The Bernstein Brief: Yordano Ventura's Suspension Too Short
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) Nine games isn't enough time to start to fix whatever is wrong with Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura, who's a dangerous menace with enough beanball incidents to already fill his own YouTube channel.
The latest attack on Manny Machado with his 99-mph fastball prompted Orioles outfielder Adam Jones to describe Ventura's issues as "a circuit board off balance" or something haywire with his head -- and not just the control of his pitches. Ventura's seven-game suspension last year has done nothing to curtail his behavior, and he has already appealed the ban received from MLB on Thursday. Machado received a four-game suspension.
Ventura's own catcher appeared less than motivated to stop Machado from heading out to the mound to confront Ventura, a clear sign that his teammates are past tired of having to get involved unnecessarily in situations that could result in injury, fines or suspensions as the Royals again contend for the postseason. Some reports indicated the team was already trying to trade the 25-year-old, fed up with his behavior.
Whether he stays or goes, Ventura needs a full reboot of some kind. Missing a start or two won't do much to reset his circuit board.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.