The Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox are even in their series as they play Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday and despite tying things up, the Sox and some players have been privately angry that previously suspended star Jhonny Peralta is playing in the ALCS with Game 4 coming Wednesday.
According to Hardball Talk, Peter Gammons reported that there are a number of Red Sox players that have said "privately" that they feel it is not right that Jhonny Peralta is playing in the series, saying that "they wonder what remains in his body". While many have said that Peralta has served his suspension and is legitimately eligible for the playoff series, many also feel that it does not feel right that he is eligible to play after getting suspended for the final 50 games of the season after getting hit in the Biogenesis scandal.
While he went through the proper process, the Red Sox feel that there is too much on the line for him to be playing after being suspended and that they don't know what is still in his body. Red Sox player Jonny Gomes said publically that he is playing by the rules and served his suspension, but privately Gammons says some players are angry.
So far this series Peralta is playing well and he is hitting .450 over seven games this postseason and has six RBIs and he also ended up putting in the only run in Game 1 when the Tigers won 1-0. This season Peralta hit over .300 with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs and while meant in the stands have chanted "steroids" at him, he technically served his suspension and is now eligible to play and is doing so.
The situation has been compared to what happened with Melky Cabrera last year when he was suspended and then left off the Giants playoff roster. Technically Peralta is eligible to be on the postseason roster and since his suspension ended with games left in the season, it is even more fitting for him to be in after playing the final three games in left field rather than at shortstop. While the Red Sox may feel it's unfair, clearly nothing can be done about it.
