Torii Hunter Takes His Suspension Without Appeal

It's easy to get cynical watching the machinations of MLB's on-field discipline policy.

Player does something outlandish, clearly deserving of additional punishment beyond the ejection that usually accompanies his behavior, then immediately files an appeal whenever a suspension is handed down. Happens all the time, no matter how egregious the offense.

Now we have an exception to the rule, and it's no surprise that it comes in the form of Torii Hunter. About as universally respected -- and liked -- a guy as there is in the game, the Angels outfielder took a completely different tack Saturday when slapped with a four-game suspension for his frenzied dispute with umpire Ron Kulpa the night before.

Not only did Hunter choose not to appeal the ban, leaving the Angels to remove him from the lineup already posted in the clubhouse, he also talked at length about why he sat out immediately.

"No appeal because I was terrible yesterday," Hunter said. "I said some things I shouldn't have said. I throw the baseballs on the field.

"I knew about the David Ortiz situation. He threw bats on the field [after an ejection] and got five games. I threw baseballs and got four games. I figured, hey, I better take this. That's justice."

Hunter had apologized for his actions, which included inadvertently clipping Kulpa in the face with the brim of his batting helmet, following the game Friday. Though Hunter indicated Saturday that the umpire said something to escalate the situation, he said he was clearly in the wrong in his reaction.

"I let him [Kulpa] push my buttons," Hunter said. "I apologize to the fans and to the kids out there -- and to my kids."