Chapman’s ban for throwing at Ray is reduced by game
Well at least Aroldis Chapman got a game back. The Yankees closer had his suspension for throwing behind the head of Rays infielder Mike Brosseau reduced from three games to two on Thursday, an MLB source said, confirming earlier reports.
Brosseau, however, got pretty sweet revenge.
Chapman, who appealed the decision and had his hearing deferred reportedly because of an issue with a witness, will serve his suspension to begin the 2021 season. That will be nearly six-months after Chapman sparked a near brawl with a 101-mph fastball that was dangerously close to Brosseau’s head.
It launched Rays manager Kevin Cash into a tirade that took aim at Yankees manager Aaron Boone and third-base coach Phil Nevin. He also implied a threat of retaliation with his comments about “a stable of guys who throw 98.”
Instead, however, it was Brosseau who got revenge on the Yankees and Chapman. In Game 5 of the American League Division Series, in the eighth-inning, Brosseau battled the closer in a 10-pitch at-bat, hitting the go-ahead home run to end the Yankees season.
It was the latest dramatic chapter in the heated rivalry between the Rays and Yankees that re-ignited in 2018. That was highlighted when CC Sabathia unapologetically threw a retaliation pitch and then walked off the mound yelling at the Rays dugout.
The Yankees are particularly sensitive to having their stars, in this season’s case, DJ LeMahieu, pitched inside. That created plenty of chirping between the dugouts and a lot of bad feelings.
While the Rays and Brosseau would not publicly say that the home run was sweet revenge — though some did privately — their post-game celebration left little doubt about how they felt. The Rays partied on the field to the Yankees’ signature Frank Sinatra ballad “New York, New York.”
The 32-year-old Chapman, had three saves in just 13 appearances this season. He began the season in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Signed through 2022, Chapman has never been suspended for an on-field incident before, but did serve a 30-game suspension in 2016 under the MLB/MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence policy.