Blue Jays’ Lawrie appeals four- game suspension
Not his intention to hit umpire when he threw his helmet, Toronto third- baseman insists
TORONTO — A “bad hop” caused his four- game suspension, Brett Lawrie says, so he has launched an appeal that will keep him in the Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup for the time being.
Major League Baseball issued the suspension one day after Lawrie, enraged over a called third strike, slammed his helmet to the ground during an argument with umpire Bill Miller. The helmet bounced up and struck Miller in the right hip.
Lawrie, the 22- year- old third baseman from Langley, said he appealed so he can tell his side of the story. An appeal might also reduce his penalty.
“The only thing I regret is the helmet hitting him,” Lawrie said. “I never meant to do that. I threw it off the ground and it took a bad hop and it hit him, just totally by accident.”
Lawrie’s helmet toss was his only offence, general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. It was bad luck that the helmet struck Miller, he added.
“If he had thrown the helmet a little bit to the right or left, we’re not having this conversation,” Anthopoulos told reporters after receiving word of the suspension Wednesday afternoon.
Lawrie, who leads the team in average, hits and on- base percentage, can continue to play until his appeal is heard or until he drops the appeal.
He will not be not paid while serving his suspension. MLB also fined him an undisclosed amount.
Anthopoulos said he expected MLB to conduct an appeal hearing via teleconference from New York sometime within the next week.
The clash occurred with one out in the ninth inning of the Blue Jays’ 4- 3 loss to Tampa Bay at the Rogers Centre. On a 3- 1 pitch from Fernando Rodney, Lawrie took off for first base, thinking he had drawn a walk. Miller called the pitch a strike.
According to pitch charts from Fangraphs. com, the next pitch was slightly high and outside. Miller called it strike three and Lawrie exploded in anger, screaming at the umpire and firing his helmet into the dirt. Farrell raced out to restrain Lawrie and take up the argument.
Farrell, who also was ejected along with Lawrie, said he expected to be fined.
MLB officials spoke with him Tuesday, he said.
MLB gave no specific reasons for the length of Lawrie’s suspension.
Anthopoulos said there is no question Lawrie did not intend for his helmet to hit the umpire.
“You guys have all been around Brett,” he told reporters. “He’s as good a kid as you’re ever going to be around.”