Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly from eight games and manager Dave Roberts one game for his actions during Tuesday’s game against the Astros. Roberts will serve his suspension during Wednesday’s series finale against Houston. Kelly has chosen to appeal the ban, making it available to launch in the foreseeable future.
Astros manager Dusty Baker was fined an undisclosed amount for his role in the fights. Here is the official announcement made by former MLB pitcher and MLB chief disciplinarian Chris Young:
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly received an eight-game suspension for his actions in the bottom of the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Kelly, who had previously been suspended in his career for intentionally pitching, threw a pitch into Alex Bregman’s head area and then taunted Carlos Correa, leading to the clearance of the banks. Chris Young, senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.
Additionally, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts received a one-game suspension as a result of Kelly’s actions.
Kelly’s suspension was slated to begin tonight, when the Dodgers will continue their series in Houston. However, Kelly has chosen to appeal. Therefore, discipline will be held in abeyance until the process is complete. Roberts will serve his suspension tonight.
Astros manager Dusty Baker was also fined as part of the incident between the two Clubs.
As expected, Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, a rematch of the 2017 World Series, was fraught with tension. The Dodgers landed in Houston with much resentment after discovering this offseason that the Astros implemented an elaborate and illegal signal theft scheme during the 2017 season.
So when both clubs flocked to the diamond on Tuesday, words were exchanged and canoes were eliminated in the sixth inning. Kelly, a notable instigator of the mound, threw fast balls at Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa, while also yelling at hitters as he left the mound. Dusty Baker told reporters that Kelly said “Good shot, bitch” to Correa after hitting him in the sixth.
It did not result in a fight that cleared the bank, but it was certainly questionable considering the league’s strict stance on not fighting, emphasizing the importance of social estrangement, this season amid the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Kelly was not on the 2017 Dodgers team, but was on the Red Sox team that lost to the Astros at the 2017 ALDS. It should be noted that the Red Sox would continue to defeat the Astro in the ALCS the following year in their en route to a 2018 World Series title, but the Red Sox were also embroiled in a sign theft scandal this offseason.
This offseason, before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a four-month delay to the start of the 2020 season, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that he planned to send a memo to warning teams about intentionally pitching to players in the Astros during the 2020 season.
“Retaliation will not be tolerated in the game by intentionally throwing a hitter,” Manfred said. “Whether it’s Houston or anyone else, it’s dangerous and it’s not useful for the current situation.”
Astros players received immunity in exchange for honest accounts during the league investigation. The club’s punishment for stealing posters included a $ 5 million fine (the maximum allowed under the MLB constitution), Manager AJ Hinch was suspended for the 2020 season (and soon after fired by the Astros), the general manager. Jeff Luhnow also suspended for 2020 and also shot, and the Astros lost their first and second round picks in the next two years.
Meanwhile, the two clubs will return for the series finale on Wednesday night. Two right-handed rookies will take the mound towards Houston and Los Angeles. This is how you can look.
