Joe Girardi thinks that Ryan Dempster should be suspended. John Farrell, as you might expect, feels differently.
Major League Baseball is currently in the process of determining whether or not Dempster should be disciplined for hitting Alex Rodriguez with a pitch in the second inning of Sunday’s Red Sox-Yankees game. Farrell reiterated his stance on the incident Monday, telling reporters in San Francisco that Dempster was just trying to pitch inside.
“I don’t expect them to do anything,” Farrell said of a potential suspension. “Certainly they’re going to review it and deem what’s necessary. Some are going to take the viewpoint that it was totally intentional. I don’t see it that way. I said last night during the game, during the broadcast, and after the game last night, Ryan’s got to establish his fastball. He’s got to establish it in to certain right-handed hitters. His split and his slider are critical to him and if he has right-handed hitters leaning all over the plate, you saw two at-bats later what can happen. Unfortunately, a 3-0 pitch got away from him.”
Girardi is among those who feel that Dempster intentionally threw at Rodriguez, and the Yankees skipper expressed his displeasure following Sunday’s game. He said that Dempster’s antics should cost the pitcher at least one start, which is a stark contrast from Farrell’s outlook on the situation.
“Again, my view is that it was not intentional,” Farrell said Monday. “I’m not the one making the decision or reviewing it. I can express my opinion and state my opinion, which is exactly that. I didn’t see it as being intentional.”
The league’s opinion is the only one that matters. We’ll find out soon where exactly MLB stands on the incident.
Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.
