Ryan Dempster Suspended Five Games For Throwing At Alex Rodriguez

Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster has been suspended five games for intentionally hitting Alex Rodriguez with a pitch in the second inning of Sunday's game between the Red Sox and Yankees. That's just over one game per pitch Dempster was allowed to throw at Rodriguez!

Dempster wasn't good enough at his job to accurately hit Rodriguez with the first three pitches he threw at him, but was allowed to continue attempting to hit A-Rod because Dempster was not warned by home plate umpire Brian O'Nora until after the pitch that hit him, eliciting a tirade from Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

Now, five games isn't a particularly lengthy suspension for a position player, let alone a pitcher. Dempster will miss one start, and really won't be affected by the suspension at all. The Red Sox are probably happy with the fact that Dempster and his 4.77 ERA won't be out there for a start, and he got to throw at a rival player. It's a win-win situation for Dempster and the Sox.

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