MLB is suspending Tim Anderson for celebrating a home run
By Sean Sears
The MLB has issued a one-game suspension to White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson after he celebrated a home run against the Royals, who later hit him intentionally for “bat-flipping.”
This is ridiculous. After a Wednesday afternoon game between the Royals and White Sox that saw Tim Anderson, who is raking for the Sox right now with four home runs and 1.096 OPS, crank a ball into left field and proceed to “bat-flip” in celebration of the dinger.
BREAKING: #WhiteSox SS Tim Anderson will be suspended by MLB for his role in Wednesday's altercation against the #Royals, sources tell Stadium. pic.twitter.com/mCteZ59Nu9
— Stadium (@Stadium) April 19, 2019
Later in the game, Anderson was facing Royals pitcher Brad Keller. Keller pegged Anderson in the hip, which ended up clearing the benches in Chicago. Anderson had words for Keller and Kansas City catcher Martin Maldonado as he attempted to take his base before both benches converged on the first base foul line.
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has been suspended for one game because of language used during the benches-clearing incident with Kansas City, sources familiar with situation tell ESPN. Brad Keller, who hit Anderson with a pitch, has been suspended for five games, per sources.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 19, 2019
But according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Anderson was suspended the one game not because of his bat flip but the language he used after he was plunked.
When MLB investigated the benches-clearing incident between the White Sox and Royals, umpires and players from both teams said Tim Anderson used a racially charged word, sources tell ESPN. Anderson received a one-game suspension from the incident, per sources.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 19, 2019
If that is the case and Anderson was using “racially charged” language then that’s worthy of a one-game suspension, but the MLB can’t seem to allow players to show emotions and have fun playing this game. Bat-flipping, celebrating, enjoying playing a game for a living are all things fans want to see from their favorite players.
Additionally, none of this happens if Anderson isn’t beaned for being happy. Players celebrate goals in hockey. They celebrate touchdowns in football. Why can’t a home run be celebrated in baseball?
And allowing teams to retaliate to someone not “playing the game right” or not “acting like they’ve been there before” is about the lamest excuse to allow grown men to get mad because someone hurt their feelings. If you don’t want to see bat-flips, don’t give up home runs.
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But what the most frustrating part about this all is that Anderson and Keller will likely only miss the same amount of games, despite Keller getting a five-game suspension, and one guy hit a home run and celebrated apparently too much while the other tossed a 90+ MPH object at another person because he hurt his feelings.
Tell me how that draws more eyes to the game of baseball, Rob Manfred?