According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, star third baseman Justin Turner has won his appeal of his one-game suspension for making contact with an umpire in late August. Gurnick also notes that Turner will still be receiving a fine for the incident.
Justin Turner won appeal and won’t serve a one-game suspension for bumping an umpire. Still gets an undisclosed fine.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 8, 2019
Dave Roberts’ Reaction
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had some things to say when the incident initially occurred:
“I was a little taken aback. Justin’s track record speaks for itself. As far as I saw it, the contact was initiated by Rob walking to the umpire’s room.”
When Roberts was asked about whether or not he would be contacting former Dodgers manager and MLB head Joe Torre, he responded with this:\
“I do think a players character and track record should matter.”
Justin Turner’s Character
Turner, 34, is simply not the player to engage in those type of extracurricular activities. While he is one to argue and complain over balls and strikes with frequency, there was no intent to engage in making contact with home plate umpire Rob Drake.
Turner has continued to defy the odds as the 34-year-old third baseman is slashing .291/.370/.514 with 27 home runs and 67 runs batted in in what has been a very healthy season for him. 2020 is the last year of Turner being under contract so it might be a safe bet for repeat production next season as well.
