Dave Bidini is the author of Baseballissimo and The Best Game You Can Name.

It’s hard not to have a complicated relationship with sports. This is best understood from the perspective of those who hate sports; those who won’t ever read this story and who pass games on television the way I pass bags of Chicago popcorn in the supermarket. They’re not interested, and we’ve given them lots of reasons not to care. Great seas of people perceive sports fans as if we’re zombies at a chain-link fence, pushing back the forces of change and enlightenment. During a late-night drive across the United States, Noam Chomsky, trying to dignify the obsession of fans while also holding us up to the light, asked his media handler how he thought the world would be different if only the callers to sports radio shows spoke with such depth of knowledge about geopolitics, instead of, you know, the Florida Marlins. “Probably a lot better,” the handler said, Chomsky nodding imperceptibly beside him.

These complications were brought to light Tuesday after the Blue Jays’ star closer, Roberto Osuna, was arrested and charged with assault. For some, it was hard to divine between one’s loyalty to the player and team and the knowledge that decisive action by the Jays would be the appropriate reaction (Major League Baseball immediately put the player on administrative leave). Mr. Osuna is a young ballplayer – just 23 – who has been playing professional baseball for most of his life, starting out in Mexico’s senior leagues and competing with men twice his age. We don’t know any specifics around the assault charge – and it’s just that, a charge – but putting a kid in a mature environment in a culture rife with dinosauric sexism and psychological oppression is never the healthiest or easiest way to become a man. “You’re like a dog on a chain,” hockey player Brad Dalgarno once told me, but not every teenage athlete ends up arrested. Still, we can’t ignore the fact that there are few gatekeepers as players ascend through their careers. There are trainers, sports psychologists and nutritionists, but no educators teaching young players to be good citizens and better people. Whether or not a player is non-violent or respectful of women pales compared to whether or not they can throw the knuckle-curve, evinced in regular playing time for Jose Reyes and Aroldis Chapman, the former charged for domestic violence, the latter accused of firing a gun at his home (neither player was convicted). Of all of the insightful things said about pro sport, “Just win baby,” LA Raiders’ Al Davis’s famous axiom, is perhaps the most salient.

The pro leagues are lousy with players charged with assault: domestic or otherwise. In the case of domestic assault, some served suspensions, some did not, but none were dealt with the way Hollywood has recently dealt with its rise of abusers: barred at the door by an industry and public weaned off its tastes, by varying degrees, for those who victimize women. A local candidate in the Ontario provincial election, Liberal incumbent Cristina Martins has insisted on mandatory training on sexual assault for judges and other industries have reacted to #MeToo by holding employees to a new standard. Male pro sports sits idle as the world changes.

When bad things happen, sports fans look shocked, then swallow. Few of us demand that pro sports change from a place that continues to harbour bad behaviour, that continues to normalize violence against women. As fans, we are all culpable. Great strides have been made to enlighten the athletic community on LGBTQ issues, as well as cancer awareness. But until players are held to a higher order, sport will continue to fall behind greater society; all of this from a culture that glorifies its heroes. Teams and players are quick to rally whenever tragedy strikes the world. But few have brought to light the dark issues of hatred and violence toward women.

We want our athletes to be proud and fearless, and to be better than us in tough moments. But sport – any sport – should aspire to real heroism: standing up for women who are abused by its players. Leagues and players should call other players out and they should resist the closed-ranks behaviour that afflicts teams whose players are charged. Perhaps they will follow the words of Blue Jays manager, John Gibbons – one of the very fine people in the game – who said, “Really, in society in general, there’s got to be a zero-tolerance policy. You’ve got to protect the vulnerable and those that can’t protect themselves a lot. But hopefully when it’s all said and done, he’s back with us, it’s behind him and things turn out fine. This is our profession, but we’re talking about life here, which far outweighs this [baseball] stuff.”

It will take more of this kind of leadership, guidance, insight and fearlessness. Then we’ll find out who the true heroes are.

Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna was arrested early this morning, per John Lott of The Athletic (subscription link). Osuna has been charged with domestic assault of his girlfriend, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet (via Twitter).

Osuna has been placed on administrative leave by the commissioner’s office, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. He’ll be replaced on the active roster by Jake Petricka.

Details are scant at this point, so it’s far too soon to assess the situation. The precise nature of the allegations, possible range of legal ramifications, and potential for league punishment are all completely unknown publicly.

That said, given that this matter reportedly arose in the context of a domestic relationship, it falls within the purview of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. It is worth reviewing some of the most salient aspects of that agreement, which has been deployed several times since it was implemented in August of 2015.

