MLB did not take long to suspend Jose Ureña for hitting Ronald Acuña in Wednesday’s game, but the suspension was not enough.
MLB announced on Thursday that Ureña has been suspended six games for his actions. Braves first base coach Eric Young Sr. was also suspended a game for his role in the fight.
#Braves 1B coach Eric Young Sr. has been suspended for tonight’s game for his part in last night’s benches-clearing situation after Ureña hit Acuña.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 16, 2018
MLB should be credited for acting swiftly, but the punishment is too weak.
Ureña threw at a hot hitter with intent because he was too scared to face him. MLB needs to protect its players from such buffoonery. They should have sent a message to the Marlins and Ureña to let them know that that sort of behavior is unacceptable.
If you don’t want to face a player because he’s hot, you can intentionally walk him; you don’t hit him, which endangers a player’s health and could injure him. The Braves called Ureña’s actions “gutless,” and they’re right. The coward should have been hit with a much longer suspension, because a six-game suspension only serves to merely inconvenience the Marlins’ rotation by pushing him back a few days. That’s not enough.
