Written by Thomas Moore

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The Major League Baseball Players Association may file a grievance over the Cleveland Indians placing relief pitcher Nick Hagadone on the minor-league disqualification list.

"I'm very aware of the matter," Michael Weiner, executive director of the player's association, told members of the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday according to The Plain Dealer. "We've already been in touch with the Commissioner's office about this matter and there's a potential grievance. I don't want to get too much into it."

Hagadone injured his pitching hand Friday night in what the Indians have described as a "self-inflicted" incident. Now the players' union is investigating the matter, which Weiner seems to consider to just be part of baseball.

"I will say this, though, there is a long standing precedent in baseball, and arbitration precedent going back to Doyle Alexander, a great player and a great union member, saying that baseball is a very intense game," Weiner said. "And if a player, in the intensity of the moment, makes a mistake and whams his hand against the dugout or a door or does something else, that's a work-related injury. That's part of the game.

"Clubs want players to compete, to compete very hard, and sometimes those emotions come out. No player is proud of the fact that he injured himself in that kind of situation. But Nick is not the first player this year, and certainly not the first player in baseball history, who unfortunately suffered that kind of injury."

We get that the union wants to stand up for the players, but saying this iis a work-related injury seems like a stretch. Hurting your arm throwing a pitch or pulling a muscle while running the bases? Sure. Hitting something, especially with your pitching hand? Not so much.

Whle on the disqualification list, Hagadone will not be paid. Weiner said the union will make a decision after July 15 - the next scheduled payday for Hagadone.