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Aroldis Chapman suspension appeal delayed until 2021 for absurd reason

By Thomas Carannante |
Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees exchanges words with the Tampa Bay Rays after the final out in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on September 01, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees exchanges words with the Tampa Bay Rays after the final out in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on September 01, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The Yankees dodged a bullet with Aroldis Chapman’s suspension appeal.

Aroldis Chapman appealed Major League Baseball’s three-game suspension that was handed down to the New York Yankees closer after the left-hander threw dangerously up and in to Tampa Bay Rays slugger Michael Brosseau a few weeks ago, but we still have no resolution.

We recently posited if it would have been best if Chapman just served the suspension during a week in which he needed the rest. After all, it’s only three games, he he’d realistically miss just one of them if manager Aaron Boone is being selective with his usage.

But now it seems everything has worked itself out, except for the karmic aspect of it all. Chapman’s appeal hearing has been delayed until 2021. Why? Well, for an insane reason, of course.

Who are the “witnesses” and why can’t they log on to a Zoom call for 10 minutes? Is that even the protocol? It has to be, given federal and state courts are mandating such “appearances” at the moment due to the pandemic.

Perhaps the Rays no longer want this to be a distraction as we approach the postseason, which is a valid argument. And truth be told, they already got what they wanted. Boone was banned for a game, Chapman and the Yankees got enough bad headlines out of it, and Cash himself avoided a lengthy suspension after he threatened New York following that game.

Between Chapman’s positive COVID-19 test at the onset of the season, his slow start/multiple blown games, this incident with Brosseau, and his near poop-pants moment last Saturday, it’s been a whirlwind of a year for the Yankees closer.

With this appeal now delayed until 2021, fans in the Bronx are hoping the controversy dies down and a sense of normalcy comes over Chapman as the postseason rapidly approaches.

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