  So, they need this Jerry Springer stuff to keep it interesting.  No matter how much of a farce the managers and players make of a game with outbursts like that, they will never come down with huge penalties for doing so.

Just like NHL will never get rid of fighting - fans like it too much even though it's a disgrace to the game.

I have no problem with tantrums in baseball or fights in hockey.  I'm all for covering home plate with dirt and taking first base home with you.  But when it involves physical contact with the officials, that's a problem.

[MOzebra]

I also umpire baseball and ref football.  I watched the film the other day and the call didn't look all that close.  My argument is this....don't just look at those 2 calls, look at ALL the calls.  Is the umpire's strike zone consistent? 

My strike zone might not be perfect, but I strive to make it consistent.  I'm more apt to be lenient on the outside and not on the inside.  Pitchers, batters and managers need to learn that specific umpire's strike zone and play the game by that.  Bottom line.

Just like in football, some officials are more apt to call one particular play a hold while others might not, but as long as the umpire is consistent with both teams then it has the same impact on the game.

In the end, he should be held responsible for his 4-year-old tantrum.  He's lucky it was only 4 games.  Count your blessings and learn from your idiotic mistakes.

[Rulesman]

...My strike zone might not be perfect, but I strive to make it consistent.  I'm more apt to be lenient on the outside and not on the inside.  Pitchers, batters and managers need to learn that specific umpire's strike zone and play the game by that.  Bottom line...

Wouldn't it be a novel idea to have all umpires consistently follow the defined strike zone so that pitchers, batters and managers wouldn't have to guess where it is from game to game. Bottom line... just saying. 

[MOzebra]

Knowing how an umpire sets up on the plate defines a lot.  You can't always see both edges of the plate as you are supposed to set up on the inside of the plate.  Umpires don't always position themselves in the middle of the plate.  Watch them and you'll see they always set up on the inside of the batter.

I know MLB is one thing, but an umpire's strike zone is different in the different levels.  You aren't going to call a HS Frosh game the same way an MLB umpire will.  Just like a HS Varsity game won't be called the same as a HS Frosh game.  Just like in football, you call different fouls working sub-varsity games than you do varsity games. 

Can you always guarantee that every football referee will call every play the exact same way?

[Osric Pureheart]

Maybe not, but we'll call touchdowns and safeties the exact same way, surely?  It does seem a bit odd that such a critical part of the game is so fluid and open to interpretation, but then if things weren't done differently in different sports, life would be way more boring.

[NWA_UMP]

If a Major League umpire called the strike zone as defined in the rulebook, there would no longer be a hitter flirting with a .300 batting average...EVER! The zone is huge! Most games would be over in 2:30 and it would be a pitchers dream. I don't even call the zone as defined by the rules in HS. I don't give the up and in pitch...period. I do however give more room on the bottom of the zone and room on both corners. That's just me, I reward pitchers who hit spots and keep the ball down.

The root problem is players who have been told they are great and no one ever checked them along the way. I have seen my share of cocky ball players and the way coaches seem to just "allow" their bad behavior because they need them to win.  At some point someone will hold them accountable and then they go nuts....

[TampaSteve]

Regarding strike zones:
A friend is rather high up in umpiring & generally works several Spring training games a year, including those against the FL colleges.
He will have the college pitchers groving "college strikes" to MLB batters, but he's unable to call them strikes due to the fact he has to have a "MLB strike" with the MLB players playing.

[VALJ]

To be fair, it looked to me like he threw the helmet, and it bounced funny and hit the umpire. 

I'm all in favor of him getting 4 games for the childish helmet throw in the first place, myself...