Under that policy, commissioner Rob Manfred has the authority to “place a player accused of” such behavior “on paid Administrative Leave for up to seven days while the allegations are investigated before making a disciplinary decision,” though players also have a mechanism to challenge that treatment “immediately.” That provisional authority was previously exercised in the middle of the 2016 season with regard to Hector Olivera and has again been utilized here. It does not suggest any particular final determination, however.

Manfred also has the power to oversee the full-scale investigatory and punitive regime set forth in the policy. Any ultimate punishment is subject to arbitration, with a “just cause” standard applied to any determinations made by the commissioner’s office. Olivera was ultimately convicted of a crime and suspended for 82 games. Other cases have involved quite different fact patterns and generally resulted in less significant suspensions. Most recently, for example, Steven Wright was suspended for 15 games. Following another recent investigation, it was determined that Miguel Sano would not receive punishment given the evidence compiled. Criminal charges or convictions are not required for Manfred to issue discipline, though surely that’s weighed in the balance.

All-Star closer Roberto Osuna of the
Toronto Blue Jays
was charged with assault Tuesday and put on administrative leave by
Major League Baseball
, preventing him from playing for at least a week.

Toronto Police declined to say whether it was domestic assault. Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu said the charge is for one count of assault but provided no further details.

Osuna, who is from Mexico, is scheduled to appear in court June 18.

Administrative leave is not considered discipline. Osuna goes on the restricted list and continues to receive his $5.3 million salary, but is ineligible to play.

The Blue Jays recalled right-hander Jake Petricka from Triple-A Buffalo to take Osuna’s spot on the roster.

The leave lasts seven days, giving the commissioner’s office time to investigate. The commissioner’s office can request an extension, and Osuna could challenge the leave before Mark Irvings, baseball’s independent arbitrator.

Commissioner Rob Manfred also has the option of suspending Osuna either without pay, or with pay pending the resolution of legal proceedings — a penalty that later could be converted to without pay. Osuna could challenge any discipline before Irvings.

In a statement, MLB said it “takes all allegations of this nature very seriously” and is investigating. The Blue Jays released a statement saying they “fully support” MLB’s decision to place Osuna on leave.

“The type of conduct associated with this incident is not reflective of our values as an organization,” the Blue Jays statement said, adding the team would not comment further because of the ongoing police investigation.

The 23-year-old Osuna is 0-0 with nine saves and a 2.93 ERA in 15 games this season. The righty was an All-Star last year when he was 3-4 with 39 saves and a 3.38 ERA.

In April, Osuna became the youngest player in big league history to record 100 career saves.

Last June, Osuna publicly acknowledged he was dealing with anxiety, saying he was out of sorts mentally and feeling lost.

The Blue Jays had planned to give away 15,000 T-shirts featuring Osuna at Thursday’s game against Seattle. The team announced Tuesday it was changing the promotion and moving up a giveaway of shirts featuring infielder Yangervis Solarte.

Manager
John Gibbons
said the team will mix and match at closer while Osuna is out, using
John Axford
,
Tyler Clippard
and Seung Hwan Oh and Ryan Tepera.

General manager Ross Atkins said it was difficult to learn the news of Osuna’s arrest.

“You can’t express it in words, the feeling that you have,” Atkins said. “It’s a physical feeling, an emotional feeling that you hate to get, you hate to have.”

Gibbons said he has a close connection with Osuna but made it clear he doesn’t condone assault.

“I love the kid, not because of what he’s done for us on the field, but because of who he is and my relationship with him over the years,” Gibbons said. “But really, in society in general, there’s got to be a zero tolerance policy. You’ve got to protect the vulnerable and those who can’t protect themselves.”

The Blue Jays were 19-16 going into Tuesday night’s game against Seattle.

MLB and the players’ union agreed on a domestic violence policy in 2015. It allows the league to discipline a player for an alleged domestic violence incident regardless of whether the charges result in a trial.

Pitcher Aroldis Chapman was the first player disciplined under when the league suspended him for the first 30 games of the 2016 season. Days later, shortstop
Jose Reyes
was suspended 51 games.

“What we’ve seen over the last couple of years is Major League Baseball has taken very strong stances on situations like this one,” Atkins said. “The punishments have been strong in cases of guilty and not guilty. We support Major League Baseball in that effort.”

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A few seconds after addressing the media on the Rogers Centre infield Tuesday afternoon, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins put his head down and sighed.

“Tough day,” he said quietly.

It was that.

Hours before, in the wee hours of Tuesday morning in fact, Jays’ closer Roberto Osuna was arrested and charged with assault and has, temporarily at least, left the team.

