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June 28, 2008
The news that Major League Baseball cut the length of Coco Crisp's suspension from seven games to five for his role in the brawl between the Red Sox and Rays early this month was not well-received in central Florida, especially since Akinori Iwamura's appeal to have his three-game penalty reduced was denied.
From the St. Petersburg Times: "I’m kind of baffled by it," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. Added pitcher James Shield, who sat out six games for hitting Crisp with the pitch that triggered Coco's charge to the mound: "I'm not happy about it at all . . . He's the one that instigated the whole thing (with his slide into second base the night before the brawl)."
From the Tampa Tribune: Jonny Gomes, one of the more enthusiastic participants in the fight that broke out, declined comment. Maddon said: "We're not going to cry about it, we're not going to raise a stink over the fact that the Red Sox were reduced and we were not."
The crying was left to the bloggers. Such as Rays Index, which said, "Huh wha?!? Crisp was the one that bowled over Aki. Crisp was the one that charged the mound. And he had his suspension reduced? By two games? Unfortunately Crisp will miss the upcoming Rays-Red Sox series at the Trop. We would love to see that idiot get another ball in the backside."
Posted by Art Martone 
at 11:29 AM | Permalink
Dave Child | June 28, 2008 1:43 PM link
That is why the American league should do away with the designated hitter and let the opposing pitcher come to bat! How would he like to see a 100 mph fast ball coming at his head?