It is ominous when home run leaders Mark McGwire and Andre Dawson are beaned by pitchers in the very same week Dickie Thon quit the Astros, having never fully recovered from a beaning of a few years ago.
The penalty for hitting a batter (award of first base) should be raised and I have two suggestions. First is the "floating DH"--anytime a National League pitcher hits a batter, the batter's team wins use of the designated hitter for the remainder of the game; the offending American League pitcher's team loses the DH for the remainder of the game.
A second rule would be aimed at direct retaliation after a home run. If a player who has hit a home run earlier in the game is later hit by a pitch, then the pitcher is automatically suspended for seven days--no exceptions and hopefully no more Dickie Thons.
DAVE QUICK
Los Angeles
