MLB Fines Russ Springer Negative $50,000 For Throwing At Bonds

HOUSTON—Astros relief pitcher Russ Springer has been awarded $50,000, the largest negative fine in baseball history, for intentionally throwing at Barry Bonds last Tuesday, the Astros reported. “After reviewing the tapes, there is no question in my mind that Springer purposefully attempted to strike Bonds, and therefore we have no choice but to give him the stiffest negative financial penalty possible,” MLB vice president of on-field discipline Bob Watson said Wednesday. “Rest assured that we intend to deal with similar assaults on Bonds in at least this aggressive a fashion.” Springer has said that he does not intend to contest either his fine or the mandatory five-day Tahitian resort suspension he has been scheduled to serve this offseason.