The MLB has dropped the hammer on Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly.
On Tuesday night, the Dodgers relief pitcher threw a 96-mph fastball over the head of Alex Bregman, then a curveball over the head of Carlos Correa a few batters later.
https://twitter.com/AsteriskTour/status/1288310632090079238
https://twitter.com/AsteriskTour/status/1288312530620866560
Kelly would go on taunt Correa after striking him out by yelling “nice swing, bitch” ‘you gotta cheat to hit” followed by several other expletives which led to the benches clearing.
https://twitter.com/AsteriskTour/status/1288313888421838849
On Wednesday the MLB announced they were suspending Kelly for eight games for his actions.
Breaking: MLB has suspended Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly for eight games stemming from Tuesday night’s actions against the Astros that led to the benches clearing.
Kelly will appeal the decision. pic.twitter.com/aDxEILZqzT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 29, 2020
Obviously the Internet thought the MLB was being a bit harsh
The eight-game suspension for Joe Kelly in a 60-game season is the equivalent of a 22-game suspension in a 162-game season. Seems…harsh.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2020
Wait, so the @Dodgers Joe Kelly gets suspended 8 games & Manager Dave Roberts gets a 1 game suspension….
Yet, the team w/ the one of the biggest cheating scadals in MLB history had ZERO players suspended for that situation. Gotcha.
Is this some sort of kangaroo court? pic.twitter.com/qm5dT2JVhu
— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) July 29, 2020
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly has been suspended eight games. In announcing it, MLB referred to Kelly's past history with intentional throwing, the fastball that buzzed Alex Bregman and his taunting of Carlos Correa.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 29, 2020
FREE JOE KELLY https://t.co/WC2Q5p80be
— Very Baseball Moments (@verymlb) July 29, 2020
The fact that Joe Kelly will likely get suspended for *not* hitting a batter while an entire team that CHEATED the game received nothing doesn't sit well with me at all
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) July 29, 2020
Joe Kelly suspended for more games for *not hitting anyone* with a pitch than any Astros have been suspended for cheating their way to the World Series. https://t.co/w5EkacNj3K
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) July 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/since93key/status/1288584934962036736
If Rob Manfred had punished the cheaters, pitchers like Joe Kelly wouldn’t have to. The lamest commish could have stopped Tuesday’s sixth inning before it started
— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) July 29, 2020
Joe Kelly gets suspended for 8 games
Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman will combine for wait for it… 0 games
Robert Manfred is making it so hard to like him
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) July 29, 2020
Rob Manfred is working as a mob underboss protecting the cheating 2017 Astros at all costs. Manfred just penalized Joe Kelly more than the entire roster of mama luke’s from Houston. Manfred is a co-conspirator in this fraud. https://t.co/VVqfOq6APx
— Ben Maller (@benmaller) July 29, 2020