, Columnist
Baseball's Defensible Position on Domestic Violence
Suspending New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman for 30 games may just be the magic number.
Aroldis Chapman, left, is out until May 9.
Photographer: Brian Blanco/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Major League Baseball took a major step toward fighting domestic violence in sports Tuesday, suspending newly acquired New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman for 30 games. But is it enough? Is it fair?
The unpaid suspension is the first under the league's new domestic violence policy and the second disciplinary action taken against an accused player. Last Wednesday, MLB put Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes on paid leave pending the investigation into charges that he assaulted his wife in Hawaii last fall. After that inquiry, Commissioner Rob Manfred will decide whether to take further action against Reyes. Chapman is accused of choking his girlfriend in October and firing a gun in his garage.