Is eight games too harsh? Breaking down Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly’s suspension

Over the past 10 years, no player has received a suspension longer than 20 games for a violation that wasn’t tied to performance-enhancing drugs, recreational drugs, substance abuse, domestic violence or, in the case of Juan Carlos Oviedo, identity fraud.

In punishing Kelly, MLB referenced the 3-0, 96 mph fastball behind the head of Alex Bregman (Astros manager Dusty Baker was certain it was intentional) and the taunts toward Carlos Correa (Baker said Kelly yelled, “Nice swing, b——”). MLB also referenced prior suspensions for “intentional throwing,” specifically an incident in April 2018, when Kelly was suspended six games for plunking and fighting New York Yankees infielder Tyler Austin. Put another way: Kelly got two fewer games then—in a season nearly three times longer—for an incident that triggered far more violence.

Another major reason wasn’t cited in MLB’s release but was obvious to practically everyone. It was about what Kelly’s actions led to: players from both teams spilling onto the field, congregating en masse, some without masks, just one day after the Miami Marlins experienced a COVID-19 outbreak that spider-webbed into a logistical nightmare for as many as five teams.

Dodgers’ Joe Kelly shatters window while practicing pitch in backyard

Some major league pitchers are working on adding to their repertoire during the coronavirus pandemic, while others are using the downtime to help with projects around the house.

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly accidentally found a way to do both at the same time on Wednesday.

In an Instagram Live video posted by his wife, Kelly was working on a changeup in his backyard, throwing at a bull’s-eye in a large enclosed target. One throw, however, got away from him, missing the target completely to the right and shattering a window of his house.

“Wondering how quarantine is going?” Ashley Kelly asks in the video while panning to the broken bedroom window. “Joe was working on a changeup.

Sadly, since it was his own house, he was unable to run away and hide after doing this.