After the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers made Dodger Stadium look like a scene out of Royal Rumble, MLB handed down punishments to players involved in the fiasco. Benches cleared, not once, but twice on Tuesday as the Dodgers and Diamondbacks couldn't settle their differences by simply playing the game. Here's a list of the players suspended and how many games they will miss. It's interesting to point out what happens to pitchers in this case.
Ian Kennedy received the "stiffest" penalty. He will be suspended for 10 games. However, that will equate to just one missed start since Kennedy is a starting pitcher. Will Kennedy and the Diamondbacks feel the repercussions? Not really. While MLB is trying to reprimand these players, it seems as though they don't want to interrupt the traditions of the game. Of course, they have to hand out punishments in order to prevent the sport from becoming barbaric, but they also understand that pitchers have been protecting teammates for decades.
If they really wanted to make Kennedy feel bad for his actions, they would suspend him for about three starts, rather than have him sit out games. This would make him learn a lesson. However, if Kennedy's on the mound when something like this happens again, chances are that, unless his managers intervene, he will protect his hitters once again.
Should pitchers face stiffer penalties since they play once every five days? It would seem fair. If Eric Hinske, who was suspended five games, was a major part of the Diamondbacks' offense and they lost every single game due to his suspension, why doesn't baseball give pitchers more time? Kennedy will be sitting out, not getting any action regardless of the suspension.
How about taking it to the extreme? Suspend Kennedy in his next start against the Dodgers? Yes, both teams are in the same division, but the Dodgers are nowhere near contention as of right now as they sit in last place and 8.5 games out of first place. Wouldn't it matter more if you keep Kennedy away from the Dodgers rather than suspending Kennedy from his next start against any other team?
This is all just food for thought. Kennedy will serve his 10-game suspension and Hinske has five. Other players include:
Dodgers: Zack Greinke- Fined, J.P. Howell- 2 Games, Skip Schumacker- 2 Games, Mark McGwire- 2 Games, Rob Belisario- 1 Game, Don Mattingly- 1 Game, Zack Greinke- Fined, Yasiel Puig- Fined,
Arizona: Kirk Gibson- 1 Game, Miguel Montero- Fined, Gerard Parra- Fined
