Cleveland Indians made the right call to send Zach Pleasac home but more is needed

The Cleveland Indians sent Zach Plesac home after he violated team protocols in Chicago.

The Cleveland Indians have been one of the stringent teams in the league with regards to the league’s health and safety protocols for the season. So it’s no surprise that when starting pitcher Zach Plesac violated team rules by going out for a night while in Chicago, the Indians wasted no time in sending him home while the team stayed on in Chicago to finish out the series.

Plesac drove home in a rental car and will have to self-quarantine for 72 hours before being able to rejoin the team when they return to Cleveland for the Chicago Cubs. While the Indians wasted no time in sending Plesac home, his selfish behavior should have further punitive measures. What Plesac did was show his lack of respect for the situation the country finds itself in, mostly exaggerated by people like Plesac who think this isn’t something to worry about. With over five million cases in the U.S. alone, Plesac risked the health and well being of the entire team; not to mention the organizations shot at a playoff birth. For what, pizza? To get wasted?

If Plesac had caused an outbreak, then the Indians would be in the same situation as the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams had to stop playing for a week, and may not be able to have 60 games due to how they handled their pre-outbreaks.

Normally suspending Plesac for a chunk of the season would make sense. In 162 games, a 15-game suspension makes sense but there’s only going to be about five starts for Plesac this year and the Indians shouldn’t punish themselves by removing him from the rotation. He is having an amazing start to the year.

That doesn’t mean he should get off with a slap on the wrist, however.

Plesac should be facing a historic fine for his crass decision making. Something akin to a quarter of his yearly pay. That’s the only way players like Plesac will respect the rules. That way they’ll know they have to pay for it out of pocket. Apparently just following the rules out of respect for those around you isn’t enough for Plesac. Being a decent person just isn’t high on his priority list. Selfish people don’t learn unless you make them. So fine him a staggering amount. Then maybe the lesson will sink in.

Maybe that’ll send home the message to others to not screw around during this pandemic.