Youkilis, Porcello each suspended 5 games, both appealing

[dunaja]

I question whether or not appealing is a smart move for Youk. He's not going to win the appeal. I suppose if he can postpone the hearing, he can play in the Texas series, but then he'll be definitely out for NY. I would have gotten it out of the way now and be available for NY as well as closer to the finish line.

EDIT: I forgot we have 3 against Toronto right before the Yankees. Maybe he's hoping those can end up as 3 of his 5 games suspended, that would probably be best.

[jaychamp]

5 games is a lot, he might be able to get it reduced. 5 games is nothing for a pitcher, they get 4 days between starts anyway. So they're basically saying Youk was more at fault than a pitcher that threw at 2 guys

[Muse]

that is what ticks me off with pitchers, they get one day out of five to pay for their suspension

big woopie doo

[dunaja]

5 games is a lot, he might be able to get it reduced. 5 games is nothing for a pitcher, they get 4 days between starts anyway. So they're basically saying Youk was more at fault than a pitcher that threw at 2 guys

Well, they can't suspend Porcello 25 games so he misses 5 starts... there's just no good way to suspend a starting pitcher. I think they do put most of the blame on Youk, not just for being the one to start the fight, but primarily for throwing his batting helmet at Porcello.

I actually think Porcello has the best chance of winning his appeal. As evidence, he's going to say that Inge and Raburn didn't react immediately to Youk charging the mound, indicating that they didn't know Youk was about to get hit. He also did his lame "what did I do?" shoulder shrug. I'm not saying I agree with any of this, I just think this might be how it goes down.

I don't see how Youk wins an appeal, by suspending Porcello, MLB has already admitted he was hit on purpose. Even so, it doesn't justify charging the mound -- MLB will say that nothing justifies fighting. Unless that was a well-timed stunt double, it is undeniable that Youk charged and threw the helmet, so there's really no way the punishment changes, in my opinion.

Our best chance: 3 games of the suspension are served during the Toronto series.

[oldskool138]

I think they do put most of the blame on Youk, not just for being the one to start the fight, but primarily for throwing his batting helmet at Porcello.

Well, if he wasn't running away like a little girl than maybe Youk wouldn't have gotten frustrated that he couldn't catch him (Porcello's 6'5").

[dunaja]

Well, if he wasn't running away like a little girl than maybe Youk wouldn't have gotten frustrated that he couldn't catch him (Porcello's 6'5").

Another reason why Porcello might win the appeal. "Hey, I was clearly running away like a little girl."

[oldskool138]

Another reason why Porcello might win the appeal. "Hey, I was clearly running away like a little girl."

Seriously, though, don't pitchers stand their ground? Most the fights I've seen happen around the mound.

[Mikiemo83]

I think Youk is taking the suspension starting tonight

[3 Point Stan]

Had Porcello not come in so tight on Martinez, I'd believe he'd have a chance at getting the suspension reduced. But that's the nail in his coffin.

Youks won't get reduced. Throwing the helmet was the nail in his.

[Mikiemo83]

Youkilis to begin five-game suspension tonight


The Red Sox' Kevin Youkilis and Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello have each been suspended for five games by Major League Baseball for their roles in last night's bench-clearing brawl at Fenway.

Youkilis initially appealed the suspension and was penciled in to the starting lineup, batting fourth. But manager Terry Francona revealed in his meeting with the media at approximately 4 p.m. that Youkilis would begin his suspension tonight. Casey Kotchman will replace him at first base.

The Red Sox decided not to appeal after Francona, Youkilis, general manager Theo Epstein, and Joe Bick, Youkilis's manager, met this afternoon. The Red Sox are relatively healthy now, and while "I don't there's ever a good time to not have him," Francona said, they want to just get the suspension over with.

"We decided to take our medicine and move on," Francona said. "We seem to be healthy right now. There's always the idea that you could get it reduced. There's also the idea that it could come at a worse time. So take our medicine, do the best we can, and move on."

Youkilis and Porcello were also fined an undisclosed amount, as was Detroit's Edwin Jackson. Porcello has appealed his suspension.

Francona chose Kotchman because he wanted to give Victor Martinez a day off, in part so he could work with bullpen coach Gary Tuck on catching knuckleballs out of a machine.

