Brewers: Will Smith appealing ludicrous 8-game suspension
By Phil Watson
Milwaukee Brewers reliever Will Smith was suspended for eight games by Major League Baseball after he was found to have a foreign substance on his arm during Thursday night’s loss to the Atlanta Braves, a game from which he was ejected in the seventh inning.
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The ejection came after Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez asked umpires to investigate a substance that was visible on Smith’s arm.
Smith confirmed after Thursday’s game that he had put a mixture of rosin and sunscreen on his right arm to help him grip the ball on a cool, windy night.
“It was chilly and kind of windy,” Smith told The Associated Press. “I had rosin and sunscreen on my arm. I just forgot to wipe it off before I went out and pitched. I had to kind of get ready in a hurry. I just forgot. That’s it.”
Here’s the thing: No one with the Brewers is arguing that Smith didn’t break the rules. He obviously did.
But eight games? That’s a more severe punishment than was doled out to Kansas City Royals right-hander Kelvin Herrera for intentionally throwing at Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Lawrie last month. Herrera was given a five-game ban.
So apparently, in the eyes of Major League Baseball, putting something on your arm to help you grip the baseball so you can control it is a worse offense than intentionally throwing a pitch at a batter.
OK, then.
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was suspended one game—one!—for making contact with an umpire earlier this month, following his ejection for arguing balls and strikes. It wasn’t egregious contact by any means, but it’s something that is frowned upon.
So apparently, in the eyes of Major League Baseball, putting something on your arm to help you grip the baseball so you can control it is a far worse offense than bumping into an umpire.
OK, then.
MLB announced Smith intention to appeal his suspension when they announced the penalty itself on Twitter.
#Brewers LHP Will Smith suspended 8 games for having foreign substance on his arm during Thursday's game. Smith will appeal.
— MLB (@MLB) May 22, 2015
But here’s what makes the penalty so much more ridiculous. Pitcher putting some sort of tacky substance on their fingers so they can control the baseball when it’s cold is something opposing hitters (a) know is happening and (b) want pitchers to do.
That’s right, boys and girls. Will Smith is facing an eight-game suspension because he engaged in a common practice that hitters wholeheartedly endorse.
As Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman told the AP: “Every pitcher does it so they’ll have a better grip so we won’t get hit in the head.”
Smith said he doesn’t gain an advantage from using the goop.
“You want to be able to feel the ball,” Smith said. “That’s it. It’s grip. It’s not going to spin more. You’re not going to throw harder. You’ve got what you’ve got.”
The rules are there. A suspension was warranted.
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But to give Smith three more games for trying to control the ball than was given to Herrera for intentionally throwing at someone goes beyond ludicrous.
I mean, if the sport is going to manufacture the baseballs so that they are so hard that they are slick as billiards balls, then you’ve got to give pitchers something to work with.
Unless, of course, beaning guys is OK.
As the penalties in this case indicate, beaning people may not be OK … but it’s not as severe a crime as trying to get a grip.
Which is what MLB needs to do. Pronto.
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