White Sox pitching coach calls out MLB for Josh Donaldson suspension

White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz had harsh words for MLB after the league suspended Josh Donaldson just one game for comments he made to Tim Anderson.

Members of the White Sox aren’t exactly satisfied with the punishment Josh Donaldson got for making “inappropriate comments” towards Tim Anderson.

It all went down on Saturday when Donaldson called Anderson “Jackie,” referencing Jackie Robinson. Anderson and Chicago felt it was disrespectful and racially insensitive. Donaldson claimed it was a playful reference to Anderson referring to himself as the modern Robinson in a 2019 interview.

MLB agreed that Donaldson’s comments were “disrespectful and in poor judgment” while suspending the third baseman for a game and fining him an undisclosed amount. He is appealing the punishment.

White Sox pitching coach called out MLB for Josh Donaldson suspension

For Ethan Katz, the White Sox pitching coach, the suspension isn’t enough.

https://twitter.com/ethankatz/status/1528842382858407936

“Just one game. We all saw his malice at third a week ago, then this comment with the ridiculous excuse that followed. What’s the point or message behind a 1 game suspension?” Katz tweeted. “This is incredibly disappointing and plain frustrating.”

Others in the organization found the punishment lacking as well. Pitcher Joe Kelly pointed out how he was suspended for eight games for making a face at Carlos Correa while he was playing for the Dodgers.

Kelly incited a benches-clearing brawl when he made the face toward Correa. MLB acknowledged that Donaldson’s comment was a “contributing factor” to a benches-clearing brawl between the White Sox and Yankees.

The suspension won’t impact the Yankees immediately since Donaldson just landed on the COVID injury list anyways.