David Ortiz Receives Four-Game Suspension For Fight With Kevin Gregg

The MLB has suspended David Ortiz for four games after his fight with Kevin Gregg last week. The suspension is set to begin tomorrow, July 15 when the Red Sox take on the Rays in their first game since the All-Star break. Gregg has also received a four-game suspension.

We're all plenty familiar with the incident in question by now. Sox drub Orioles, Gregg throws inside on Ortiz, Ortiz takes exception, Ortiz flies out, Gregg shouts at Ortiz, Ortiz runs at Gregg. It seems the MLB has decided that both parties were equally at fault--or near enough that their punishments won't differ.

The Orioles received a couple more hits for Mike Gonzalez' throwing behind Ortiz in the final game of the series, with Gonzalez taking a three-game hit that will begin at the start of the next O's - Sox series (why do the Sox have to suffer, I ask?), and Showalter being forced to miss tonight's game against the Indians.

Chances are that Ortiz will choose to appeal the ruling, so that he might serve it in an easier series and perhaps even get a game or two knocked off. We'll have to see how that turns out in the weeks to come.