Written by Well, it was about time Major League Baseball took a stand! Clear and decisive action is required when players behave poorly. Without it, we risk anarchy. It’s essential to send a message to let the players know that improper conduct will not be tolerated and let the fans know that the league is serious about protecting the integrity of the game.
That’s what happened to journeyman relief pitcher Hector Santiago of the Seattle Mariners. They threw the book at him this week, and he made history last Sunday as the first pitcher ejected from a game and suspended for violating the league’s new policy against using substances to enhance the grip of a baseball.
Did they find Spider Tack or some other sticky substance? No, they found rosin. The 33-year-old Santiago, who had to beg his way onto a major league roster, had used the rosin bag that sits behind the mound on every field. Somehow, the rosin from his hand made it into his glove. At the end of the inning, the umpire noticed the substance and ejected him from the game. A 10-game suspension was automatic. The league had found its scapegoat.
It could have been worse. Had Santiago failed a drug test after eating a tainted burrito bowl, he would be facing an automatic 80-game ban, without pay, for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
If you offend either of these policies, you can appeal if you want, but chances are the appeal process will take longer than the suspension. The league has taken a tough stance.
However, if you are the reigning NL Cy Young award winner who just started a $102M contract and you have a domestic violence restraining order administered to you, the league needs to think about it for a few days before acting. That’s what happened one day after the Santiago incident to Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for doing this.
The drama escalated quickly, with photos and text messages publicly revealed. The Dodgers heard the news and punted it to the league. For three days, MLB did nothing. Finally, on Friday, with the looming threat of Bauer making his next scheduled start over the weekend, Bauer was placed on “7-day paid administrative leave” while the legal process plays out. A second 7-day leave can happen if needed but will require approval of the players union. The legal process likely will go on much longer as it is as complicated as the charges are disgusting.
The mention of paid administrative leave sounds familiar. Didn’t I write about this before? Of course, I did. That’s what Deshaun Watson will probably be put on by the NFL next season. Watson and Bauer’s cases are somewhat similar, as are their contracts and the domestic and sexual abuse policies of MLB and the NFL. Both leagues give sole discretion to the commissioner to administer punishment, unlike the policies for steroids and sticky stuff. Neither requires waiting out the legal process, and they can penalize players regardless of whether there is an arrest.
Manfred has given lengthy suspensions to Domingo German and Sam Dyson. Marcell Ozuna was involved in a violent domestic dispute earlier this season, resulting in a felony charge. Ozuna and his wife are both trying to get the charges dropped and restore Ozuna’s reputation. MLB is still “investigating” while Ozuna is recovering from an injury, hoping some resolution to a very sticky legal situation occurs to make it easier for the league to avoid fighting the players union over a suspension.
As I suggested with the Watson case, the right thing to do is administer an automatic penalty similar to a positive PED test result. For baseball, it is an 80-game suspension without pay. We are at the halfway point of the season now, so that would end Bauer’s season. He could focus on his legal situation and go through the appeal process to attempt to end the suspension or recoup his salary if facts emerge to support his case.
Why isn’t this an easy call for Manfred to make? It makes sense, right? Why cross your fingers and hope it all goes away during the administrative leave? Well, you can tell by the reader’s comments on the Ozuna article. The Braves are struggling, and they want his bat back in the lineup. There is no outrage for players who abuse women, like when players steal signs, use steroids, or increase their spin rate with Spider Tack. Hector Santiago does not deserve due process, but Trevor Bauer does. It’s ridiculous.
Often you hear due process brought up in these situations. The players accused are innocent until proven guilty. But that relates to their legal concerns. Freedom is a right in our society, and due process protects that right as it should. Playing baseball is a privilege. An authority can take it away. What would your HR department do to you if allegations like those against Bauer surfaced against you? Would you get “paid administrative leave”?
Yet, we go to extreme measures to give star players the benefit of the doubt. We do the same for accused presidents and loveable television personalities. It’s hard for us to believe our heroes can do such terrible things. We would instead move on and pretend it didn’t happen or assume the victims were just out for money.
Like football in the Watson case, baseball swung and missed again. During a week when our legal system freed Bill Cosby on a technicality, they had an opportunity to take a stand against abuse and for its victims while defending their values.
I hope they dare to work with the players association during the upcoming contract negotiations this winter to implement a clear and decisive policy to protect the victims of abuse, the integrity of the game, and themselves from cowering to public opinion.