Advertisement

Papelbon won't appeal MLB's 7-game suspension for crotch grab

(AP)
(AP)

Major League Baseball players take note: Grabbing your own crotch will bring a bigger penalty than hitting another player with the baseball on purpose.

MLB saw fit to suspend Jonathan Papelbon of the Philadelphia Phillies for seven games for his perceived lewd gesture at fans at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday. Papelbon will not appeal, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, and he began serving his penalty Monday when the Phillies were visiting the San Diego Padres.

No word from MLB came regarding a penalty for umpire Joe West, who grabbed Papelbon by the jersey during their argument over Papelbon's ejection for making the gesture. Joe Torre, the MLB official in charge of discipline, was at his brother Frank Torre's funeral. That West wasn't published immediately didn't sit well with players such as Josh Donaldson of the Oakland Athletics:

 

Papelbon earlier had denied making a gesture at fans; He said he was only adjusting his athletic supporter and West misunderstood. Papelbon had allowed four runs in the ninth inning, blowing a save in a 5-4 Phillies loss, and was booed as he walked off the field.

Given his reputation for being outrageous and sometimes crude, there was enough circumstantial evidence to convict. Not even his own team believed Papelbon.

In 2012, Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels admitted he hit Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals on purpose, and was docked five games by the league. Perhaps it would have been more if Hamels simply tried to grab Harper where Papelbon grabbed himself.

More MLB coverage at Yahoo Sports: 

 

- - - - - - -

David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rdbrown@yahoo-inc.com and follow him on Twitter!

Follow @AnswerDave