Gomes suspension reduced

Update: Now it's been changed and Gomes has to sit out tonight's game.

Still trying to sort out exactly how this happened, but in brief, Gomes, through the players association, negotiated a deal in which he'd drop his appeal in return of having his suspension cut from two games to one. Originally he was to be suspended Friday, then he and his representatives tried to get it switched to Sunday since the Rays lineup had already been posted (and he was in it). There was then some type of official communication that it would be Sunday, and then the Rays heard from MLB officials that it indeed would remain Friday. So, Gomes is out of the lineup, replaced in right by Nathan Haynes, and also lost is one of manager Joe Maddon's best lines. At the time Maddon did his media pre-game, he thought Gomes was in and the Yankees would be without Melky Cabrera, and Maddon said: "We're on the power play.''

The new Rays lineup:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Pena, 1b
Upton, cf
Floyd, dh
Navarro, c
Hinske, 3b
Haynes, rf
Bartlett, ss

And for the Yankees
Damon, cf
Jeter, ss
Abreu, rf
Rodriguez, 3b
Giambi, 1b
Cano, 2b
Posada, dh
Matsui, lf
Molina, c

Jonny Gomes' suspension was reduced from two games to one and will be served Sunday. Suspensions of Yankees' Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan also reduced, from three games to two. Cabrera is out tonight and Saturday, Duncan Sunday and Monday.

Comments

[Aaron G]

I dont agree with this at all. I think Gomes shouldnt be suspended at all because all he was doing was defending Aki after he was spiked. And both Cabrera and Duncan should be suspended more. Obviously Duncan's slide was intentional because how many people slide like that these days. And Melky hit Longoria because he knows he is going to be a future hall-of-famer. And Go Rays!!!!!

[Mark]

I don't see the logic over suspending 3 players and having them serve their respective sentences on different days.

Of course, I don't see the logic in cleating a second baseman because an accident involving two backup players, then playing it cool like it wasn't premeditated, so go figure.

[Mark]

Haha, thanks for the update while I'm trying to type up a comment here!

Is Shelley's going to be changed too while I post this one?