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Professional baseball

Nationals' Rodriguez and Manager Robinson Face Suspension for Role in Beanball War

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Washington Nationals reliever Felix Rodriguez and manager Frank Robinson are facing suspensions for their roles in a beanball war against the New York Mets on Thursday night. According to Robinson, Rodriguez is expected to be suspended for three games, while he himself will serve a one-game suspension. The suspensions are automatic under baseball policy, which requires a three-game suspension for any pitcher who is ejected for throwing at a batter after a warning has been issued, along with a one-game suspension for the manager.

Key Takeaways:

  • Felix Rodriguez is expected to be suspended for three games for his role in the beanball war against the Mets.
  • Manager Frank Robinson will serve a one-game suspension for his role in the incident.
  • The suspensions are automatic under baseball policy, which requires a three-game suspension for any pitcher who is ejected for throwing at a batter after a warning has been issued, along with a one-game suspension for the manager.
  • The Nationals still feel like they got a bad deal in the fracas, as six of their players were hit by pitches in two games, compared to only one Mets player.
  • Umpire crew chief Rick Reed said only Rodriguez's eighth-inning plunking of Paul Lo Duca was clearly intentional.
  • The Nationals dispute that Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez hit Nick Johnson intentionally in the seventh, after Johnson had hit a three-run homer.
  • This saga is far from over, as the Mets come to RFK Stadium on Tuesday for a three-game series, with Pedro Martinez scheduled to start Wednesday night.

Statistics:

  • 6: Number of Nationals players hit by pitches in two games against the Mets.
  • 1: Number of Mets players hit by pitches in two games against the Nationals.
  • 3: Number of games Felix Rodriguez is expected to be suspended for.
  • 1: Number of games Manager Frank Robinson will serve in suspension.
  • 15: Number of remaining games between the Nationals and Mets this season.
  • 40: Number of career plate appearances for Pedro Martinez against the Nationals.
  • 5: Number of Nationals batters Pedro Martinez has hit in his 40 career plate appearances against the team.

Sources:

  • "Baseball policy, which Robinson helped write during his time working at the league offices, requires a three-game suspension for any pitcher who is ejected for throwing at a batter after a warning was issued."

• (Source: Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's vice president for on-field operations)

  • "You let that go by, all you're doing is creating more animosity on the other side," Robinson said. "Hey, the guy gets hit after hitting a three-run homer, nothing happens. ... I think actually he let them get away with something there."

• (Source: Frank Robinson, Washington Nationals manager)

  • "Pedro should take that into consideration," Robinson said. "It shouldn't all be on the hitter. The pitcher has to accept some responsibility, too. ... I'm not going to sit here and say Pedro throws at people. I'm not going to do that. But Pedro is a very smart individual. Pedro will do what he has to do to try to keep the edge."

• (Source: Frank Robinson, Washington Nationals manager)

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