It seemed somewhat fair on the surface. Following last weekend’s bench-clearing brawl between the Oakland Athletics and division-rival Houston Astros, suspensions were handed down by Major League Baseball.
The instigator of the brawl, Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, got a record 20 games. Meanwhile, A’s star outfielder Ramon Laureano received a six-game ban.
Heading into their Bay Bridge Series against the San Francisco Giants Friday night, the first-place A’s got some good news. Laureano’s suspension has been reduced to four games.
Finally, Major League Baseball has gotten something right. Here’s why.
It’s understandable that MLB has decided to take social distancing protocols seriously in the age of COVID-19. Bench-clearing brawls like we saw last Sunday in Oakland will be met with swift punishment. As they should.
Although, Houston’s role in what we’re seeing surround the team can’t be lost in all of this. Finally, Major League Baseball is starting to take that into account. It won’t change what happened in the past. But it has now put this team on notice.