MLB suspends Lee, Young for brawl at Wrigley
June 19th, 2007Major League Baseball suspended Chicago’s Derrek Lee and San Diego’s Chris Young five games each for their role in a brawl June 16.
If you haven’t seen the video, go here, then click on the June 16 date and select “Top Plays.”
I realize that the penalty for Young won’t end up being as severe as Lee’s, because Young will only have a start pushed back a day or two while Lee will miss several games. But was it right for MLB to suspend each of them for the same number of games? Were they each equally guilty?
I think Lee did nothing wrong, and should be commended for his bravery. Young should be kicked out of baseball. But that’s just my opinion.
I was a little surprised they were equal, but I think it must go down to missing one start. Otherwise it’s meaningless for Young.
I think Lee did nothing wrong, and should be commended for his bravery. Young should be kicked out of baseball. But that’s just my opinion.
I expected as much.
I wonder if Lee did some pounding on Alfonso Soriano, since his little dance down the first base line got this whole thing started.
I wonder if Lee did some pounding on Alfonso Soriano, since his little dance down the first base line got this whole thing started.
I was thinking the same thing myself. I miss the guys like McGwire and McGriff who would hit them, drop their heads, and run the bases. No showing up.
I wonder what the league expects Young to do in that situation. If he had tackled Lee instead of swinging at him would he have been suspended at all. Surely the league doesn’t expect Young to just take it on the chin.
And, Lee should be really happy that he did not land one of those punches. If he had broken Young’s face then he would have been out for a real long time.
They are going to have to keep an eye on Soriano. He just about started a brawl in ATL with this showboat stuff.
That’s funny, Tim. I just wrote about this on my blog, then wondered if you had happened to write about it.
Even if they were equally guilty, what would be an “equal” suspension for a starting pitcher? 5 starts would probably be excessive - that would have to be 25-29 games.
Derrek Lee seems to have been appointed (or maybe even anointed?) as the Cubs’ leader this season, so I expect more out of him than what I saw on Saturday.
It’s understandable that a player gets upset when he sees a ball coming toward his head, and given Lee’s past injuries, it also makes sense that he doesn’t want to spend time on the DL thanks to being hit by a pitch. That being said, I believe he should have dusted himself off and taken his base. Who knows, maybe he would’ve eventually scored a run, and perhaps the Cubs would’ve gone on to beat the Padres, who knows? Instead, Carlos Zambrano pitches a great game and ends up losing 1-0. I’m surprised HE didn’t rough up Lee AND Alfonso Soriano after the game!
As for the 5-game suspensions: I think both players probably should’ve gotten twice that amount for their sheer lack of ability to actually land a punch! Major League Basebrawls are ridiculous.