St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Brad Thompson suspended for throwing at NY Mets' David Wright's head

Major League Baseball suspended Cardinals pitcher Brad Thompson for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount Thursday for intentionally throwing a pitch near the head of Mets third baseman David Wright on Wednesday.

[Linjak]

Why was not the Mets pitcher fined/suspended after he actually hit two players? He wasn't ejected from the game oh yea neither was Brad. So what did the umpire think?
If Tony Larussa thought for one minute Brad intentionally threw at someones head the penalty from MLB would not compare to the wrath of Larussa, Duncan and the Cardinal fans. The Mets prooved thats the way they play ball it is not how we play in St Louis.

[chetthejet]

If it was Carp or Waino that did the same thing, the Watson probably would've catered to status and no action would've been taken.

[STL City Dog]

I think it is ridiculus!!! How do they KNOW he did it on PURPOSE? Did Brad say "watch me bean this guy in the head" before he threw the ball? Besides the best point is that he was not thrown out of the game. If MLB wants to punish him, then the umps should have thrown him out. Otherwise, they were allowing that "malicious" Thompson to strike again!

[wlaadair]

I am sure that Thompson did not mean to hit Wright in the head and he did get out of the way, but when a known sinkerball pitcher throws a 4 seam fastball at our star hitter, when he's had success against Thompson inthe past, you have to admit its suspicious.

[STL City Dog]

wlaadair,
Regardless of the suspicion, do you think the suspension is fair? Especially in light of the fact that he wasn't even hit? He deserves more punishment than Fielder? Or your pitcher who actually hit two of our star hitters? Oh, btw, many have had success against Thompson in the past, that still doesn't mean he did it on purpose.

[STL City Dog]

Here's mlb clips of Thompson's pitch.
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/media/video....
They seem to think it wasn't on purpose either.

[wlaadair]

Difference is the Mets pitcher hit your stars in the arm, no where near their head, Thompson had an axe to grind and maybe the suspension is unfair, and he is appealing it, which is fine, but the fact that the Commish's office is reviewing these things shows that they are serious that head hunting can't be tolerated so even if Thompson wins his appeal this time, it may discourage him from pitching up and in again.

[Linjak]

Don't know if wlaadair watched the Cardinal game last night but when Lugo was up to bat the oppossing pitcher lost control and threw a pitch head high Lugo got out of the way the pitch was called a ball and the game went on. Today nothing from the commisioners office about a fine or suspension for him. If you look at the film side by side no different than Brad's pitch, both head high, both loss of control. So Watson has a thing against the Cardinals and is a Mets and Pittsburgh fan. He can join the umpires that called Albert out last night when he was safe. The Cardinals are going to win even though every time they go to the feild they are playing against more than one team. Heads up, shoulders back , game on.
I understand him trying to defend the Mets actions on hitting Albert and Ryan it was just their arms, it was Alberts bad arm and it was on purpose, as for Ryan he is up for player of the month, again on purpose. The Mets should just walk both of them instead of trying to take them out of the game possibly the season with injuries. I do think Brad lost control Tony Larussa would have pulled him had he thought he threw head high on purpose, that being said using wlaadairs logic it is a shame he didn't hit him in the knee or elbow or somewhere else that would cause harm. If the Mets and their fans want to play that way I say lets play. Doubt the Mets big guns will like it but you have to be willing to finish what you start.

[STL City Dog]

Did you even watch the video clips? The pitch that hit Albert was not much farther from his head than Wright's. The DIFFERENCE is Albert stood up and Wright ducked. Besides Yadi would have caught the ball IF he were asking for it that high. But the whole point is that just about EVERYONE can agree that the suspension is unfair. And believe me Tony LaRusa is the one who already discouraged him from pitching up and in again-- he doesn't need to be suspended.

[STL City Dog]

Linjak,
Thanks for making a great point that I was overlooking. It's not right to purposely hit any player, no matter what body part!(Sorry, Mr. Gibson) Sure, the head is dangerous (even though it's covered in a helmet), but knees and elbows could end a player's season. Another point, the suspension is only halfway understandable if you can prove malicious intent AND him actually hitting his head!

[wlaadair]

LaRussa admitted after the game that the high and in pitch to Wright was a bad move by Thompson, its not just Mets fans, La Russa breeds head hunters.

[STL City Dog]

wlaadair,
Tony did not defend Thompson, so obviously he was not asking for it to be near his head. He also believes a suspension is unfair though. I love how you changed the subject though. You totally avoided the topic of the video clips and the fact that the Mets pitcher hit two of our players. I should have known better than to try and reason with a Mets fan. Albert got pegged by another ball yesterday, seems to me that Selig, Watson, and the Mets have set a precedent-- go ahead and purposely hit star players, but don't throw it near the head of a pre-madonna like Wright.

[wlaadair]

I didn't see the video clips of the two batters being hit by Figueroa, i was not avoiding the issue, i didn't even see Wright's near beaning. Figueroa did not try to hit Pujols and Ludwick, and oh puhleez, everyone gets hit from time to time, your conspiracy theory cracks me up. When you have only one of your core players being active, then talk to Mets fan. Wright earned respect from the Commish's office when he played in the WBC with a smashed toe, so don't call him a primadonna, you obviously know nothing about the man.

[STL City Dog]

And you obviously lost all credibility. You have been spouting your opinion about Thompson's pitch that you didn't EVEN SEE! Sheesh, I even gave a link to it. Yeah, playing with a smashed toe is pretty dumb, I guess I don't know much about Wright.---I have no idea of what conspiracy theory you are talking about either, but I'm glad you found humor in it.

[wlaadair]

I saw the replay, i said i didn't see the pitches that hit Pujols and Ludwick. good grief pay attention, the conspiracy by the Commish's office about who can be thrown at and who can't. follow along.

[wlaadair]

I just watched the clip and Pujols was not thrown at intentionally, no way, and as far as the Wright incident, who knows, seemed to catch Molina by surprise, was the suspension unfair, maybe, let the appeal take its course.