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The iron fist of Major League Baseball discipline has come down on Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes swiftly. Barnes received a four-game suspension, as well as a fine for an undisclosed amount, “for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head” of Orioles third baseman Manny Machado.
As is typical for just about all MLB-issued suspensions of this nature, Barnes is appealing the suspension, so he will not begin to serve any games until he receives a hearing at a later date.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Sunday that MLB would also be looking into pitches thrown by Eduardo Rodriguez at Machado in Sunday’s game. Rodriguez appeared to be trying to hit Machado in the knees in multiple pitches. No suspension was issued to Rodriguez.
If you’re an Orioles fan - which if you’re reading this on this site, you’re probably right - you might feel like a four game suspension is light for Barnes. Not only Orioles-biased fans are feeling that way:
Barnes #Redsox suspended 4 games. MLB went with precedent for relievers rather than try to crack down on the on-field frontier justice.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) April 24, 2017
ESPN’s Keith Law, often cited on this site, is also not a fan of such a short suspension, calling it “a minor inconvenience, if that.” That will be even more true if Barnes has a game reduced from the suspension on the appeal.
The Orioles and Red Sox next play on May 1, and if you listen to the various Red Sox media voices who believe that the matter is not yet put to rest, there may be further retaliation coming at that time.