LaTroy Hawkins to Appeal Suspension & My Problem With The Unwritten Rules of Baseball

I have a problem with the unwritten rules of baseball, but I have an issue with a guy who cannot take his punishment as a professional.

LaTroy Hawkins has really pissed me off.

From the AP: New York Yankees reliever LaTroy Hawkins was suspended for three games and fined $2,000 by Major League Baseball today for intentionally throwing at the Orioles' Luke Scott.

Hawkins, who pitched for the Orioles in 2006, has appealed and the suspension is delayed until a decision is reached. The suspension had been set to begin today, when the Yankees host the Orioles in the final game of a three-game series.

And of course, like a good manager, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi tries his best to explain why his player should not be suspended.

"I was a little bit surprised" that Hawkins drew a three-game penalty, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Guys have been throwing inside for a long time. I think you're trying to set a precedent where no one gets hurt badly."

Whatever, Joe.

Look, I understand the logic of revenge, an eye-for-an-eye or whatever a team needs to get back at their superstar (as in Tuesday's case - Derek Jeter), but there needs to line a drawn as to what should be acceptable, and what crosses into cowardice.

I think it's dumb to throw at someone to begin with, but as a fan, and guy who knows baseball tradition -- I accept it.

What makes LaTroy a punk to me is that when he had an opportunity to get back at the Orioles, he aimed for Luke Scott's backside and missed.

Fine.

However, with the next pitch -- whether it got away from him, it slipped, or it was intentional -- it was aimed at Scott's head.

It is needless to say that throwing at someone's head is crazy; however, if you're going to endanger someone's career, potential long-term health and life, you've got a problem.

Furthermore, Hawkins' appeal of a judgment when his actions were an obvious attempt to inflict harm makes him a punk to me.

Next week, when LaTroy comes to town, and when he's sitting all snug in the bullpen, Oriole fans should unload on him.