If you watched the Chicago White Sox play the Oakland Athletics on Friday night and were able to make it through most of what was a tough game to watch, you may have seen just about the most action that the Sox were able to put up in the game.
Tim Anderson got into an argument with home plate umpire Nick Marhley and bumped into him which not only earned him an ejection but also got him suspended.
As it stands right now, Anderson is suspended for three games and was levied a fine as part of the punishment. As every player seemingly does, Anderson has appealed the suspension hoping to get it lowered, perhaps to one game but more likely he will end up with a two-game suspension. We will see how nice the league is and what they think of Anderson.
The whole action, which took place primarily in the heat of the moment, saw Anderson argue with Marhley over a pitch that Anderson thought was a ball. Marhley had instead called it a strike.
The White Sox are going to be without Tim Anderson if he loses his appeal.
Anderson was very animated, probably out of frustration because of the way things were going for the Sox at that point in the game and he rushed right up into the face of Marhley.
Anderson’s helmet hit Marhley’s cap and Marhley was visibly upset. At that point, you knew that a suspension was coming for the White Sox shortstop.
This wasn’t the first time that Anderson has been in trouble for touching an umpire. Last year, during a bench-clearing brawl with the Detroit Tigers as the season was coming to an end, Anderson touched an official. He received a two-game suspension to start the season because of his actions.
Things didn’t get better for the Sox after Anderson’s ejection as Manager Tony La Russa was the next one to get booted from the game. The White Sox went on to lose the troubled contest 7-3 in a showing of offensive and defensive futility along with issues on management’s side.
The tossing of Anderson and La Russa was just representative of the frustrations felt by White Sox players and fans for the way the game went.
We will find out this week if Anderson is going to have to serve the full three games or if he will have his suspension reduced. Hopefully, he doesn’t have to serve the whole thing and can stay in and play.
The White Sox, despite his fiery attitude and occasional run-ins with umpires, need him in the lineup to help solidify it both defensively and offensively.