Michael Barrett's Suspension Upheld

June 19, 2006 by Brian C

The league has upheld the 10-game suspension to Michael Barrett, and he will begin serving it tonight.

Carrie Muskat says that "the timing is good for Barrett," but it's hard to imagine how. The Cubs are beginning a six-game AL road trip, so an already problematic offense not only loses their best player but has to find someone to DH, too.

Muskat gives his injury as a reason why it's good timing, but that just makes it worse in my eyes. Barrett has not played the last three games, so the Cubs will now be without him for at least 13 games. This raises the question, why didn't he drop the appeal on Friday, when he hurt his back, and begin serving his suspension at that time? That would have given him time to heal, and also made any 1- or 2-game reduction in the suspension moot, as he would have been out anyway. Put it this way; even in the unlikely event that the suspension would have been reduced three games, he still would have been out ten games.

I don't get it. Maybe I'm missing something.

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