Torii Hunter 3 year Suspension?

[Gil Dobie]

Probably a rule they could do without. Lucky the Royals returned the bubbly.

ESPN.com Link (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2847416)

Torii Hunter's gift of expensive champagne to the Kansas City Royals has the Minnesota Twins outfielder in some bubble trouble.

Namely, rule 21-b, which proclaims "Any player or person connected with a Club who shall offer or give any gift or reward to a player or person connected with another Club for services rendered ... in defeating or attempting to defeat a competing Club ... shall be declared ineligible for not less than three years."

And after "The Cheater's Guide to Baseball Blog" reported the violation, the Twins got a phone call from the commissioner's office about the proffered bubbly. And the Twins found themselves in an awkward position -- having to call the Royals to ask that the champagne be returned.

Luckily, the Royals hadn't popped the corks yet.

[appfan2008]

wow that is the dumbest rule ever and if it has to be there... why a three year suspension???

[Gil Dobie]

wow that is the dumbest rule ever and if it has to be there... why a three year suspension???

And Bud Selig didn't even come up with it. xeyebrowx

[NDSUFREAK]

Terry Ryan said in the article that the suspension probably won't happen. The Royals have to ship the gift back and then MLB probably won't do 3 years. That is what I got out of the article. Weird rule....

[appfan2008]

bud has done some wierd things but i knew this had to be some ancient thing... not something bud in these modern times could possibly come up with

[Gil Dobie]

bud has done some wierd things but i knew this had to be some ancient thing... not something bud in these modern times could possibly come up with

The Tie in the All-Star Game has to be up there with his best duds.

[Grizalltheway]

The Tie in the All-Star Game has to be up there with his best duds.

Man that was hilarious. xlolx xlolx

[LeopardFan04]

Yeah, I think this is a holdover from the early days when there was a greater chance for bribery...I think as long he they give it back the won't be suspended...I'm sure he'll get hit with a fine though...

[I Bleed Purple]

I still get a kick out of people thinking that Bud Selig caused the tie in the All Star Game.

[Gil Dobie]

I still get a kick out of people thinking that Bud Selig caused the tie in the All Star Game.

Just another wonderful thing that happened under his watch. :)

[andy7171]

The Tie in the All-Star Game has to be up there with his best duds.
The tie in the all-star game was not his fault. It was Torre and Brenley using all their players. 10 pitchers each. 10 pitchers used up in 11 innings. Where is the rule that everyone has to play? What is this youth league tee ball? I remember when the all star game was here in Baltimore. Cito Gaston refused to pitch Mussina.
The tie game was an embarrassment, but Ole Bud had nothing to do with causing it.

[Gil Dobie]

The tie in the all-star game was not his fault. It was Torre and Brenley using all their players. 10 pitchers each. 10 pitchers used up in 11 innings. Where is the rule that everyone has to play? What is this youth league tee ball? I remember when the all star game was here in Baltimore. Cito Gaston refused to pitch Mussina.
The tie game was an embarrassment, but Ole Bud had nothing to do with causing it.

Bud did make the decision to call the game because he was commissioner. The MVP award, renamed that year in his memory, the Ted Williams trophy was not given out.

"Nobody wanted to play more than I did, but I have to balance the concerns and hopes of the fans against the welfare of the players and the game. And every so often you get caught in a really difficult and sensitive situation. This is why they have a commissioner, because somebody has to make those decisions." - Commissioner Bud Selig

[Mr. C]

The rule dates back to like the 1880s. Isn't it great that MLB can give Hunter crap for something like this, but they can't combat drug use in baseball. Talk about majoring in the minors.

[Ivytalk]

The rule dates back to like the 1880s. Isn't it great that MLB can give Hunter crap for something like this, but they can't combat drug use in baseball. Talk about majoring in the minors.

You are correct, sir!xthumbsupx