Jarren Duran Controversy: The Bastards React!
The Bastards of Boston podcasters give their thoughts on Jarren Duran's anti-gay slur in the Astros finale!
JASON KELLY:
The Jarren Duran situation could not have come at a worse time for the Red Sox. The team just got brutally swept by the Astros in their own ballpark, injuries to the pitching staff are mounting, and the team now finds themselves three games out of the Wild Card race.
While I’m not personally offended by what Duran said, I’m surprised and disappointed that a 28-year-old grown man still has that word in his vocabulary to begin with.
Duran has openly spoken about his mental health struggles and has become a symbol of hope for fans that have been through similar circumstances. However, there is clearly more maturing left for him to do.
I do not think that Duran should be suspended or even benched by the team. After all, if he hadn’t been mic’d up we may not have ever heard about this in the first place.
He apologized immediately after the game and took full responsibility for his actions, that should be enough. That said, I do think this warrants a sit-down with Alex Cora, Sam Kennedy, and maybe even Tom Werner.
They need to be very blunt with him and basically say: “That’s strike one. You pull crap like this again, you’re getting suspended. You’re too good to be acting like this, so straighten up and focus on the game.”
Hopefully, Duran gets the message and cleans up his act. Otherwise, we may be looking at another Alex Verdugo type of situation where the talent of the player doesn’t make up for the headaches he creates with his antics.
JEREMY SCHILLING:
I get how difficult it is to play professional sports. Scrutiny from the media, scrutiny from the fans, and the pressure to play up to your contract or achieve the next one.
However, there's a line not to cross and Jaren Duran crossed it. I thought the team acted appropriately in swiftly punishing him with a two-game suspension.
His comments afterwards have been appropriate and remorseful. He's accepted the suspension. He'll serve it. And he'll learn and grow from it and continue to be a key member of this baseball team.
CHARLIE SMITH:
We finally know the punishment. Two games for a poor decision. He’s young and learning.
Duran an ambassador and immediately expressed remorse. Players will learn and sometimes it’s the hard way.
TERRY CUSHMAN JR:
If you attended a public middle school, you have heard the same slur Jarren Duran used thrown around on an hourly basis among your classmates. Eventually as kids mature, that word gets used a lot less.
In less common circumstances, people with a lot of legitimate hate in their heart will throw that word around against a certain group of people, which cuts far deeper.
Do I believe Jarren Duran has hate in his heart? Absolutely not.
Do I believe a suspension was fair? Yes I do.
Fans have defended Jarren Duran’s comments, putting their spin on what he really meant.
But at the end of the day, he himself is not defending his comments.
This is was one problem on a massive mountain of Red Sox problems.