Ryan Dempster Suspended 5 Games for Intentionally Throwing at Alex Rodriguez

Ryan Dempster Suspended 5 Games for Intentionally Throwing at Alex Rodriguez

     -By Mike Chiari on August 20, 2013

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ryan Dempster decided to practice vigilante justice on Sunday night when he threw at New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, and he paid for it on Tuesday. Dempster was suspended for five games by Major League Baseball, according to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.

The incident in question occurred during the rubber match between Boston and New York on Sunday with the Red Sox leading by a 2-0 score in the second inning. Dempster threw behind A-Rod's knees with his first pitch and came inside with two more as he ran the count to 3-0. Dempster then finished the job that he seemingly set out to accomplish from the start of the at-bat as he hit Rodriguez in the elbow.

Is five games a suitable suspension for Dempster?

1.Yes, it's the perfect punishment

2.No, he should have gotten a longer suspension

3.No, he deserves a lesser suspension or no suspension at all

This resulted in some players from both teams spilling out onto the field, but nothing came of it. The true fireworks occurred when Yankees manager Joe Girardi came flying out of the dugout, though, as home plate umpire Brian O'Nora issued warnings to both teams.   

That put the Yankees in a difficult spot as starter CC Sabathia was essentially prevented from retaliating. The Bronx Bombers made the most of the situation, though, as they tied the game in that inning and went on to win by a 9-6 score. A-Rod got what he called the "ultimate payback," according to Andrew Marchand and Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com, by smacking a solo home run off Dempster in the sixth inning.

Girardi explained his tirade following the game, and said that he didn't agree with Dempster trying to "take the law into his own hands," according to Marchand and Matthews.

You can't start throwing at people. Lives -- people have had concussions. Lives are changed by getting hit by pitches. Whether I agree with everything that's going on, you do not throw at people and you don't take the law into your own hands. You don't do that. We're going to skip the judicial system? It's 'My Cousin Vinny.'

Girardi pushed for Dempster to be suspended because he believed that letting Dempster get off scot-free would signal "open season" on Rodriguez, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.

While Girardi wasn't suspended for his dust-up with O'Nora nor was he suspended for the comments made afterward, he was fined an undisclosed amount, according to the Yankees' official Twitter account.

Unlike Girardi, Dempster won't lose any money in the deal. According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, Dempster's five-game suspension will be with pay due to the fact that his suspension stems from an on-field act.

Dempster clearly tried to send a message that he and the Red Sox don't necessarily approve of A-Rod being able to play while he appeals his 211-game suspension, which stems from his alleged involvement with a Miami Biogenesis clinic.

Dempster will miss a start for his troubles, though, while Rodriguez and the Yankees desperately try to earn a playoff spot as the season winds down. 

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