I am so happy that the MLB actually took some action and suspended Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett for six games after the Angels game. Beckett through at Bobby Abreu’s head after Abreu called time in the box.

Under no circumstance, no matter how bad they may be, a pitcher should never throw at another player’s head. It is simply an unwritten rule that all players should abide by. I don’t care what anybody says, or what Beckett’s history shows, because it is clear in my mind that he fired one right at Bobby’s dome.

Beckett throughout his career has been one of the most accurate pitcher’s in all of baseball as well as one of the most aggressive. Even though he is not known for head hunting opposing batters, there is no denying the short fuse that Beckett clearly has.

What I find so humorous about the whole incident is that it was not Abreu who charged Beckett, which I think he had probable cause to do, but it was Beckett who charged home plate. Get back on the mound Josh and stop running your mouth. Better yet you should have been instantly tossed out of the game after you took one step off the rubber.

It is plain to see that the umpire has an unfair double standard going on.

When a player charges the mound he is automatically tossed from the game, even when he was clearly thrown at. So why isn’t that standard rule used for pitchers who charge home plate? Hmm, I don’t know why, but there needs to be a rule implemented after this incident.

Even though I am glad to see the suspension handed down there is one thing that bothers me. A six game suspension for a pitcher is extremely misleading. That means that Beckett basically only misses one start.

I think that when the MLB hands down suspensions for starting pitchers, they should suspend them for a specific number of starts. For example, for this incident I think that Beckett should have been suspended 1-2 starts. That works a lot better for a pitcher than six games suspended.

When fans hear numbers like that it forces a brow to be raised, but in actuality the suspension is not as harsh as it sounds.

But the thing that really is a shame about this whole debacle is the timing of it all. I think Beckett is a coward for pulling a stunt like this after the recent loss of Angels’ pitcher Nick Adenhart. This team is going through an unimaginably hard time and you throw a heartless fastball at the head of an Angels’ player.

I think Beckett should be ashamed of himself and issue a formal apology to offer some sort of reconciliation with the Angels organization.

-Sam Gerb

Sam can be reached at sgerb@ut.edu