There is a laundry list of things wrong with major-league baseball, but we’ll just take on one topic today — beanballs.
The way American League pitchers mete out justice is absolutely childish.
The debate is like a pair of 2-year-olds pushing each other in a sandbox.
“Mom, my friend pushed me.”
Mom said, “Push him back.”
“Mom, he pushed me again.”
Mom said, “Push him back.”
You get the idea. It’s childish.
A’s baserunner Brett Lawrie started the chaos Friday when he chopped down Alcides Escobar at second base on a poorly misguided slide. Lawrie slid with his spikes high, trying to take out Escobar at second base. Escobar believed Lawrie intended to hurt him.
Here’s where the umpires blew it the next day. Both teams should’ve been warned to not throw 90 mph fastballs at anyone, including Lawrie.
Sure enough, Lawrie was hit by a pitch Saturday by Royals starter Yordano Ventura after Josh Reddick cracked a three-run home run. After Herrera threw behind Lawrie, the umpires prevented the teams from starting a brawl.
The next day, the umpires blew it again. Both teams should’ve been warned to not throw 90 mph fastballs at anyone, including Lawrie.
On Sunday, Royals manager Ned Yost and pitching coach Dave Eiland were ejected in the first inning when As starter Scott Kazmir hit Lorenzo Cain with a pitch. Yost and Eiland argued that Kazmir should be ejected and were thrown out for arguing.
Later on, the chaos continued.
Royals pitcher Kelvin Herrera threw a pitch at Lawrie and was immediately ejected. Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu, and shortstop Alcides Escobar and Herrera were ejected, with no Athletics being tossed. Herrera was suspended for five games by major-league baseball.

Jim Misunas