For his role in a bench clearing incident in Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson has been suspended for one game.
Donaldson will appeal the suspension.
This really is surprising.
While ejecting both Donaldson and Pittsburgh pitcher Joe Musgrove from Monday’s game was controversial, it can be defended from two perspectives. First, it was a spur of the moment decision. Second, if nothing else that could be defended as the umpires trying to be sure that a bean ball war didn’t break out in the first inning of a game.
But suspending Donaldson a day later for that? This was little more than an average MLB bench clearing incident. Donaldson did shove Pirates catcher Elias Diaz, but that was really the extent of it. That would have been worth a fine. With nothing prior to go off of and no punches being thrown, a suspension feels like a dramatic overreaction.