Youkilis charged the mound in the second inning after being hit with a Porcello pitch. He threw his helmet at the 20-year-old righthander and they grappled before falling to the ground as the benches emptied. Order was restored quickly, but Youkilis and Porcello were both ejected.

Order was restored minutes later without any punches thrown, but Youkilis and Porcello were ejected in the second inning. Porcello turned back to scream at the umpire as he left the field.

It was the second straight game and 10th time this season that Youkilis has been hit by a pitch. Last night, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera was hit in the left hand in the top of the first by Red Sox rookie Junichi Tazawa.

In the bottom of the inning, Porcello threw close to the Red Sox' Victor Martinez, but did not hit him. Youkilis, the first batter of the following inning, was hit in the back with Porcello's first pitch.

He dropped his bat and ran toward Porcello, flinging his batting helmet at the pitcher chaos briefly ensued.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/08/youkilis_porcel.html

[dunaja]

Yep, Youk dropped his appeal. He's gonna miss all three games of the most important series of the year, vs. Texas.

Can't say I agree with that decision.

[jaychamp]

Not a big loss short term thanks to having Vmart, but I agree it should have been sandwiched around the Jays series

[Mikiemo83]

Yep, Youk dropped his appeal. He's gonna miss all three games of the most important series of the year, vs. Texas.

Can't say I agree with that decision.
tough but by missing tonight and the next 4 games youk will return to play the Jays in Toronto before the next Yankee series this saves youk the trip to texas and he meets the team in Toronto while working out at Pawtucket


by accepting the terms and dropping the appeal the Red Sox pick the dates as opposed to having the league take him out of the Yankee series

and while the Texas Rangers are in the WC hunt, I want the division so play him against the Yankees


---------------------------------

ok foolish question of the day....if Manny can come back early to play some AAA ball while still suspended, why is Youkilis not allowed to remain fresh and play for the Pawsox?

I mean both are suspended and not playing in MLB games

[sprocketboy]

Well, if he wasn't running away like a little girl than maybe Youk wouldn't have gotten frustrated that he couldn't catch him (Porcello's 6'5").

Saying that Porcello was "running away like a little girl" is needlessly insulting ...

... to little girls.

[jaychamp]

Well, they can't suspend Porcello 25 games so he misses 5 starts...
By the way that's not what I was suggesting at all :rofl:

I thinking a couple more days

[sprocketboy]

By the way that's not what I was suggesting at all :rofl:

I thinking a couple more days

Harold Reynolds pointed out that Porcello's 'suspension' amounted to nothing more than an extra day off between starts. If it were a 10-game suspension, then we could safely conclude that Porcello would miss at least one start.

[3 Point Stan]

I can't be critical of the Sox for dropping the appeal. No matter what combination of games he misses, they're all important. But they deemed it more important to have him for the Yankees. Hard to argue that.

But it's more on Youkilis than the Red Sox. You have to know that the minute you charge the mound, you're going to miss some time.

[dunaja]

I can't be critical of the Sox for dropping the appeal. No matter what combination of games he misses, they're all important. But they deemed it more important to have him for the Yankees. Hard to argue that.

But it's more on Youkilis than the Red Sox. You have to know that the minute you charge the mound, you're going to miss some time.

Not arguing a bit, just putting this out there... what do you think is more likely to turn a potential win into a potential loss, Youkilis vs. No Youkilis in Texas, or in NY? We just had Youk for 4 games in NY, and a fat lot of good that did us.

5 games is 5 games and every one is important. If it was my call, I'd try to stretch the appeal out until right after the last Texas game, then abruptly drop it.

[3 Point Stan]

Not arguing a bit, just putting this out there... what do you think is more likely to turn a potential win into a potential loss, Youkilis vs. No Youkilis in Texas, or in NY? We just had Youk for 4 games in NY, and a fat lot of good that did us.

5 games is 5 games and every one is important. If it was my call, I'd try to stretch the appeal out until right after the last Texas game, then abruptly drop it.
I guess I really don't think it matters at this point. You're about to face your next biggest challenger in both the WC and in the AL East.

Perhaps they talked about other factors too. "Hey Kev, how's the oblique?" Maybe they decided he'd benefit more from those days off now rather than later.

Maybe they figured with Mike Lowell having a hot bat now, he'd essentially be replacing Youkilis?

Again, not saying any of these things happened, just that I am sure there were discussions and things of this nature were considered.