Atlanta Braves Pitcher Kevin Gausman Suspended Five Games

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kevin Gausman has been suspended five games for throwing at Jose Urena. Gausman is appealing the suspension and will continue to stay active until his appeal is addressed.

The Atlanta Braves and Kevin Gausman both have to be a bit surprised with the news the pitcher will be suspended for five games. The suspension seems over the top considering Gausman didn’t actually hit his intended target.

While the League may be set on sending a message this isn’t the right fight to choose considering Gausman didn’t actually succeed.  Urena himself received a six game ban for burying a pitch into Ronald Acuna.

He was throwing at Acuna and succeeded in what was a dirty play. Gausman in comparison was attempting to send a message that the clubhouse wouldn’t tolerate Urena’s actions and that the team has Acuna’s back.

The offenses are on different levels if both succeeded, add in the fact that Gausman failed in his attempt to hit Urena and comparable suspensions are laughable.

Gausman has elected to appeal his suspension and it seems likely it will be reduced. There isn’t any arguing whether or not Gausman was trying to hit Urena but the fact he failed and wasn’t given any prior warning should help his case.

Braves fans were surprised when Gausman was tossed without warning in the game, the pending five game suspension is head scratching as well.

Regardless of whether or not he ends up serving the suspension Gausman did the right thing sending a message to Urena. A failed message albeit, but a message nonetheless that will make Urena think twice about targeting the Braves young players.

Playing with exuberance and enjoying the game is the direction the League is headed.  Giving comparable punishments to Urena was threw at Acuna for that exuberance (presumably) and Gausman for protecting his young player is yet another example of a League that continually is losing its way.