Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson received a six-game suspension as Major League Baseball announced discipline Monday for a brawl two days earlier between the Sox and Cleveland Guardians.
Anderson’s suspension was the longest of the six handed out. Guardians third baseman José Ramírez got three games, while four people received one-game bans: Sox manager Pedro Grifol, Guardians manager Terry Francona, Guardians third base coach Mike Sarbaugh and Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase.
All six also received undisclosed fines, as did Sox pitcher Michael Kopech and Guardians outfielder Gabriel Arias.
Anderson and Ramírez appealed their suspensions, and Anderson was in the starting lineup Monday as the Sox began a three-game series with the New York Yankees on the South Side. Clase chose not to appeal and served his suspension Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Anderson was unavailable for comment and has not spoken since the fight Saturday. Asked if Anderson should address the incident, Grifol said: “No, he’ll talk when the time is right, after the appeal is over.”
Grifol and Francona served their suspensions Monday night, while Sarbaugh will serve his Tuesday.
The fight broke out in the sixth inning Saturday when Ramírez doubled to right with one out and made a headfirst slide into second, where Anderson applied the tag. Words were exchanged before Anderson and Ramírez squared off near second base and traded swings.
Ramírez landed a right haymaker that leveled Anderson. The benches cleared, and it took 14 minutes to restore order. Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn basically picked up Anderson and carried him toward the dugout to keep the brawl from escalating.
Grifol did not address specifics of the incident that led to the brawl.
“It’s a divisional rival,” he said Monday. “(Ramírez) slid in hard. We put a hard tag on, and that’s what happened.”
Asked if Anderson underwent tests for a possible concussion from the punch, Grifol told reporters he wouldn’t comment and to go ask the training staff. Sox trainers are off limits to the media.
The Sox later said Anderson was tested for a concussion and was cleared. They did not say when the test was given.
General manager Rick Hahn said the organization would “support the process” and he would not comment until the appeal is heard. He lauded the Sox “leadership” on the field, saying the players “rallied around each other” in a 7-4 win over the Guardians.
Hahn noted Kopech and Vaughn played peacemakers during the brawl, trying to keep Anderson from what could have been an even longer suspension when the shortstop tried to get back at Ramírez after being knocked down.
One year after starting for the American League in the All-Star Game, Anderson has endured a career-worst season, entering Monday’s game with a .244 average, a .285 on-base percentage and only one home run and 19 RBIs. Once touted as the face of the franchise, his regression, partly caused by injuries, seemingly has turned him from a team leader into an introvert in the clubhouse.
Though he has refused to speak to the media since Saturday, Anderson has been pummeled on social media for starting the fight and then getting knocked down with one punch. He posted a series of cryptic tweets Sunday night, including one that said, “keep kicking on me while I’m down.”
Are the Sox concerned about Anderson’s mental well-being?
“I’m worried about all our mental well-being right now,” Hahn said, joking about the subject before turning serious.
“Look, that’s a serious topic for anybody, any player who is dealing with being under the spotlight or dealing with underachievement or dealing with disappointment. That’s a serious consideration for anyone. You’ve seen it leaguewide. If I’m not mistaken this is the first year that the league is permitting IL placement for mental heath concerns.
“It’s real for everyone out there. It’s not easy when there is a third deck out there and everyone on Twitter, or whatever that cesspool is called now, (is) giving you feedback instantaneously about your performance. It’s not an easy way to live your life.”
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