Suspensions All-Around
Shawn just emailed this to me about the suspensions handed out by the Commissioner’s office for the last game extravaganza at Tampa Bay. It seems Bronson Arroyo got the hardest slap on the hand with a 6 game suspension, which I will get to in a bit.
Francona’s gone for three games and Nixon for two. Nixon should’ve known better than to not listen to the umpires and his teammates who were repeatedly trying to get him to leave the mound and rucus area… Of course, he lingered and made himself an issue with the umpires. He probably deserves the two.
I hate to see Francona go for 3 games, but Lou’s gone for 3 so Tito is as well… That stinks!
About Arroyo though, wow. He didn’t throw at anyone’s head, but I guess plunking someone on the butt with a pitch in retaliation for earlier incidents after warnings is highly unacceptable behavior in the Commissioner’s eyes. But 6 games? Lance Carter of the Devil Rays, who I think really escalated the whole situation, should’ve gotten more than Arroyo — atleast Bronson wasn’t head hunting.
The real question is what do the Sox do for pitching during that suspension?