MLB suspends Delmon Young seven days
DETROIT -- Delmon Young sat silent and isolated at his locker Monday evening.
For the next few days, it's going to be even worse.
Moments after Detroit's game with Kansas City was scheduled to start, the commissioner's office announced that Young had been suspended for seven days for last Friday's arrest in New York. Young was accused of shouting anti-Semitic slurs at a panhandler while intoxicated and then assaulting a bystander.
The suspension is retroactive to last Friday night's game against the Yankees, so Young will be eligible to return to the Detroit lineup this Friday against Chicago. Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said that Young will not appeal the suspension.
Young worked out with the team in New York, although he was on the restricted list, and took batting practice early Monday afternoon. He returned to the clubhouse after hitting but did not speak to the media. Tigers manager Jim Leyland also refused to take questions on the incident.
The suspension was announced by a news release from the commissioner's office. In it, Bud Selig was quoted extensively.
"Those associated with our game should meet the responsibilities and standards that stem from our game's stature as a social institution," Selig said in a statement. "An incident like this cannot and will not be tolerated. I understand that Mr. Young is regretful, and it is my expectation that he will learn from this unfortunate episode."
Dombrowski met with the media shortly after the announcement, and limited his remarks to reading the commissioner's statement. He did say that, under baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement, Young will not be subject to any team punishment.
"Under the CBA, there's no dual discipline," he said. "He'll be activated and ready to play on Friday. If he's not in the lineup, that will be the manager's decision. He's been working out over the weekend, and took batting practice today, so he'll be physically ready on Friday."
On the field, the Tigers have already dealt with the worst of Young's suspension. Since it's measured in days, not games, Monday's rainout and Thursday's day off count. That means Young will miss only two more games, Tuesday and Wednesday against Kansas City.
Andy Dirks was scheduled to replace Young on Monday and is expected to do so on Tuesday, as well. Dirks was going to hit fifth and serve as the designated hitter, Young's normal spot.
"I guess that is kind of a tribute to him, that we think he's ready to hit behind (Miguel) Cabrera and (Prince) Fielder," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Andy has worked hard, and he's shown us enough to think he's capable of doing that."
With the Royals starting left-handed Jonathan Sanchez on Wednesday afternoon, Brad Eldred will replace Young. Eldred struggled in New York, going 2-for-13 after being called up from Toledo, but the Tigers are hoping he can duplicate the form that saw him destroying Triple-A pitching for most of the month.
The big question now is: How will Young and the Tigers deal with their fan base after an alleged hate-crime incident?
According to a 2010 study, Metro Detroit has one of the 25 biggest Jewish populations in the country, and Young is accused of using anti-Semitic slurs against a panhandler who was wearing a yarmulke and a Star of David around his neck.
Young did issue a brief apology just before being arraigned for a hate-crime harassment charge, but the statement did not mention any specifics, and Dombrowski said that he does not expect Young to talk about the issue until after any legal proceedings have concluded.
Dombrowski wasn't any more forthcoming when he was directly asked Monday about damage control that Young and the Tigers will have to do with the fans when he comes back on Friday.
"I'm not allowed to talk about that," Dombrowski said, seconds before ending his news conference.
At some point, though, Young, Dombrowski or both will have to address that part of the issue to avoid hurting the franchise's relations with an influential portion of their fan base.