This afternoon, the White Sox announced that Tim Anderson’s suspension for making contact with an umpire was reduced from three games to two. He will serve his suspension this afternoon in Texas and during game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Royals.
Major League Baseball had previously announced a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for Anderson for making contact with home plate umpire Nick Mahrley during last Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.
The incident that led to the discipline occurred during the seventh inning of Friday’s game. A questionable first strike call by home plate Nick Marley led to Anderson’s ejection, which fired up the shortstop. Anderson immediately stepped toward Mahrley after getting tossed, and the brim of his helmet made contact with Mahrley’s hat.
Tim Anderson’s been struggling mightily at the plate recently. Perhaps this suspension will give him a few days to clear his head. After a scorching hot start to the season that earned him the AL All-Star starter job at shortstop, Anderson has hit just .249/.287/.290 with one home run in 39 games since June 1. Over that span, he has struck out 35 times, including consecutive three-strikeout games for the first time in his career.
This is one of the few prolonged slumps Anderson has gone through in the past several years. Hopefully, come Tuesday evening, Anderson will be able to begin to right the ship and help the White Sox make a final playoff push.
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I’m shocked MLB reduced TA’s suspension from three games to two. I’m not surprised that TLR gave Leury Garcia the start at SS over Lenyn Sosa.