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Giants' Bochy frustrated by wait for ruling on Strickland's appeal

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

It's been almost three weeks since Hunter Strickland and Bryce Harper traded punches at AT&T Park. In the intervening period, both players received suspensions: six games for Strickland, and three for the Washington Nationals star - who dropped his appeal quickly and has already served his ban.

Strickland, however, has not dropped his appeal, meaning he and the San Francisco Giants remain in limbo while awaiting a ruling. The league heard the pitcher's appeal June 13. There's been nary a peep about his status since, though, and the delay is really starting to grind the Giants' gears.

"I don't even check anymore," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters when asked for an update on the appeal Saturday, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. "He's on the roster, and he's ready to pitch."

Because of the delay in receiving a ruling, Bochy must manage around Strickland's potential absence on a daily basis. He may not receive word of a ruling until hours before game time, and that could impact both his bullpen management and how the Giants shape the roster in Strickland's absence. San Francisco will have to play with a 24-man roster for however long he's ultimately suspended.

Strickland has pitched in eight games since being suspended, though his two most recent outings since the hearing, on June 14 and 15, came in low-leverage situations. Bochy used the setup man in a pair of blowouts under the assumption a verdict would be announced before the weekend series in Colorado, he told CSN Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic on Thursday - thus allowing Bochy to have a fresh set of relievers.

As it turned out, no word came down, leaving Bochy and the Giants confused and irritated.

"I have nothing to tell you about why it's taking so long," Bochy said Thursday, according to Pavlovic. "We would like to know."

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