Gone Batty

Top Tampa Bay prospect Delmon Young was suspended indefinitely by the International League on Thursday, a day after throwing a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the arm.

"The Devil Rays organization supports the decision," said Andrew Friedman, Tampa Bay's team's executive vice president of baseball operations.

The 20-year-old Young, brother of Detroit star Dmitri Young and considered one of the best players in the minors, was ejected in the first inning following a called third strike in the Durham Bulls' Triple-A game at Pawtucket, R.I.

When Young took his time leaving the batter's box, the umpire tossed him. Young then flipped his bat underhand and it sailed end over end, striking the umpire. The umpire, whose name was not released, did not appear injured and remained in the game.

You have got to be kidding me. What he did next should land him in jail. The suspension is the least of his concerns.

He tossed his bat at the ump, striking the umpire in the chest.

This isn't the kind of contact that one can regularly expect in a contact sport, let alone baseball. It was a criminal act - an assault. Period. Forget suspensions from the game. Forget apologies. What Young did was outside the realm of the game. It's behavior that should not be tolerated.