It wasn't well received in these parts because of the disparity of punishment dispensed, but make no mistake about it -- MLB sent a clear message with Orioles infielder Manny Machado's four-game suspension. Whoever takes the battle to the pitching mound will forevermore be determined to be the instigator, regardless of the circumstances. Challenge that philosophy at your own peril.
Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Yordano Ventura may have initiated the confrontation with a 99 mph fastball that drilled Machado in his midsection June 7, but MLB is taking the stance that it will handle those situations -- and any player who decides to take matters into his own hands does so at his own risk. It might not seem fair -- chances are Ventura would not have been immediately ejected but only given a warning had Machado taken the "turn the other cheek" approach -- but as the cliché says "it is what it is."
Machado and the Orioles feigned an appeal long enough to control the games he would miss (a little curious that two of them would be against Toronto and Texas, perhaps the American League's two most powerful teams). It quickly became obvious they were told they had zero chance of any suspension reduction when Ventura made a scheduled start and then dropped his appeal -- after having one game lopped of his nine-game suspension.
