All too often you hear the saying, “nobody is above the law” except this weekend we found out that is not entirely true.
This weekend we saw a situation where Houston Astro Yuli Gurriel saw suspension but not right away because his team was in the World Series.
Let’s rewind a little bit.
Gurriel’s Astros are taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, and during game three of the World Series Gurriel hit a home run off of Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish.
After returning to the dugout Gurriel was caught making a racist gesture towards the Japanese pitcher.
Of course after the game there was a considerable amount of backlash towards Gurriel for the incident.
And the next day he was rightfully suspended for those actions.
But here’s the kicker.
That suspension, which was set at five games will not be initiated until the beginning of the next season making him eligible to continue playing in the World Series.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred then came out and explained his decision.
Manfred gave four key reasons for his decision, the first was that it was important that the suspension carry a loss in salary, which can only happen during the regular season.
While I understand the need to take some money away from him, I think the idea of losing out on the opportunity to play in the World Series, which could be his only chance would be far devastating to a player than losing five games pay.
The second reason was that it would not be fair to the other 24 players on his team.
Pardon?
Maybe it would not be, but that is not anyone’s fault but Gurriel’s.
Should we not be saying, well you should not have put yourself and your teammates in this position?
Part of life is that we have to deal with the challenges presented to us.
It is not fair to us when things happen in our job, but we just learn to deal with it.
And what about the Dodgers?
It is not really fair to them that a player, who should be suspended, is helping the Astros beat the Dodgers.
Of all four reasons for why his suspension should be pushed back, this to me is the most outrageous.
Manfred then explained that the third reason was that Darvish, was just looking to move past the issue.
So?
How often in life does something happen to us where we are like I just want to move forward, yet there still needs to be punishment.
I understand that there was punishment dished out but it will be dished out in the future.
Finally, the last reason commissioner Manfred gave was that Gurriel would be given the opportunity to appeal.
Okay fine.
But should we just not put ourselves in that position?
Should we not just say you are suspended effective immediately, not, well I know you are going to appeal so we can wait until later to suspend you?
Nobody is above the law.
Unless of course it is at the right time.
Then we can wait until later to actually punish you.
This thinking needs to change.
If you deserve to be punished for something you should be punished for it, regardless of what is happening at the time.
