Baltimore Orioles: Matt Harvey suspension an absolute joke
By David Hill
It was a matter of time before Matt Harvey was given a suspension. His involvement in the Angels’ drug scandal that resulted in the death of Tyler Skaggs and the subsequent investigation ensured that the league would do something. Add in his admittance that he had used drugs during his time with the Mets, and the Baltimore Orioles pitcher would be getting slapped by the long arm of Rob Manfred.
That punishment turned out to be a slap on the wrist. Harvey was handed a 60 game suspension for “participating in the distribution of a prohibited Drug of Abuse in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.” This suspension is retoractively applied to when he signed on April 29, leaving him ineligible to return until late June.
Suspension given to Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher Matt Harvey a sad joke
Slightly before that announcement about Harvey, MLB announced another suspension. Brewers reliever J.C. Mejia was banished for 80 games due to a failed PED test. He has struggled over the course of his time in the majors, but Mejia has been a solid minor league arm and should continue to get looks at the major league level once he is reinstated.
Therein lies the problem. Mejia received 80 games for something that could be argued to be a victimless crime. Harvey, meanwhile, is getting 60 games after admitting that he had given Skaggs a controlled substance. While it is impossible to know if the drugs Harvey were the ones that caused the fatal overdose, Harvey was undoubtedly a part of the problem.
Clearly, everyone involved with this situation wants to move on. Harvey is looking to continue his career. Major League Baseball wants to close the book on another embarrassing chapter in its history. But that is not a luxury Skaggs nor his family has.
Harvey needs support as he battles his addiction. And he has not been convicted of a crime. But guess what – neither was Trevor Bauer. Out of those two, only one of them is an admitted felon, even if he is not facing charges – and that is not the pitcher facing a two year suspension. Nor is it the pitcher who was given an 80 game ban for using PEDs.
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Major League Baseball has handed Matt Harvey a 60 game suspension for violating their drug policy. The Baltimore Orioles pitcher has a joke punishment.