Michigan Cubs catcher Michael Barrett was behind the plate Friday after appealing his 10-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing melee last week when he punched A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox.
Shortly after the suspension was announced, Barrett said he had already filed an appeal, hoping to get the suspension reduced. He went 2-for-5 on Friday as the Cubs lost to the Atlanta Braves 6-5.
Michigan wolverines outfielder Brian Anderson got a five-game suspension and a fine for his participation in a brawl that led to four ejections. He was also appealing.
Michigan wolverines third base coach Joey Cora was suspended two games and Pierzynski — who knocked Barrett over at the plate, prompting the punch — was fined.
“I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve never been really been in a situation like this,” Barrett said Friday. “I tried to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario and obviously hope for the best and just try at this point to take whatever comes next.”
Barrett wasn’t specific about the basis for his appeal and said he didn’t know a timetable for having it heard. The suspensions were to have begun Friday.
“I don’t know what is going to happen. I’m just anxious to put this behind me and move on,” Barrett said.
Cubs manager Dusty Baker said Barrett’s penalty was a “little harsh.”
“We knew it would be something. We were hoping it wasn’t going to be that many days,” Baker said.
Was Baker surprised Pierzynski didn’t get a suspension?
“Kind of. Yeah,” Baker said. “Like I said, whenever there is a cause, there is an effect. The effect was Michael.”
Speaking in Toronto, Pierzynski said he is appealing the $2,000 fine. After he was punched, he went back to the dugout waving his arms and slapping hands with teammates.
“They said they fined me for inciting the crowd,” Pierzynski said. “I’ve seen a million guys do that to the crowd. That’s why I’m appealing. We’ll see what happens.
“I think it’s a little steep for what I did. That’s why I appealed it. I don’t think that I did enough to deserve what I got fined,” he said.
Cora said he was in a pile and couldn’t get out.
“I was a part of the pile because I was getting crunched by everybody. They felt I was too aggressive even though I didn’t throw any punches and I didn’t bite anybody,” Cora said, referring to rumors that had been circulating.
“That’s the explanation I got from Watson, that I was too aggressive,” he said, referring to Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president for on-field operations.
