After throwing 50 championship points into the kitty litter across five grands prix, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been called to the naughty step at Mercedes, where the pair were told to think about what theyve done and not to do it again or face the consequences.This morning at the headquarters of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team in Brackley, UK, positive meetings were held between Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes said in an official statement. Our drivers were informed that they remain free to race for the World Championship. We believe this is the essence of Formula One, including between team-mates. As passionate racers, we want to see them racing, and so do the fans of Formula One.However, this freedom comes with a duty for our drivers to respect the values of the team. In the past five races, there have been three incidents which have cost us over 50 points in the constructors championship. We have therefore strengthened our Rules of Engagement to include much greater deterrents to contact between our cars.Their destiny is in their own hands, the statement concluded, triggering off much muttering in the press room as we tried to interpret what the Mercedes comms team probably thought was a perfectly clear and succinct statement. Which it was, but none of us would work in the media if we werent keen on reading between the lines whether or not there are any lines to read between.So does it mean that the drivers are free to race, but will be penalised for coming together on track yet again, throwing away valuable championship points in the process?In theory, not so much. Both men can be fined, although their earning capacity means that fines are going to have to be a minimum of six figures before either driver would feel much financial pain. The other possible penalty -- although an unlikely one given the teams championship ambitions and their drivers current championship positions -- is to bench one or both drivers for a race or two, depending on the severity of any clash and the apportioning of blame.When asked what deterrents the drivers were being threatened with in the event of another collision, Mercedes representatives declined to provide details, saying that the precise nature of the deterrents on the table would remain private.Whatever deterrents Mercedes decide on, there is currently an imbalance within the team that is not possible to rectify: Lewis Hamilton currently has a multi-year contract with the Silver Arrows, while Nico Rosberg is in the process of negotiating a new deal. Those scare quotes are deliberate and sarcastic -- there is absolutely nothing for Rosberg to negotiate, as he is currently driving for the dominant team with the strongest car. If he doesnt like the terms offered, Mercedes can tell him to seek employment elsewhere for 2017 and beyond.And that is probably going to be Nicos biggest deterrent up until the point at which he has his own signed and sealed guarantee of a Mercedes future. Because where else would he go? The past three seasons spent keeping Lewis on his toes have shown that Rosberg is a far better racer than was assumed during his rather lacklustre years at Williams, that beneath the polished private school exterior presented by the Germano-Finn beats the heart of an occasionally devious competitive beast. These are not unpopular attributes in this sport.While the 2017 regulatory changes mean that Mercedes is not guaranteed to maintain its current period of dominance, behind the scenes the Silver Arrows bigwigs readily admit that theyre looking forward to the new rules, as the stability from 2014 onwards was allowing their rivals to close the gap. The new regs present Mercedes with a chance to re-extend it.Red Bull has got Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo keeping their cockpits occupied next season, Ferrari may have a Kimi Raikkonen-sized hole in one car next year although confirmation is still being awaited, Williams are competitive but unlikely to fight for the title, and Rosberg has already been there and worn that team kit. If any driver is likely to swap their current seat for Grove next year it is more likely that Jenson Button will retrace old footsteps than Rosberg.As for the other options on the grid? Theyre all either full or uncompetitive, and having been in the title fight for the past three years Nico is unlikely to want to take his eyes off that particular prize.Given that whatever punishment Hamilton can suffer after an on-track incident with his teammate cannot compare with Rosberg being moved over to make way for Pascal Wehrlein, Mercedes have -- probably unwittingly -- left their longest-serving F1 driver in something of a double bind. Does he exercise caution on track to save his seat while reducing his chance of the 2016 championship, or does he go aggressively for the title and let his long term future resolve itself?Que sera, sera... Russell Westbrook Jersey . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Steven Adams Thunder Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. 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Bat is dropped, helmet is removed and dropped to the ground and Lawrie takes a mission-oriented walk toward his third base position, removing his batting gloves as he goes. Thirteen times the routine didnt result in ejection. The fourteenth, at the end of the third inning of what would be a 10-6 Blue Jays loss to Baltimore, was different. "It was a called strike three; he threw down his helmet and his bat, and was given an equipment fine by the home plate umpire,” said crew chief Wally Bell, speaking on behalf of home plate umpire Dan Bellino. “As (Lawrie) walked away, in (Bellinos) opinion, he flipped the gloves back in a bad manner and that will get an ejection. Thats what it was. He threw them back toward Danny in a way that wasnt etiquette in baseball and he was ejected for it.” Needless to say, Lawrie had a different view of the how the incident unfolded. “From my standpoint, the at bat was over, flipped my bat down, flipped my helmet down, walked to my position,” said Lawrie. “Apparently you get in trouble for that.” After the ejection Lawrie watched the replay. His opinion didnt change. “I had no idea, he had no idea, he threw me out,” said Lawrie. “Apparently he warned me. He gave me a warning, once I watched it on the replay, when I flipped my bat down, I flipped my helmet down, right there and I didnt do anything. I mean, just the way you guys saw it is what happened. I mean, I didnt do anything. I didnt say one word to him, not one, didnt look at him one time and Im in trouble for that.” Lawrie was visibly miffed with Bellinos second strike call on the 1-1 pitch from Orioles starter Chris Tillman. It was a curveball which caught the plate but crossed at the top of the letters. Traditionally, thats a ball. He was rungg up on the next pitch.dddddddddddd Manager John Gibbons was tossed and while he wouldnt divulge the nature of his conversation with Bellino, Bell told a pool reporter it was inbounds for Gibbons to come out of the dugout to protect his player. The ejection occurred once the conversation turned to balls and strikes, a no-no in baseball. Lawries older sister, Danielle, 25, took to Twitter to denounce the state of Major League Baseballs umpiring.“The umps these days in @mlb can suck it,” she tweeted. “Some of the worst calls I have ever seen have been this 2013 season. #callthegamerightdouches” Danielle Lawrie is no stranger to the game. She played for Canadas womens softball team at the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing and was a college standout at the University of Washington, helping the Huskies to the womens softball national title in 2009. Approximately an hour later, presumably after getting feedback from the Twitterverse, Danielle continued.“To everyone out there, Im not saying what my brother did was RIGHT at all, Im saying these umps are horrific and are not held accountable. “Players cant continue to sit baak (sic) and just get [expletive] on at bat after at bat….Id wanna show someone up thats terribe (sic.) #embarrassem” The events of Friday night are likely to rekindle the discussion on the Blue Jays sometimes tenuous relationship with umpires. Jose Bautista led off the inning in which Lawrie would later be ejected. He was called out on strikes and made his displeasure known. Lawrie, who was suspended for four games following the now infamous helmet-tossing incident of May 15, 2012, wasnt sure if his reputation was part of, or all of, the reason for Friday nights ejection. “I dont really think about that,” said Lawrie. “Todays a new day. I dont really worry about stuff thats happened in the past. I just take it for what it is and I guess thats just the way it is tonight.” ' ' '