As reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the MLB is likely to punish Boston Red Sox LHP Chris Sale for throwing behind Orioles’ third baseman Manny Machado.
The mess that is the Red Sox – Oriole rivalry in 2017 keeps getting dirtier. According to Ken Rosenthal, Red Sox ace Chris Sale could be suspended for throwing behind Manny Machado in last night’s 5-2 win.
At the moment, we’re unaware of what the potential punishment could be. Per Ken Rosenthal, it could be something less than a suspension, as in a warning or a fine. If it were to be a suspension, based on similar incidents, i.e. Matt Barnes‘ suspension for throwing behind Machado’s head a couple weeks ago, something in the neighborhood of four games is likely.
If Sale’s out for four games, well, no harm is done really. If it stretches past that and begins to cost him starts, then that’s the last thing the Red Sox need at this point. In that case, one of Henry Owens or Brian Johnson would likely come up from AAA Pawtucket to make the spot-start. As new details emerge, we’ll be sure to update the situation.
Sale is 2-2 with a 1.38 ERA, 0.745 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts in six starts this season.
CLARIFICATION: Discipline for Sale, if administered, will not necessarily be suspension. Could be something less - warning or fine.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 3, 2017
Based on those Tweets, there’s a stronger possibility that Sale will only receive a minor punishment for his actions than an outright suspension, however, that is still a possibility.
If the incident was isolated, this would be fair. If you take a look at Sale’s post-game comments, he made no attempt to hide the fact that he intentionally threw behind Machado. And made no apologies for doing so.
"“I can’t speak to what he said. I’m not too worried about it. Whatever man, I’m not losing sleep (Tuesday night).”"
But this situation isn’t isolated and Sale hasn’t been the only active participant. If Sale is to serve time for missing Machado or even intentionally brushing him back (Sale doesn’t miss that often), then where is Dylan Bundy‘s suspension for hitting Mookie Betts with a fastball in the ribs during the series opener? It’s harder to suspend Bundy than Sale since his situation was less obvious, but it’s only fair.
But from the league’s point of view, I totally understand the need to start handing out disciplinary sanctions. This is a feud that started over a minor sliding infraction that wasn’t even blatant enough to warrant in-game action from the umpires. Those originally involved – Dustin Pedroia and Manny Machado – had put the incident behind them until Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes put a fastball past the back of Machado’s head. Relations have only spiraled since then.
That the Red Sox have carried this issue into another series, a full two weeks later, makes them look childish and petulant. This isn’t the way that a team with aspirations to be the class of the American League East should act. If it were mid-August and they were 20 games out of the division with nothing to play for, that would be one thing. But we’re in early May and they’re three games back of the O’s for first in the East. Let your play on the field do the talking.
No matter what happens to Sale, what he did was unnecessary and can only backfire for himself and the Red Sox. We’ll see what the league decides to do, but they’re right to try to put an end to this type of redemptive behavior.