Astros 1B Yuli Gurriel will be suspended without pay for the first five games of the '18 season, making it the heaviest penalties "levied against a player for a public act of intolerance during a baseball game," according to David Waldstein of the N.Y. TIMES. Gurriel made a racist gesture directed at Dodgers P Yu Darvish during World Series Game 3 on Friday. He also will "have to undergo sensitivity training." Gurriel was not suspended for a World Series game, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that he did "not want to penalize the other members of the Astros at such a critical moment in the season." He also said that Gurriel's statement of contrition "was a factor and that he wanted Gurriel to feel the financial impact of the penalty, which would not have happened in the World Series because of the manner in which players receive their salaries." Manfred added that he wanted to "afford Gurriel the right to the usual appeal process, even though the players' union announced Saturday that Gurriel would not appeal" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/29). In DC, Dave Sheinin noted Manfred also cited Darvish's "gracious handling of the situation" as a reason for the delayed suspension. Manfred: "He handled this in probably as classy a way as a player could possibly handle (it). It was a factor, but not a driving one" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/29). The Astros said that they would "donate the salary Gurriel would have earned from the five games to charities, including one 'directly supporting diversity efforts'" (L.A. TIMES, 10/29). In Houston, Hixenbaugh & Zaveri noted Texans Owner Bob McNair's comment comparing NFL players to inmates and Gurriel's racial gesture made the city's sports culture a "flash point in a national debate over race" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/29). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Nicholas Parco noted one day after using his hands to "slant his eyes" at Darvish, Gurriel "received a warm, rousing ovation from Astros fans at Minute Maid Park" during Dodgers-Astros Game 4 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/29).
BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME: ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick wrote Manfred "made the best of a bad situation." His leadership skills were "tested on the fly, and he passed the test" (ESPN.com, 10/28). In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote the delayed suspension is a "fair and just resolution," with Manfred "knowing that any attempt to suspend Gurriel from the World Series would have been appealed, and most likely not adjudicated until spring training" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/29). Also in N.Y., Tyler Kepner wrote if Manfred had tried to suspend Gurriel immediately, he "might have risked a messy quarrel with the players union." Manfred "chose to avoid all that with a tactically convenient approach: He raised the level of punishment for expressions of intolerance during a game but did not affect the competitive integrity of baseball's signature event." Manfred was "right in saying that World Series games are far more significant than a midseason game" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/29). The N.Y. POST's Ken Davidoff writes, "Kudos to the commish." He navigated "multiple competing agendas under a huge time crunch and came up with a solution that is more than palatable" (N.Y. POST, 10/29). On Long Island, David Lennon wrote this is a "fitting and adequate punishment, based on precedent" (NEWSDAY, 10/29). In Boston, Steve Buckley wrote Manfred's decision will be "viewed by some as a slap on the wrist," but it is the "right call." Darvish "emerges as a hero in this drama, as a man who has chosen to hold his head high and accept Gurriel's apology" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/29). In DC, Thomas Boswell wrote, "Shocking acts of civility, common sense, accountability and generosity have broken out at the World Series" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/29).
SIGN OF WEAKNESS: In L.A., Bill Plaschke wrote baseball "bunted" on Gurriel's suspension, as Manfred "offered words backed by weakness." MLB took the "easy way out" (L.A. TIMES, 10/29). THE RINGER's Michael Baumann wrote under the header, "Manfred Whiffs On Gurriel Suspension" (THERINGER.com, 10/28). In Austin, Kirk Bohls wrote baseball "struck out." Bohls: "If it's right to do, it's right to do it immediately" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10/29). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy wrote Manfred "wimped out by not hitting Gurriel where it hurts and sitting his butt during the World Series." There is "no doubt" Manfred "knew the union would fight it." Shaughnessy: "You know how that goes" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/29). YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown wrote Gurriel "should have served his penalty" in the same setting that he decided to make his gesture. A suspension "was warranted." Gurriel should "not have been eligible for Game 4, at the very least" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/28). In Phoenix, Greg Moore wondered if there is "no place in the game" for Gurriel's actions, why does the suspension "kick in next season and not now?" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/29). In L.A., Branson-Potts, Castillo, Shaikin & Khan wrote this episode "opened up a new heated conversation about race and identity in professional sports." Many found Gurriel’s antics as "juvenile and insulting as they were sadly familiar" (L.A. TIMES, 10/29).
HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM CHIEF WAHOO? Manfred on Saturday was asked how MLB squares its stance against insensitive behavior with the Indians' continued use of its Chief Wahoo logo. He said, "While both are problematic, I don't see them as the same issue" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/29). ESPN’s Tony Reali said, “A lot of people are thinking about what baseball thinks about racism. They have a logo on one of the teams in Cleveland that has a trademark that people think is also racially insensitive, and this is really on the front burner now” (“GMA,” ABC, 10/29). YAHOO SPORTS' Chris Cwik wrote under the header, "After Yuli Gurriel’s Suspension, Chief Wahoo Should Be Next" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/28).
