Hunter Strickland suspended six games, Bryce Harper four

Hunter Strickland was suspended six games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for throwing at Bryce Harper on Monday. The suspension was supposed to go into effect before Tuesday night’s game, but he has elected to appeal the decision.

Harper was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount. He has also elected to appeal the decision.

There was no word on either Hunter Pence or Will Smith, who left the dugout, which should be an automatic fine.

Buster Posey was not suspended or fined because he sat back and said, “lol you guys are idiots,” like he should have.

If it surprises you that Harper wasn’t suspended longer for throwing his helmet, consider that it’s far more dangerous to throw a baseball 99 mph than it is to throw a helmet 30 mph. We just don’t see the latter very often, so it seems more violent. It’s not great, no, but neither is a 99-mph fastball. If we learned anything this year from incidents like this (and Matt Barnes v. Manny Machado), it’s that punishments are going to start getting more onerous for pitchers using baseballs as weapons.

Just as I watch baseball without thinking, “You know what I miss? Catchers getting demolished at home plate,” one day I hope to watch a game without realizing that unwritten rules and beanballs went the way of the dodo. Until then, the big baseball boys get a timeout for fighting. Time out, big baseball boys!

Official statement: