His gesture toward Yu Darvish was caught on cameras.
HOUSTON – Yuli Gurriel will not be suspended for his inappropriate gesture during Game 3 of the World Series until 2018, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced Saturday.
Instead, Manfred said Gurriel will serve a five-game suspension at the start of the 2018 season for making a slant-eyed gesture after hitting a home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish.
Gurriel announced via the MLB Players’ Association that he will not appeal the suspension.
Gurriel will also receive sensitivity training in the off-season and, Manfred said, will privately apologize to Darvish.
« There is complete unanimity – me, my office, both owners, both clubs, and the (union) -that there is no place in our game for the behavior like we witnessed last night, » Manfred said at a Saturday afternoon news conference in the hours after he met with both Gurriel and Darvish. « There is no explanation that makes that type of behavior excusable.
« Mr. Gurriel quickly realized last night that his behavior was wrong. I met with him today. He reiterated that remorse and he assured me that he will offer a private apology to Mr. Darvish. »
Gurriel was caught on camera making a slant-eyed gesture and also seemed to say the Spanish word “chinito,’’ a slang term for “little Chinese guy,’’ in reference to the Japanese-born Darvish.
“Yesterday I was commenting that I’d never had any success against Darvish, and the gesture was saying that I wish he would look at me like one of them (Japanese players) and maybe he’d throw me an easy pitch so I can do something,’’ said Gurriel, who was 1-for-7 in his career against Darvish before the home run. “At no point did I mean that in an offensive way. On the contrary, I’ve always had a lot of respect for them.’’
MORE FROM THE INCIDENT
Darvish termed Gurriel’s ugly gesture “disrespectful’’ but was mostly in a forgiving mood, suggesting it be a learning experience.
After the game, he posted a conciliatory tweet that read in part, “No one is perfect. That includes both you and I. What he had done today isn’t right, but I believe we should put our effort into learning rather than to accuse him. If we can take something from this, that is a giant step for mankind.’’
Manfred lauded Darvish’s handling of the situation, and said he had four reasons for arriving at this discipline:
He felt it important Gurriel be suspended without pay;
He did not want to punish the other Astros players contending for a World Series championship, and « wanted the burden to fall primarily on the wrongdoer. »
He felt Darvish’s desire to « move forward » would be aided by delaying the suspension.
And pushing the suspension would enable a proper grievance process with the union, a right Gurriel ultimately surrendered.
And suspending Gurriel amid a championship situation – the Astros lead the World Series 2-1 entering Saturday night’s Game 4 – would be virtually unprecedented. MLB suspended Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley for two games for a vicious slide during the 2015 National League Division Series.
Utley appealed, and his appeal was upheld in March 2016.
Astros manager A. J. Hinch had to wait until Saturday afternoon to learn whether Gurriel could be in his Game 4 lineup.
« We owe the respect to the commissioner’s office at the highest level that (Manfred) has spoken for the entirety of the sport. Yuli has great remorse, » says Hinch. « We know how diverse our sport is. We support everything that’s right about this game. Knowing Yuli, he’ll do what he can to convince everyone that this is not what’s in his heart. »
Manfred and the union agreed to a two-game suspension for Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar after he used a homophobic slur toward an opponent this season. A two-game suspension amid a 162-game season has far less impact than any suspension during a best-of-seven playoff series.
Gurriel kick-started the Astros’ Game 3 win with his second-inning homer, which led to a four-run inning. Overnight, he was remembered for far more dubious reasons.
« Yuli is a guy I can call my friend and somebody I know wouldn’t disrespect anybody, » Astros starter Dallas Keuchel said. « He knows he made a mistake. »
