Derrek Lee Is Officially Suspended...........NOW!

As I mentioned in the Morning Wood today, Derrek Lee will not be playing for the Cubs this afternoon. It's the result of a ball he fouled off of his left ankle.

Since Lee wasn't able to play today, and may have to miss a couple of days, he's decided now is the right time to drop the appeal of his 5-game suspension and start serving it this afternoon.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee dropped his appeal and began serving a five-game suspension Wednesday for his role in a June 16 brawl with the San Diego Padres.

"I'm going to be limping for two days," he said. Besides Wednesday's game against the Giants, Lee also will miss Thursday's series finale against San Francisco and then a three-game series at Wrigley Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend.

Yes, that "brawl" with Chris Young. Maybe I'm stupid, but I thought brawls involved punches actually landing.

The suspension does come at an unfortunate time for Lee and the Cubs. Not only are they fighting to catch the Milwaukee Brewers, but it's just starting to look like Lee was coming out of his power slump. After hitting only six home runs in the first half, Derrek has two in his last three games.