Carlos Carrasco gets six game suspension – MLB News
Cleveland Indians were told on Tuesday, August 2 that Carlos Carrasco has been suspended for six games after the Indians’ starter threw a pitch at Billy Butler’s face, prompting protests from both player and the team management.
The increasingly frustrated Cleveland Indians’ starter threw the ball when he was hit a grand slam by Melky Cabrera --- adding to the enormous disappointment of the team. The horrendously dangerous and intentional action led to his ejection from the game.
Soon after that, it was pretty much expected – and reliably predicted – that Carrasco may well be suspended for few games owing to the dangerous act. It was later confirmed on Tuesday when baseball’s governing body made the decision.
There was news that Carrasco and his team intend to lodge an appeal. While the fate of the appeal is not exactly known, there are suggestions that even if appeal is accepted, Carrasco may still miss the five games – which will essentially mean one game leniency.
When the team manager was asked if the appeal case was true, he said, “It’s standard when that happens. He’s appealing and he’s going to be able to pitch here,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said at Fenway Park before his team’s scheduled game against the
Red Sox.
Five games’ suspension – that too provided it is accepted, would be somewhat consequential for the Cleveland Indians. Leaving someone as important as Carrasco, at this crucial juncture has already dealt a serious blow to the team.
While both Carrasco and his team will eagerly wish a reversal of the decision in the starter’s favour, the Indians on the other hand, can now safely rely on Ubaldo Jimenez whom the team traded only this week.
Carrasco, it is important to mention, has not had a particularly impressive second-half of the 2011 season. His 4.67 ERA, if nothing else, points out to the fact that the starter has to exert himself more to remain relevant in the game.
While Ubaldo will indeed be an immediate substitute for the Indians’ Carrasco, it is not completely known yet how will the former be able to deliver what is expected of him at this stage. Besides, the Indians have not been performing up to the mark in the
second half of the season the way they did in the first and left an impact on the admirers and critics alike.
Nonetheless, it will soon become clear as to whether the appeal is accepted or not. In case that does not happen, the Indians will have to use Ubaldo Jimenez as the bull-pen reels and fails to come up with what is expected of it.
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