If you intentional harass or intimidate an individual in the workplace, you must face the consequences. Those penalties should be enforced now so that the player can see how his actions affected not only the person who he sought to harm directly but his team, who needs his presence on the field to win.
Yuli Gurriel's racial slur against Los Angeles Pitcher
Yu Darvish was absolutely out of line. We'd all agree with that. Perhaps Gurriel's statement expresses that. But Commissioner Manfred gave him a pass, deciding not to enforce a penalty on the Houston first baseman until after the World Series.
Source: Tom Pennington / Getty Images
As the
Los Angeles Times reports,
"The unpaid suspension will be served at the start of the 2018 season, and Gurriel will not appeal. He will not miss any games in the Series, with the Astros and Dodgers scheduled to play Game 4 on Saturday." When I heard this, I yelled out a big
"WHAT?" I, like our fearless editor, Robert Casey, also have a teenager who I have instilled the expectation that she respect, act kindly and help her peers or face the consequences of not doing so. It is about being a good person and doing what's right and when we as citizens drop the ball and do something inappropriate, we have to face the consequences now, when it is meaningful, not in an off season, months after the incident occurred, dulling the whole experience entirely.
Source: AP
Commissioner Manfred felt this was the right decision for baseball and the player. "
There is no question that it is a difficult decision as to when the appropriate timing was," Manfred said. "Obviously World Series games are different than regular-season games, and I used my best judgment as to where the appropriate disciplinary level fell. I understand that people may have different views. But it was my best judgment that this timing was appropriate," reported
ESPN during the press conference on Saturday before Game 4.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Besides waiting until next season to suspend Gurriel who says he will not appeal and admitted remorse, he will receive a dock in his 12 million dollar salary and "As part of the punishment, MLB will require him to undergo "sensitivity training" in the offseason," reported
ESPN.
Source: Tom Pennington/Getty Images North America
Manfred believes that the entire Houston team should not be penalized because of one of its players' acting inappropriately. Seriously? What are we teaching our young people? You will get slapped on the wrist but not right now, when you are doing so well and could win a championship. No, I disagree. It should happen now, in the moment, because this where a player, a young person needs to face the consequences of his actions. This is not about him, it's about what he did to another player and what he did to his team while his city continues to recover from Hurricane Harvey's after effects and the Astros try and bring home a World Series win, the first in franchise history.
Source: Tom Pennington/Getty Images North America
You should have thought about all of this, Yuli, before you did what you did. Shame on you and shame on baseball for letting you continue to play. What no appeal because Manfred isn't imposing a penalty on you until next season? What is this kind of nonsense? This would never fly in my house growing up and it certainly does not fly in my current home.
Manfred is placating to a population of millennials also known as "Generation Snowflake." "What millennials are most famous for besides narcissism is its effect: entitlement," reported
Time Magazine in 2013's article entitled,
Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation.
On this Monday morning, I urge you to think about the series of events between Game 3 and Game 4 and reflect on it. Should Manfred have enacted a penalty on Gurriel now, in the moment, or was he right in waiting until the 2018? You know how I feel. Let us know how you feel.
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @suzieprof
