SAN FRANCISCO _ As Hunter Strickland awaits a ruling from Major League Baseball on the appeal of his six-game suspension, he's received plenty of time to reflect on his decision to plunk Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper with a 98 mph fastball on Memorial Day.
The Giants reliever told the league during his hearing Tuesday that he regrets the role he played in the incident.
"I regret putting my team in that position," Strickland said, recounting the discussion with reporters. "I regret that the kids watching had to see it."
Strickland said his hearing with MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre via Skype lasted roughly two hours. The Major League Baseball Players Association lawyer that represented Strickland made a case for reducing the suspension by comparing it to similar cases with less severe punishments.
"They played all the videos and I explained my thoughts of it," Strickland said. "Then, the lawyers go back and forth, and then they presented different cases throughout the course of the years."
At this point, it's unclear when baseball will reach a decision on Strickland's appeal, but the Giants hope it's sooner than later.
"We'd just like to get the news as soon as possible," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I'll be honest, I'm hoping to get some news today (Tuesday) because with the day off (Monday), we're fresh in the bullpen, so it would allow us to use guys how we want to and keep things in order as much as possible the next two days before we hit Colorado."
The Giants cannot replace Strickland on the roster while he's suspended, so the team will play with a seven-man bullpen. With just four position players on the roster right now, the Giants aren't in a position to recall a reliever from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Strickland in the bullpen.
"We really can't send a position player down because we're down to four there," Bochy said. "So we'll just keep the club as it is."
