New York Yankees Reliever Edwar Ramirez was suspended last week for 3 games after he allegedly threw at Baltimore Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar, July 31st in the Bronx.
With the Yankees leading the Orioles 9-6 after 6 innings, Ramirez (3-0, 3.10 ERA), 27, relieved rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain and promptly hurled a fastball over the former “idiots” head.
Millar, 36, who is barred from being a member of the MLB Players Association because he was a replacement player during the 1994-1995 strike, has been adamant with his belief that Ramirez attempted to hit him intentionally.
“One hundred percent,” Millar said when asked if he thought the pitch was intentional. “I was upset they threw him out of the game because he’s really good hitting. He’s a cute little fella, he didn’t throw that hard and he doesn’t have very good stuff. So it’s probably a good idea they threw him out, because it probably would’ve been in Monument Park. He’s good hittin.”
Millar, a career .279 hitter who originated the 2003 Red Sox homoerotic rallying cry “Cowboy Up,” expressed concern that Ramirez’s pitch could have inflicted serious damage.
“Stay at the waist or below,” Millar said. “It’s part of baseball, but you don’t want to mess with anybody’s career.”
Ramirez claimed that he was simply trying to pitch Millar inside and that he did not intend to throw near the Oriole’s cranium.
“He’s a good guy. I don’t have a reason to hit Kevin Millar. Why?” Ramirez said. “If he thinks I’m throwing [at him] on purpose, I apologize.”
It’s impossible for an outsider to genuinely know if Ramirez threw a purpose pitch at Millar or not. But, if the “cute little fella” did target Millar’s head, the “idiot” has every right to be angered and Ramirez deserved the suspension he received.
Keywords: Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees
