True Blue LA - Joe Kelly’s suspension & the Dodgers-Astros bench-clearing incidentWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2020-09-10T16:54:36-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/211254932020-09-10T16:54:36-07:002020-09-10T16:54:36-07:00Blister lands Buehler on IL, Kelly starts suspension
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XrFjL2OS0mCqPBXX_7zvrX3bqbI=/0x0:2996x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67386568/1136292628.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Kelly will be eligible to pitch on Wednesday in San Diego</p> <p id="8XEa1k">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> activated pitcher <span>Joe Kelly</span> from the injured list on Thursday, starting the clock on his five-game suspension for throwing at <span>Alex Bregman</span> on July 28 in Houston.</p>
<p id="FDw42S">To make room, <span>Walker Buehler</span> was placed on the injured list with a blister on his right hand for the second time this season.</p>
<p id="FPUz5c">Kelly has missed nearly five weeks with right shoulder inflammation, having last pitched on August 8. He has been working his way back in the last week or so, throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters in a simulated inning at Dodger Stadium. He faced hitters again on Monday, which Kelly said over the weekend would be pitched with the same intensity as a relief outing down the stretch.</p>
<p id="ZXFyoN">“Ultimately, [Monday’s] a big deal to see where I’m at for mechanics and from a physical standpoint,” Kelly said on a conference call Sunday. “Time is obviously shorter, but for me it’s always been, if I’m healthy and I can be as close as I can to 100 percent, that usually kind of takes care of itself.”</p>
<p id="T2b2nS">That means the Dodgers will play one player short for the next five games, but they picked an advantageous part of their schedule to do so. The Dodgers were off Monday and are off again Friday, so the pitching staff can more easily absorb the extra burden, and with a starter going on the injured list the bullpen technically hasn’t lost a member. </p>
<p id="GWVrDt">Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that <span>Julio Urías</span> will start on Saturday against the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> at Dodger Stadium. Presumably, Buehler to the injured list means <span>Tony Gonsolin</span> would start Sunday, but Roberts said that Gonsolin would be available out of the bullpen tonight.</p>
<p id="H1LqGd">If Gonsolin starts Sunday, and the Dodgers stay rotation stays on regular rest with <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on Monday and <span>Dustin May</span> on Tuesday, they will have survived playing a pitcher short during Kelly’s suspension without actually playing a pitcher short, since Kelly will be next eligible to pitch next Wednesday in San Diego against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/10/21425322/walker-buehler-injured-list-joe-kelly-activated-dodgers-5-game-suspensionEric Stephen2020-08-20T05:18:00-07:002020-08-20T05:18:00-07:00De-cleated
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<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Kansas City Royals - Game Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z5lnpEZzKwj26WW5NIC56_2VgE8=/1x0:1356x903/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67231773/1267225169.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Bauer wore the cleats before Wednesday’s game, but not during</p> <p id="Mo2rDJ"><a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> pitcher <span>Trevor Bauer</span> planned to wear cleats with <span>Joe Kelly</span>’s face on one shoe and “FREE JOE KELLY” on the other during Wednesday’s game against Kansas City, in support of the suspended <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> pitcher, while also raising money charity.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">And the moment you've all been waiting for.....here's a look at my cleats for tonight's start. FREE JOE KELLY! If you want to be eligible for a chance to win these, see next tweet for details. <a href="https://t.co/WR0LrNpgCC">pic.twitter.com/WR0LrNpgCC</a></p>— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) <a href="https://twitter.com/BauerOutage/status/1296169563718123520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2020</a>
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<p id="STK5VC">Bauer planned to give away the cleats to a random person who bought a shirt from his website, with all the proceeds going to a charity of Kelly’s choice.</p>
<p id="DEtMrM">However, Bauer’s plan to wear the cleats during Wednesday’s game was halted by MLB. From <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29698468/mlb-tells-reds-starter-trevor-bauer-disciplined-wears-special-cleats-support-dodgers-joe-kelly">Jeff Passan at ESPN</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="eF4rcz"><em>MLB contacted the Reds and said the cleats are against the footwear regulations bargained by the league and the MLBPA, sources said. When a team official suggested </em><em>Bauer</em><em> intended to wear them, sources said, the league said that if umpires saw him sporting the shoes, he could be removed from the game.</em></p></blockquote>
<p id="RlYa4r">Bauer did wear the cleats during warmups on the field before the game:</p>
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<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Kansas City Royals - Game Two" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kwLmG-mzclYyKqEOa51aZbT84nQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21785230/1267225169.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="hZnr0d">Kelly was suspended for five games for throwing at <span>Alex Bregman</span> in Houston on July 28. He’s currently on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation and will serve the suspension once he is activated.</p>
<h3 id="R7ZfnG">Links</h3>
<ul>
<li id="NSJYzP">Molly Knight at The Athletic <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F2008539%2F2020%2F08%2F19%2Fwhat-is-it-like-to-run-a-dodger-stadium-clubhouse-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truebluela.com%2F2020%2F8%2F20%2F21375126%2Ftrevor-bauer-free-joe-kelly-cleats-mlb-dodgers-news" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">detailed how the duties of Mitch Poole, Dodgers lifer and current visiting clubhouse manager at Dodger Stadium, have changed during a pandemic</a>.</li>
<li id="30mm4l">Sarah Langs at MLB.com <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/cody-bellinger-2020-start">dug into Cody Bellinger’s confounding start to the season</a>.</li>
<li id="4QPWDO">Also regarding Bellinger, a few days ago Dan Szymborski at FanGraphs <a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cody-bellingers-struggles-arent-just-small-sample-woes/">said Bellinger’s slump isn’t just a small sample size woe</a>.</li>
<li id="MslOqT">Jay Jaffe at FanGraphs, author of The Cooperstown Casebook, says <a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mookie-betts-is-building-a-case-for-cooperstown/">Mookie Betts is building a case for the Hall of Fame</a>.</li>
<li id="OSwhpu">Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2020/08/19/dodgers-austin-barnes-benefiting-from-new-hitting-coach-mookie-betts/">wrote a little more on Betts as a part-time hitting coach in his spare time</a>.</li>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/20/21375126/trevor-bauer-free-joe-kelly-cleats-mlb-dodgers-newsEric Stephen2020-08-13T11:34:16-07:002020-08-13T11:34:16-07:00Joe Kelly calls out Astros and opens up about suspension
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Houston Astros" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F6Qhw13lGAFhJXv9yYfJe-qMK14=/0x0:2849x1899/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67200138/1262361971.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>He had a lot to say </p> <p id="GNvgnn">Well, it’s finally here. We’ve been hearing that <span>Joe Kelly</span> was going to be a guest on <span>Ross Stripling</span>’s podcast, where he’d unload and spill everything that happened recently in Houston. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure you go and listen. </p>
<p id="JteyM9">Go to <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/02fmVChUNh4ZHZy4bk7JZB?si=0iUuhoycRSat1k3NHZ08Cg">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1451108442">Apple Podcasts</a> to give it a listen. It’s 45 minutes and it is just as awesome as you think it would be. </p>
<p id="hwxsDs">If you don’t have time to go and listen to all 45 minutes, here are some of the more notable quotes that <span>Kelly</span> had to share. </p>
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<p id="KUgSDl"><span>Joe Kelly</span>’s thoughts on the eight-game suspension he was given:</p>
<blockquote><p id="attoLg"><em>The things just blow my mind. We’re playing 60 games here. It goes in a blink of an eye. 8 games is pretty steep. Especially for a wild pitch. I have some pretty good evidence on my side. I had a team put together a mashup of all my accidental pitches, if those pitches were punished I’d probably be banned from baseball like Pete Rose. It’s crazy, especially for being a reliever. That’s a quarter of my games. </em></p></blockquote>
<p id="lzI4tl">On the infamous face he gave:</p>
<blockquote><p id="AevVFA"><em>It’s a face my wife gives me. Sometimes I complain too much. She’ll give me a ‘boo-hoo’ face. When Carlos was chirping, the ‘boo-hoo’ face felt right. It sounded like a bunch of whining. It was a reaction and my interpretation of him acting like a child.</em></p></blockquote>
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<p id="CcdDl7"><em>With no fans, it’s great. The game gets elevated because you can hear guys yelling F-bombs. I think the intensity is a little higher because players are more aware of competition. I went out and got a hold. I went out and did my job and came out of it with an eight game suspension. Apparently you can’t walk a guy and apparently you can’t say bad words or make funny faces at an opposing team because that will cost you eight too. </em></p>
<p id="o93Qg6"><em>I should have hit somebody with a baseball, then hit someone with a fist, then make the benches clear. All my fault. I missed with the ball, I didn’t hit anyone with my fist then I walked away. Major League Baseball is in a world of trouble right now. </em></p>
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<blockquote><p id="j3Tnve"><em>For MLB to come at me. Apparently my cute face enticed a whole team to come out towards our dugout is complete bullshit. I socially distanced. I walked away. I followed all the guidelines of the CDC. They walked out of their dugout. </em><span><em>Carlos Correa</em></span><em> fucking spit at our team. This guy walks over to our dugout and spits, and I get eight games. Then they wanna say ‘Well Joe, your words are unsportsmanlike’. With no fans I can hear everything. They have a manager on their side yelling ‘Get your skinny ass on the mound.’ My cuss words get eight games and his get zero? That makes complete sense, welcome to planet earth. The bullshit reasoning they gave me is nonsense. They’re lucky I’m not posting the letters. Freedom of speech. I followed every rule. I didn’t make those guys come out. Damn, maybe I shouldn’t be playing baseball. Maybe I should run for President if my words are that powerful. After I’m done playing baseball, I might run. </em></p></blockquote>
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<p id="KcKhI1"><em>MLB does an investigation, and they want people to snitch. The way for them to do that is to give people immunity and rat people out. Yes, everyone is involved, but the way it was ran, the coaching staff was not the head boss. It was the players. They take the likelihood. who worked hard to become a manager, and they were axed. You get immunity, then you rat like a little bitch, that’s the problem I have and I don’t think that’s right. I didn’t have an altercation. They had an altercation. I cussed. So did their manager. I walked away, they walked towards me. </em></p>
<p id="X6Qi64"><em>I should be taking notes on how many ball fours turn into suspensions. I’m not going to back down because someone has more power over me. People take me with a grain of salt sometimes. This is something I’m passionate about it. I know deep down the real truth. At least I know I went and I fought. I have to try and see what happens. </em></p>
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<blockquote><p id="kTOO38"><em>If they would say ‘I was super scared I didn’t want to be suspended.’ If you would say that and grow a pair of balls. Me, I’d say my bad bro, I’m sorry. No. Until that happens, I don’t know if that’s happened, I don’t talk to those guys and I don’t want to because they’re not respectable men. You don’t tell my teammate to shut the fuck up and then spit at us. I will never respect them in that way until something is said. By the way, it was ball four. </em></p></blockquote>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/13/21366678/joe-kelly-calls-out-astros-and-opens-up-about-suspension-dodgers-mlb-newsBlake Harris2020-08-13T05:11:00-07:002020-08-13T05:11:00-07:00MLBPA says Joe Kelly suspension was unfair
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aTDDh3scNhThAxV-wfdnwpNRhuM=/0x0:4332x2888/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67197651/1263058747.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>“We’re disappointed by the decision,” players union statement says</p> <p id="0UBxqM"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> relief pitcher <span>Joe Kelly</span> had his suspension <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/12/21358193/joe-kelly-suspension-decrease-dodgers">reduced from eight to five games on Wednesday</a>, which wasn’t a big enough reprieve for the MLB Players Association.</p>
<p id="efA2xO">“While we understand the concerns raised by the league with respect to a bench-clearing incident during this challenging season, we’re disappointed by the decision,” the MLBPA said in a statement, <a href="https://apnews.com/c05852955c8fa047acab48d1f84d7382">per the Associated Press</a>. “It was an unfair result for Joe Kelly given the cases presented.” </p>
<p id="6rqifi">Kelly is on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, and can’t start serving the suspension until he’s activated from the IL. The earliest possible date Kelly could return is August 25, when the Dodgers are in San Francisco to face the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>.</p>
<h3 id="VyYtl4">Gonsolin’s COVID-19 delay</h3>
<p id="qa7tgo">One of the reasons <span>Tony Gonsolin</span> started the season at the alternate training site at USC was that he was behind after reporting to summer camp late, on July 8, after missing the first five workouts at Dodger Stadium. He said he tested positive for COVID-19 in the week before camp was to start, as part of intake testing.</p>
<p id="lGUyUE">“There’s no way to prove it, but I’m pretty sure I got a false positive corona test,” Gonsolin said. “I tested positive once, and I’ve not tested positive since then.”</p>
<p id="LgZxwI">Gonsolin joins <span>Kenley Jansen</span>, <span>A.J. Pollock</span>, and <span>Scott Alexander</span> as Dodgers who revealed they tested positive for COVID-19.</p>
<p id="QWMAzK">“I was just trying to get ready as quick as I can and stay as healthy as I can be,” Gonsolin said. “And then, when I get my opportunities up here, take advantage.”</p>
<aside id="87DAwN"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Another spotless spot start for Gonsolin","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/12/21365888/tony-gonsolin-scoreless-dodgers-bunting-late-offense"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="X4fEK3">Links</h3>
<ul>
<li id="BEmm8T">Among the notable stats at the quarter mark highlighted by Michael Clair at MLB.com <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/wild-2020-mlb-statistics-at-the-quarter-mark">was Corey Seager’s 21 batted balls hit 100 mph or harder</a>.</li>
<li id="ep6fMd">Tim Newcomb at Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/timnewcomb/2020/08/12/dodgers-focusing-on-stadium-future-with-contactless-tech-analytics-for-all-and-eventual-facial-recognition/#53725e31367f">talks about the technological infrastructure upgrades to Dodger Stadium</a>, and the potential switch to a cashless experience.</li>
<li id="yrkNxh">There won’t be an induction ceremony in Cooperstown until 2021, but <a href="https://baseballhall.org/news/2020-inductee-exhibits-now-open">the Baseball Hall of Fame opened up its 2020 inductees exhibit</a>, which highlights the achievements of <span>Derek Jeter</span>, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons, and Marvin Miller.</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/13/21365919/dodgers-news-mlbpa-joe-kelly-suspension-unfairEric Stephen2020-08-12T15:31:51-07:002020-08-12T15:31:51-07:00Joe Kelly suspension trimmed to 5 games
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LxxVOjS_hJzgGkRKNThBI7UjEpg=/0x0:3988x2659/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67195572/usa_today_14629785.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Kelly will begin his suspension once he’s activated from the injured list</p> <p id="ALmEAk">Major League Baseball on Wednesday reduced <span>Joe Kelly</span>’s suspension from eight to five games for <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/28/21346189/joe-kelly-dodgers-astros-benches-clear-alex-bregman-carlos-correa">his actions against the Astros on July 28</a>, the Dodgers confirmed.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly, who was suspended for eight games for throwing at Houston Astros batters, had his ban reduced to five games on appeal, sources tell me and <a href="https://twitter.com/kileymcd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kileymcd</a>.<br><br>First with the successful appeal was <a href="https://twitter.com/Jared_Carrabis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jared_Carrabis</a>.</p>— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1293673018858844169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2020</a>
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<p id="VbboIM">Kelly was <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/10/21362120/joe-kelly-injury-right-shoulder-inflammation-dodgers">placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday with right shoulder inflammation</a>, so he will have to wait to serve his suspension until he is activated, which can’t happen until Aug. 19 at the earliest. His earliest game back would be Aug. 25 against the Giants.</p>
<p id="25g2ge">On July 29, Kelly was suspended eight games for, in the words of MLB, throwing near <span>Alex Bregman</span>’s head and then taunting <span>Carlos Correa</span>, which led to Dodgers and Astros benches clearing. Kelly appealed his suspension, while manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> served his one-game suspension on July 29.</p>
<p id="QnOj18"><span>Chris Young</span>, former major league pitcher and now MLB’s senior vice president of baseball operations, cited Kelly’s previous suspension for intentional throwing in levying the suspension. Kelly was suspended six games in April 2018 while with the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> for hitting <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> infielder <span>Tyler Austin</span> in the back with a pitch, and for throwing punches in the ensuing brawl.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="Bv4xdO"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Kelly suspended 8 games, Dave Roberts 1 game","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/29/21347122/joe-kelly-suspended-dave-roberts-dodgers-astros"},{"title":"Dodgers: Joe Kelly’s suspension ‘too aggressive’ & ‘pretty outrageous’","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/30/21348791/joe-kelly-suspension-dodgers-reaction"}]}'></div></aside></div>
<p id="ytBYtA">In the benches-clearing incident with the Astros, no punches were thrown and nobody was ejected from the game for anything that happened. Tensions were heightened because this was the Dodgers’ first game against the Astros since details of their sign-stealing scheme were revealed, which included impropriety by Houston during the 2017 postseason when they defeated the Dodgers in the World Series in seven games.</p>
<p id="gMWVJx">Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/30/21348791/joe-kelly-suspension-dodgers-reaction">were not fans of the length of Kelly’s suspension when it was announced</a>.</p>
<p id="jcjCRx">“It seemed very, very harsh, and I don’t think anyone’s too happy about it,” outfielder <span>A.J. Pollock</span> said on July 30. “We’re hoping that gets significantly reduced, because I think eight games in a 60-game season is pretty outrageous.”</p>
<p id="h7arQR">“Extrapolating over the course of 162, I think 22 games for a relief pitcher, for me, is too aggressive,” Roberts said at the time.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/12/21358193/joe-kelly-suspension-decrease-dodgersEric Stephen2020-07-30T17:04:21-07:002020-07-30T17:04:21-07:00Dodgers: Joe Kelly’s suspension ‘too aggressive’ & ‘pretty outrageous’
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mR_RSEIeODUicneMG_cef1218-o=/0x0:3988x2659/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67135850/usa_today_14629785.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Eight games deemed “pretty outrageous” by outfielder A.J. Pollock</p> <p id="ZIo4SP"><em>This is part of SB Nation Reacts, which conducts surveys of baseball fans each week, on various topics. If you’d like to join, </em><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MLBReacts2020"><em>please sign up here</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p id="VPiQEq">As you might imagine, the suspension of <span>Joe Kelly</span> this week was a hot topic around baseball, and especially among <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> fans. Kelly was <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/29/21347122/joe-kelly-suspended-dave-roberts-dodgers-astros">suspended eight games by Major League Baseball</a> for <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/28/21346189/joe-kelly-dodgers-astros-benches-clear-alex-bregman-carlos-correa">throwing at Alex Bregman and taunting Carlos Correa on Tuesday night in Houston</a>, and is currently appealing the suspension.</p>
<p id="owJqU4">SBN Reacts asked five questions regarding the Kelly incident and suspension, and here are the results.</p>
<h3 id="w8kde7">Kelly’s actions</h3>
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<p id="wYZnnb">Dodgers fans were overwhelmingly in support of Kelly buzzing Bregman, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/29/21346744/joe-kelly-los-angeles-dodgers-houston-astros-carlos-correa-alex-bregman">articulated here by our Blake Harris</a>. The sting of losing the 2017 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> is still fresh, especially after details of the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>’ sign stealing emerged in January.</p>
<p id="aCNDgU">“This is something that’s been built up over the course of seven months, after the findings,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said on a conference call on Wednesday. “I think it just kind of released [the tension].”</p>
<h3 id="PDO4fR">Bad blood</h3>
<p id="DoLrSE">Dodgers fans also overwhelmingly think there is still bad blood between the Dodgers and Astros, which should make for an interesting series on Sept. 12-13 in Los Angeles.</p>
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<h3 id="64sWpm">Toss ups</h3>
<p id="q0tGiC">The answers that weren’t so one-sided regarded Kelly’s intent (for what it’s worth, Kelly after Tuesday’s game said, “I wasn’t feeling the greatest, I wasn’t the most comfortable. Took me a while to get into my mechanics.”) and if the suspensions (Roberts was also suspended one game) were worth it.</p>
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<h3 id="XIannD">Length of suspension</h3>
<p id="BkRnLz">There was a sticker shock to the eight-game suspension for Kelly, since it’s hard to find a suspension of that length for a non-starter even in a 162-game season. The full-season equivalent would be 22 games.</p>
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<p id="gycoz2">Nearly half of Dodgers fans thought a more appropriate suspension would be 1-2 games, while almost 40% said Kelly shouldn’t have been suspended at all.</p>
<p id="op5SNJ">Dave Roberts said the eight-game suspension was “too aggressive,” and outfielder <span>A.J. Pollock</span> on Thursday said Dodgers players were shocked at the length.</p>
<p id="5ycMZn">“It seemed very, very harsh, and I don’t think anyone’s too happy about it,” Pollock said. “We’re hoping that gets significantly reduced, because I think eight games in a 60-game season is pretty outrageous.”</p>
<p id="uETkzQ">If you’d like to participate in future Dodgers-related surveys by SBN Reacts, <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MLBReacts2020">please sign up here</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/30/21348791/joe-kelly-suspension-dodgers-reactionEric StephenKyle Thele2020-07-29T14:22:55-07:002020-07-29T14:22:55-07:00Kelly suspended 8 games, Dave Roberts 1 game
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<p>Kelly is appealing the suspension, Roberts is serving his Wednesday</p> <p id="2DSLDS"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> pitcher <span>Joe Kelly</span> was suspended eight games by Major League Baseball for <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/28/21346189/joe-kelly-dodgers-astros-benches-clear-alex-bregman-carlos-correa">his actions in Tuesday’s game against the Astros</a>, and manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> was suspended one game.</p>
<p id="QIQ2kx">Kelly is appealing his suspension, and is available to pitch Wednesday. Roberts will serve his suspension tonight, with bench coach Bob Geren managing the team.</p>
<p id="6LskR4">“I got a call this morning from the league, and they’re trying to be swift about this,” Roberts said on a Zoom call earlier Wednesday.</p>
<p id="L9AwPM"><span>Chris Young</span>, MLB’s senior vice president of operations, cited Kelly’s history in delivering the punishment. Kelly <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-kelly-to-serve-6-game-suspension-c274004448">served a six-game suspension while with the Red Sox in 2018 for hitting a batter</a>.</p>
<p id="Qrb9yd">“Kelly, who has previously been suspended in his career for intentional throwing, threw a pitch in the area of the head of <span>Alex Bregman</span> and later taunted <span>Carlos Correa</span>, which led to the benches clearing.”</p>
<p id="rCh08v">Astros manager Dusty Baker was fined an undisclosed amount for his actions.</p>
<p id="XOpyLj">Roberts, per MLB, was suspended for Kelly’s actions, but he also said before Wednesday’s game that on a call regarding the incident, MLB officials “weren’t pleased” with the lack of social distancing as benches cleared.</p>
<p id="uDN9vj">“Baseball right now, we’re under a microscope, which we should be. Us as coaches, myself included, I have to do a better job of making sure guys stay on the bench,” Roberts said. “Last night, when tempers flared, I tried to get out there to kind of keep it at bay and minimize it, but I’ve also got to make sure guys stay on the bench, to follow the social distancing protocols.”</p>
<p id="xz59YJ">As for Kelly, he’s now the first major league player to receive any punishment related to the 2017 Astros cheating scandal, and he was hit hard, too. Eight games over a 60-game season equates to 21-22 games in a normal year.</p>
<p id="HsSLpV">Again, this goes back to <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/28/21344646/dodgers-astros-preview-animosity-dampended-world-series-cheating-scandal">what Alex Wood said in spring training</a>: “Somebody will take it into their own hands, and they’ll get suspended more games than any of those guys got for the biggest cheating scandal in 100 years.”</p>
<p id="WHMWbD">Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with all 30 MLB managers during spring training about potential retaliation against the Astros this season.</p>
<p id="EfbjsG">“I hope that I made it extremely clear to them that retaliation in-game by throwing at a batter intentionally will not be tolerated, whether it’s Houston or anybody else,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmIEDHigvi0">Manfred said in a press conference in February</a>. “It’s dangerous and it is not helpful to the current situation.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/29/21347122/joe-kelly-suspended-dave-roberts-dodgers-astrosEric Stephen2020-07-29T10:12:00-07:002020-07-29T10:12:00-07:00How Joe Kelly became the hero we didn’t know we needed
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<p>The hero we didn’t know we needed </p> <p id="InHcxc">It’s been a rough year for <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> fans, to say the least. Earlier in the year, we learned that the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/mlb/astros-cheating-open-secret/2020/02/11/1830154c-4c41-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.html">Houston Astros cheated during the 2017 season,</a> the year in which they defeated the Dodgers to win their first <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> in franchise history. </p>
<p id="rVnZcG">As if that series wasn’t painful enough on the players and fans years ago, it completely re-opened wounds that now will likely never go away. </p>
<p id="tPndBg">Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit and it looked as if we wouldn’t get baseball in 2020. After months of back-and-forth discussion from the players and owners on a potential season, the two sides finally <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/23/mlbpa-agrees-to-play-60-game-2020-season">came to an agreement on a season being played. </a>With a new schedule having to be made, the MLB decided to have teams play teams only in their divisions, along with teams in that division in the other league. For example, teams in the NL West would also play teams in the AL West. </p>
<p id="AiKDu0">This meant the Dodgers would face the Astros, for the first time since learning about the cheating scandal. </p>
<p id="inSwBH">On Tuesday, the Dodgers arrived at Minute Maid Park in Houston. It was their first time returning to the park since their crushing <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU201710290.shtml">Game 5 defeat in the 2017 World Series. </a>As a fan, seeing the team step on that field again brought back a lot of bad memories. I can only imagine what the players and coaches were feeling. </p>
<p id="7lBXVA">Leading up to the game, Dodgers manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> repeatedly told the media that he didn’t expect any retaliation from his team. As the game progressed, it looked like we wouldn’t see any fireworks. </p>
<p id="f5CwrC">Then, in the top of the sixth inning, <span>Joe Kelly</span> took the mound for LA. </p>
<p id="4DcoCG">Kelly was a member of the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> in 2017, so he wasn’t even on the Dodgers team that got cheated out of a title. But, something a lot of people forgot, the Red Sox also lost to the Astros that postseason. So in a way, maybe Houston did cheat Kelly out of a championship. </p>
<p id="IY1s1E">After falling behind 3-0 in the count to <span>Alex Bregman</span>, a pitch slipped and went over his head and to the backstop. Based on <span>Bregman</span>’s reaction to the pitch, he knew the intent behind it. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">3-0 pitch from Joe Kelly ends up going behind Alex Bregman. <a href="https://t.co/q6P8CD5oqj">pic.twitter.com/q6P8CD5oqj</a></p>— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1288311045522694146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2020</a>
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<p id="sBOfj3">A few batters later, <span>Carlos Correa</span> stepped up to the plate. On the first pitch of the AB, Kelly threw an 87-mph off-speed pitch that soared over his head. <span>Correa</span> took offense to it, and the entire country was immediately on watch. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now Joe Kelly throws at Correa<br><br>THIS IS GETTING WILD <a href="https://t.co/Kd4zgjKzBj">pic.twitter.com/Kd4zgjKzBj</a></p>— 2020 Astros Shame Tour (@AsteriskTour) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteriskTour/status/1288312530620866560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2020</a>
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<p id="oMuc8a">A few pitches went by before Kelly struck out <span>Correa</span> on a filthy curve in the dirt. Then, Kelly gave us this exchange that will forever be in the record books. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joe Kelly strikes out Carlos Correa. Pleasantries are exchanged ... then we get our first socially-distanced bench clearing altercation of the season.<a href="https://t.co/dmQElWppqd">pic.twitter.com/dmQElWppqd</a></p>— SI MLB (@si_mlb) <a href="https://twitter.com/si_mlb/status/1288318658339430401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2020</a>
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<cite>Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<cite>Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="s878hW"><span>Joe Kelly</span> stood up for every Dodgers player and coach. He stood up for every current MLB player and coach. He stood up for every former MLB player and coach. He stood up for every baseball fan. Tuesday night, he gained the respect of millions of baseball fans. He struck out Correa, walked back to his dugout, and did what I’m sure every person in America wishes they could have personally done. </p>
<p id="pDqty7">And it was freaking awesome.</p>
<p id="zDt019">The Houston Astros cheated. They cheated to win a championship and received no real punishment. </p>
<p id="EBUBbB">With how much has happened in 2020 with the pandemic, baseball was desperately needed to help take our minds off of things. It’s America’s pastime for crying out loud. We need baseball, and after the awful year we’ve had, we oh so desperately needed last night.</p>
<p id="wGtZSN">For a brief moment at around 8:15 p.m. PT, all was forgotten in the world. For one moment, Dodgers fans were happy. Baseball fans were happy. <span>Joe Kelly</span>, a man that has had an up-and-down career, became the hero we didn’t know we needed. What happened in 2017 will never be taken away from us. It’s something we’ll all have to painfully remember and live with. </p>
<p id="s0jOuB">But what Kelly did last night, that’s also something we’ll never forget. He made us smile and laugh, and reminded us that things will be OK ... because America has baseball back. </p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/29/21346744/joe-kelly-los-angeles-dodgers-houston-astros-carlos-correa-alex-bregmanBlake Harris