By Andrew Banks

Baseball heads and analytic brainiacs have tried to figure out ways to make the game more fun for the last decade. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has openly talked about trying to grow the game make it more appealing to the younger generation. If you want baseball to look fun then inexcusable stuff like this has to stop immediately

If I’m a Braves player, there’s no way I’m not punching someone. Anyone. That’s not acceptable. I was honestly shocked that the Braves players weren’t more outraged at the situation. The fact that there were no punches thrown to protect their young star is mind-blowing to me. Acuña is the key to their season and their foreseeable future. He’s been nothing short of a phenom since he was called up earlier this year. You just can’t stand and watch as arguably your best player is plunked on purpose. Make no mistake, this was no accident.

From the Marlins point of view, this was as gutless and classless as it gets. As a pitcher, if you’re tired of a guy hitting homerun’s off of you then make better pitches.

Here’s a guy that’s only 20 years old. He has been on a historic pace in recent weeks and that’s not hyperbole. He became the youngest player to hit a leadoff home run in three straight games and the first to do so since 1996. He had hit a home run in five straight games and hit eight dingers in eight games.

Ya, that guy got drilled on the first pitch of the game on a 97-mph fastball because he’s good at baseball. This is why baseball will continue to hold an “L” when compared to the NBA and NFL. Those leagues showcase their stars. Those leagues also don’t follow what I call “old man rules”. It’s been a long known fact that if you do something to “show up” a pitcher, you will get a rib sandwich (that’s baseball talk for a pitch in the ribs). Acuña had done nothing to show up anybody except have amazing hand-eye coordination. What’s even worse is the pitcher who hit Acuña, Jose Urena, didn’t even get ejected. The umpires let the benches clear and everything. Both teams came out acting like they were ready to fight but we all know baseball players just want to appear like they’re about it.

And just like that, baseball’s brightest star exited the game and didn’t return. This is why baseball won’t catch on to young fans. What 10-year-old kid is watching that game and then saying “Hey I want to play baseball that looks like fun!”

Rob Manfred needs to get out in front of this. First he needs to condemn the actions of Urena. Then he needs to hand down a suspension and a warning to other teams and players that actions like that have no place in the game of baseball. Thankfully the Braves tweeted out that the X-rays came back negative on Acuña’s elbow. Unfortunately the damage has already been done. Players like Urena are the reason why the sport is having trouble shaking its reputation.