On Wednesday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly for eight games for throwing at several members of the Houston Astros and taunting them. This caused considerable outrage on Twitter.
Jared Carrabis: Joe Kelly got a 6-game suspension in a 162-game season for actually hitting Tyler Austin with a fastball & fighting him. How the fuck did he get 8 games in a 60-game season for missing Carlos Correa with a curveball and mocking him for being a crybaby? He didn't even get ejected.
Joe Scarborough: So let’s get this straight, @MLB. You let the Astros walk for cheating over hundreds of games but suspend Joe Kelly? What a joke.
Siraj Hashmi: Rob Manfred, the Bill de Blasio of commissioners
I don't disagree with the sentiments above. Indeed, Hashmi's observation is quite amusing and astute. Even if he doesn't get another out this season, I'm sure Kelly will never to pay for a meal in the Greater Los Angeles area ever again - provided that he likes outdoor dining.
I understand that baseball fans would rather spend a few hours venting at the Astros' cheating and not think of COVID-19 for a bit. But I find this utterly impossible when nearly the entire Miami Marlins is ravaged with COVID-19. To me this is a far greater outrage than the disproportionate punishment Manfred meted out to Kelly. Major League Baseball should not continue to be played under these conditions.
As troubling as the Astros' sign stealing scandal is for the game of baseball no one will lose their life because of it. The same cannot be said of an outbreak of an infectious disease which has now claimed the lives of 150,000 Americans.
Joe Kelly can and is appealing his suspension. He will not have the luxury should he contract COVID-19.
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