The Big 12 had overturned such suspensions in the past resulting from umpires being too aggressive and overstepping their bounds, but they had no interest in doing it this time. McQueen has been a problem in the Big 12 all year. Ask several other teams, (just not Texas, he doesn’t get to work their games anymore) and hopefully this will be a step in getting him out of the league. Of course it is too late for Bettis who gets a punishment that is four times as harsh as what a starter gets (the rule is poorly written and designed for starters to miss A game and not relieves and is such punitive beyond measure for Bettis in this case. For that reason alone the Big 12 should have reduced it to two games but again they abandon their duties.

Here’s the statement from Tech today:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010

Statement from Texas Tech University regarding the suspension of baseball student-athlete Chad Bettis

Texas Tech has been given notice by the Big 12 Conference that the league plans to uphold an NCAA mandated four-game suspension of junior relief pitcher Chad Bettis that was a result of a hit-by-pitch in Sunday’s game against Baylor.

Texas Tech petitioned the Big 12 Conference for a formal review of the situation. The Big 12 Conference completed the review and ruled that there was no evidence to overturn the call made on the field.

Now, if I were Dan Spencer I’d pitch him anyways and dare the league to do anything other than force Tech to forfeit a game they’ll probably have to tank anyways to save pitching. Beyond that I wish the Bettis family would file an injuction and seek relief through the courts. I’m tired of seeing the Big 12 office refuse to do their job unless it involves certain teams in this dying league.

Bettis could rightfully claim the Big 12 is illegally hurting his earning potential in the upcoming draft by not letting him showcase is skills. It is just a thought.

By the way, if you didn’t read George Watson‘s column in the A-J yesterday you need to. He sums it up quite well.

Even though we don’t have show today I’d love to get your thoughts on how the Big 12 handled this situation and what you think you’d do if you were Dan Spencer or Chad Bettis. Even if you disagree with us. . .

So let’s get this straight Big 12. A Baylor basketball player can throw a punch and break the nose of a Texas Tech athlete and get a two game suspension but a Tech pitcher can be ejected without warning and without known intent for hitting a Baylor batter, fully ready and prepared for a pitch, in the back. Ok.

If these suspensions stand not only could they wreck Tech’s chances at Nebraska and a potential NCAA at-large bid, but they also fly in the face of all reason.

My advice to Dan Spencer and Texas Tech is to not take it from the Big 12 here. Stand-up, say you’re going to play both Bettis and Johnson and dare them, yes dare the wimps at the Big 12 office to do something about it. It will cause a PR stink for the league and will put the Griner story back in the media as well, something I’m sure the  boys in Dallas will be thrilled with.

I’m tired of the hypocrisy in this league and I for one wouldn’t mind seeing it go down the drain at this point via being picked apart by the Big 10 and the SEC if this is how things are going to work in the Big 12.

Texas Tech officials must take a strong stand here. What’s the worst that could happen if they do???

Get your thoughts in here on the site today and we’ll read the best of the best on The Show tonight. Don’t worry, we’ll have much more on this story later today.

1. Couldn’t have dialed-up a better day to open the college baseball season here in Lubbock with temps in the 60′s this afternoon. The A-J has a good read about Texas Tech pitcher Chad Bettis to whet your appetite today.  Now, if I could just get some real grass at Dan Law Field and replace the metal bats with wood all would be right with the world. Ya, ya, ya, I know why we “can’t” have grass out there when you try to play games in February and I understand the costs of wood bats vs. metal but I can still dream can’t I?

2.  Make fun of his hair and his looks, bag on the baggy jeans if you will but shredder Shaun White could give  a lesson or three to the likes of Tony Romo and many other so-called traditional athletes. Nobody shows up better on the biggest stages than White. He gets it done when it matters most. A rare trait indeed these days in hyped athletes.

3.  I’d pay good money to see this press conference by Tiger Woods rather than the joke that will go on today in Florida.

Thank you Deadspin. Just scroll down to the comments section and read what Azure Texan wrote. Classic. Warning, you might be offended if you get offended by stuff.

4. Red Light cameras still wouldn’t have stopped any of the accidents that happened in Lubbock lately. Sorry.

5. Admit it. Team USA vs. Canada in Olympic hockey will be on your radar screen this weekend whether you like hockey or not. It’ll come in third behind NASCAR’s California race Sunday and Tech/LCU baseball this weekend, but it will be on my radar. I can’t decide whether I should get upset is America gets beat by the godless Canucks or not. It’ll depend on how Tony Stewart does Sunday I suppose. I’ll let you know.

MORE LATER

HYATT