Major League Baseball did not take much time handing down discipline stemming from the incident between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros Tuesday evening.
By now, it’s well known that Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly threw behind Astros star Alex Bregman before taunting Carlos Correa during the game.
This all stems from the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that resulted in MLB handing down big-time discipline and Houston’s brass being fired earlier this year. Obviously, the Dodgers themselves played a big role in that having lost to Houston in the 2017 World Series.
MLB has now handed down discipline for Tuesday’s incidents.
Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly suspended eight games, manager Dave Roberts suspended one game
Given that we’re looking at a truncated 60-game season, Kelly’s suspension is the equivalent of a 22-game suspension during a normal campaign. That seems to be pretty stiff.
Then again, Major League Baseball has made it clear that benches clearing and altercations of this ilk are not acceptable with the 2020 season being played amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The league has enforced social distancing and mask-wearing rules. What we saw Tuesday evening seems to defeat that purpose.