The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-6 Sunday night at Fenway Park, but the aftermath of that game has carried over into Tuesday afternoon.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi reiterated his stance to the Daily News Tuesday saying that Boston right-hander Ryan Dempster should "absolutely" be suspended for plunking Yankees controversial third baseman Alex Rodriguez with a pitch in the second inning of Sunday night's game.
"My opinion hasn't changed. It was wrong. Flat wrong," Girardi told the Daily News before the start of Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against Toronto at Yankee Stadium. "You just can't throw at someone because you don't like them, or you disagree with the way something's being handled. They've talked about throwing at people all the time, so you just can't take things into your own hands. It's not right."
Rodriguez, currently appealing an unprecedented 211-game suspension for his link to the Biogenesis PED scandal that would ban the slugger from playing through the 2014 regular-season, endured a controversial at-bat against Dempster Sunday. Afteer A-Rod entered the batter's box amid defeaning boos, Dempster whizzed the first pitch behind A-Rod's back and then came inside two more times on him before finally beaning him in the elbow with his 3-0 delivery, which of course was a fastball.
The video can be seen here:
Girardi was furious after watching the embattled third baseman get hit with the ball and apparently that ferocity resonated into Tuesday. Girardi bolted out of the dugout and ran right towards home plate umpire Brian O'Nora, who warned both benches rather than choosing to eject Dempster. O'Nora then ejected Girardi for getting in his face. Rodriguez was happy that his manager defended him, but Girardi wasn't looking for acclaim.
"I'm not looking for praise. As I said, he's one of our players and one of the reasons I was so upset is you just can't throw, I mean, that baseball is a weapon," Girardi told the Daily News.
Despite Girardi's anger, Dempster stayed in the game and hasn't had any discipline from Major League Baseball. Dempster, 36, has started 25 games this season, and is 6-9 with a 4.77 ERA this season.
Rodriguez is starting the opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader at third base and hitting in the fifth spot. Girardi said A-Rod may even start the night cap because Eduardo Nunez is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Tuesday will be just the 13th game for No. 13 this season as he made his way back from hip surgery in January and through a Grade 1 quad strain set-back, all the while making headlines for his link to PEDs. A-Rod is expected to continue playing through this season but his fate will be in the hands of arbitrator Frederic Horowitz in November or December when he listens to the controversial slugger's appeal.
This season, the three-time American League MVP is hitting .319 (15-for-47) with two homers and six RBIs.
Girardi is fearful that Dempster may have opened up a can of worms that will lead to Rodriguez getting hit by pitches a recurring theme.
"I mean, it just makes him open season for people," Girardi said Tuesday per the Daily News. "And that can't happen. It's not fair. If a player is suspended for throwing at someone, they're going to get their appeal. Are we just going to throw that out too? I mean, this is what's been negotiated [in the collective bargaining agreement]?"
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