As first reported in the Toronto Sun

, the 23-year-old is scheduled to appear in court on June 18 and will appear at Old City Hall. A source close to the Toronto police said the charge is the result of a domestic incident, reportedly involving his girlfriend.

In a release, the Blue Jays said: “We are aware of the incident involving Roberto and fully support the decision by the Commissioner’s Office to place him on administrative leave. We are taking the matter extremely seriously, as the type of conduct associated with this incident is not reflective of our values as an organization. As this remains an ongoing investigation by Toronto Police, the club will not comment further on the matter.”

Atkins, though, did speak prior to the Jays’ game against the Seattle Mariners.

“Obviously, as it relates to the investigation, there’s very little we can comment on,” said Atkins. “As it relates to the allegations, to say that we don’t condone things of this nature is saying it very lightly. As an organization, it’s difficult to come up with words as to how seriously we are taking it.”

Jays manager John Gibbons talked to Osuna Tuesday morning, but wouldn’t comment as to how the righthander was doing.

“This is our profession,” said Gibbons. “But you’re taking about life here. Not just his life, but other people involved, which far out-weighs (baseball) stuff.

“You’re dealing with human beings, regardless of walk of life,” Gibbons added. “Hopefully there’s nothing there. I love the kid, not for what he’s done for us on the field, but because who he is and my relationship with him over the years. But really in society … there’s got to be a zero tolerance policy. You’ve got to protect the vulnerable and those who can’t protect themselves (so much). But hopefully when it’s all said and done, when he’s back with us, it’s behind him.”

 

When asked by a reporter how Osuna was holding up, Gibbons snapped: “That’s none of your business. Is that your business?”

The Jays recalled right-handed pitcher Jake Petricka from Buffalo to fill the roster spot.

Prior to his arrest, the Blue Jays had planned to host a Roberto Osuna T-shirt promotion at the Rogers Centre for the team’s game against the Mariners on Thursday night. That won’t happen now.

In terms of how long he may be out, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced an agreement on Aug. 21, 2015 on a Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy to cover Major League players.

Under the policy, MLB may place a player accused of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse on paid administrative leave for up to seven days while the allegations are investigated before making a disciplinary decision. The agreement contains procedures for a player to immediately challenge that placement before the Arbitration Panel.

“Basically the seven days is a default, it could be that he’s active before that or it could be that it is extended depending on the investigation, whether that turns into more,” said Atkins. “What we’ve seen over the last couple of years is Major League Baseball has taken very strong stances on situations like this one. The punishments have been strong in cases of guilty and not guilty. We support (MLB) in that effort, I appreciate and respect everything they’ve done to not just heighten awareness but to understand that this is much more than baseball, is much bigger than just coming out here and trying to beat the Seattle Mariners.”

In 15 appearances for the Jays this season, Osuna has a 2.93 ERA with nine saves. His absence leaves a huge void for a team trying to make it into the playoffs this season.

“Naturally, he’s our guy down there. But you just deal with it.” said Gibbons.

“We’ll see how the game develops, see what it takes to get to that ninth inning,” the manager added when asked who will close in Osuna’s absence. “We’ve got a few guys who can do it. (Ryan) Tepera could do it. (Seung-hwan) Oh could do. Ax (John Axford) could even do it. We still feel pretty good about what’s down there.”

Oh and Axford have closed at the MLB level before, and both are having good seasons.

“That’s big,” Gibbons said.

Last season was a trying one for Osuna.

The native of Juan Jose Rios, Mexico finished the season with 39 saves, a 3.38 ERA, a 3-4 record and 83 strikeouts in 64 innings and was named to the all-star team. He also recorded 10 blown saves, the most in the majors and the third most in club history. He also suffered from undisclosed personal issues and left the team for a short while in September because he had just become a father.

SBuffery@postmedia.com

Twitter @beezersun

 

“Roberto has co-operated fully with the process and shown a willingness to engage and assist throughout, with the only objective being to discover the truth of what happened.”

The FA explained their decision in a detailed statement, but were eager not to question the integrity of Holgate’s complaint following their deliberations.

“We are completely satisfied that the allegation was made in absolute good faith by Holgate and that there is no suggestion of this being an intentionally false or malicious allegation,” said the FA.

“We continue to take all allegations of discrimination extremely seriously and would encourage all participants who believe that they have been the subject of or witness to discriminatory abuse to report this through the appropriate channels. Holgate and Everton followed the proper process by reporting the matter to the match officials at the time and subsequently to The FA.”

On the process itself, which took over a month, the FA added: “We took statements from a total of 12 players and officials from both teams, the match referee and the fourth official. None of these individuals directly heard the words alleged to have been said by Firmino.