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MLB: No Suspensions For Stephen Strasburg Or Davey Johnson Following HBPs; Ejections vs Braves

According to several reports this afternoon, neither Washington Nationals' starter Stephen Strasburg nor manager Davey Johnson will face suspensions after they were both ejected from Saturday night's game with the Atlanta Braves after Strasburg threw behind Andrelton Simmons in the second.

By Patrick Reddington
Scott Cunningham

Davey Johnson told Washington Nationals play-by-play man Charlie Slowes on Sunday afternoon's edition of "The Manager's Show" before the series finale in Atlanta that he hadn't heard about any possible disciplinary action after both he and Stephen Strasburg were ejected from Saturday night's game.

"'He walked the first hitter, didn't come close to a strike. And then he threw a curve ball that missed by about six feet and then he threw two behind the hitter.'" - Davey Johnson on what he told HP Ump Marvin Hudson

Strasburg threw two pitches behind Braves' shortstop Andrelton Simmons after warnings had been issued for a HBP on Justin Upton, which was seen as retribution for a series of pitches that hit Bryce Harper over the last few weeks, so home plate umpire Marvin Hudson threw the Nats' 24-year-old starter out of the game. Johnson explained that he argued there was no way you could say Strasburg's pitches to Simmons were intended to hit the Braves' infielder, since Strasburg had come out for the second and had little control.

"I went out there and told the umpire, 'He walked the first hitter, didn't come close to a strike,'" Johnson said, "'And then he threw a curve ball that missed by about six feet and then he threw two behind the hitter. You can't say he was trying to hit somebody. I think his command is... I think he's not even healthy. And I think that's a bad decision.' And he said, 'Well, I can't help it, you're both gone.'"

"I don't know why that rule gets put in there, because to me it's an arbitrary rule, it shouldn't even be in there, just like I'm not sure that the umpire made the correct call." - Davey Johnson to Charlie Slowes on possible suspensions for himself/Strasburg

Since the two were ejected after warnings had been issued, they faced fines and potential suspensions. The Nationals' 70-year-old skipper told Mr. Slowes he had a problem with those rules, especially under the circumstances. "I don't know why that rule gets put in there," Johnson said, "because to me it's an arbitrary rule, it shouldn't even be in there, just like I'm not sure that the umpire made the correct call. And why should Strasburg get suspended one day and I get suspended one day? I don't know how that works."

As the MLB Rules state, further discipline for ejections for HBP after warnings, "... will be reviewed and further disciplinary action imposed on a case-by-case basis." After reviewing the action from Saturday night, an MLB spokesperson told the beat writers covering the Nationals that no further action will be taken:

CSNWashington.com's Mark Zuckerman notes that the two could still face fines which are usually levied when pitchers and managers are ejected after warnings have been issued.

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