Whose Running These Leagues These Days!?!

Charlie Klein 

This past week has borne witness to some major acts of hypocrisy on the part of those in charge of policing league rules in three major sports around the world. From Major League Baseball to the English Premier League, there has been a fair amount of inconsistency when it comes to the equal application of the law.

Our first incident comes from the English Premier League, where Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard elbowed Portsmouth bad boy Michael Brown clearly in the face during their match on Monday. Yesterday it came out that the English FA decided against punishing Gerrard. This would be "acceptable" if that is the way they had interpreted similar events previously this season. The FA suspended Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand in a similar incident with Hull City forward Craig Fagan.

Here is a brilliantly produced video by Republik of Mancunia:

This week in Major League Baseball, two of my beloved Mariners have been subject to wrongful ejections and in one case, an absolutely ridiculous suspension. Whoever is running the show over at MLB, clearly has been doing a horrible job. Mariners ace Cliff Lee has been suspended for five regular season games for throwing upstairs to Chris Snyder in a Cactus League outing. 

This is ridiculous for three reasons. First, since the transgression occurred in a spring training game, Lee ought to be suspended for five spring training games instead of regular season games. Second, Snyder practices mixed marshal arts as a hobby, so it wouldn't be wise to hit him. Third, Barry Zito hit Prince Fielder with clear intent during the first week of spring training and was not suspended. Mixed message? I think so. 

Cliff Lee is appealing the suspension.

And in their Cactus League game last night against the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners DH/LF Milton Bradley was ejected last night for taking off his gloves and dropping his bat when there were only two outs. Perhaps this is a bad sign for the Mariners this season, but it still is spring training. The umpire explained that Bradley "couldn't do that." Seems like Bradley's ejection was reputation over reality. MLB officiating has a lot of work to do before they are ready for the regular season. And a bit of apologizing to do to the Seattle Mariners.