New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi is adamant that Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster be suspended for plunking Alex Rodriguez after four tries. Girardi believes if the MLB doesn't punish Dempster, it'll become "open season" on Rodriguez, ESPN reports.
*UPDATE (3:06 p.m. ET): MLB issued Dempster a 5-game suspension and an undisclosed fine, according to NBC Sports.
It took four pitches on Sunday for Dempster to finally nail Rodriguez with a fastball. Girardi was livid and ultimately got ejected from the game. Two days later and the Yankees' manager is still angry.
"You just can't throw at someone because you don't like him or disagree with the way something's being handled," Girardi told ESPN on Tuesday. "... (Not suspending Dempster) just makes (Rodriguez) open season for people and that can't happen."
Girardi's anger is understandable. While it's one thing to have negative opinions of Rodriguez following his 211-game suspension and appeal, it's another thing entirely to put the man's safety at risk.
"You can express your opinion and be upset with someone but you just can't start throwing baseballs at people," Girardi said. "It's scary."
He added: "One of the reasons I was so upset is ... I mean that baseball is a weapon. It's not a tennis ball or it's not an IncrediBall that's soft. It's a weapon and it can do a lot of damage to someone's life."
Rodriguez earned the ire of fans and players alike when the MLB announced his suspension for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs. Rodriguez is the only player to appeal his suspension, which came as result of the Biogenesis investigation.
Dempster hitting Rodriguez during the slugger's first at-bat was unprovoked. If the MLB declines to penalize the pitcher, the league is sending a de facto message that it's OK to take shots at the embattled Yankee, which puts him in danger every time he steps to the plate.
The MLB is expected to make a decision by Tuesday or Wednesday.