Former Mets SS Jose Reyes was hit with a 51 game suspension earlier this week by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for his part in an incident with his wife, Katheryn, for which he’s not been criminally charged. In the view of the New York Daily News’ Kristie Ackert, the punishment isn’t nearly severe enough, reminding us, “let’s be honest, the 52 games for Reyes and 29 games for (Adrolis) Chapman are less than they would have received had they tested positive for an anabolic steroid or were caught buying HGH.”
The details of these incidents are frightening. According to reports, Chapman’s girlfriend told the police that he pushed and choked her. Chapman said there was an argument, but that he was pushed down by his girlfriend’s brother. He said he eventually got a handgun and fired eight shots into a wall and window while locked in his garage. The authorities in Florida declined to file charges, saying conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence made a conviction unlikely.
Mets closer Jenrry Mejia was hit with an 80-game suspension last season for testing positive for an anabolic steroid. Threatening or committing violence deserves at least that.