Pitcher Orlando Hernandez was not present in the Bomber dugout for last night’s 6-1 loss to Minnesota. Like a host of other Latin ballplayers, El Duque – who was not scheduled to start – asked for and received permission to miss the game as a sign of protest for the commando-style grab of Elian Gonzalez, and in solidarity with similar protests in the Cuban community in Miami, where Hernandez lives in the offseason.
Hernandez, who defected from Cuba Dec. 26, 1997, declined to speak with the media about his decision, but told a Yankee translator, “This is a very sensitive situation. All things considered, I felt it best not to be in the dugout during [last night’s] game.” And he added in English, “That’s all.”
The protest, originally isolated to Miami, spread and a host of ballplayers sat out last night’s games, including the Met shortstop Rey Ordonez, Tampa Bay slugger Jose Canseco, and six Marlins. Hernandez was the only Yankee to do so.
Hernandez, 4-0 with a sterling 3.13 ERA, has developed into the ace of the Yankee staff. After he pitched the Bombers to a 10-7 win Sunday in Toronto, he wasn’t slated to start again until Saturday against the Blue Jays. He was at the Stadium yesterday and went through all his daily work before asking Joe Torre and GM Brian Cashman for permission to miss the game.
“He came to me and broached the subject. Obviously we had a discussion about the issue. Everything’s on an individual basis. But in dealing with Orlando, we’re sensitive to him and his conscience – dealing with a community he’s part of – and we’ll permit him to follow his conscience,” said Cashman, who talked with El Duque about 4 p.m. and deliberated about 40 minutes on the issue.
“I have not talked to George [Steinbrenner]. I placed a phone call to him, but I don’t know where he stands. I had to weigh a lot of things in my mind, and on this decision, I decided to allow him to follow his conscience and do what he feels is right. His conscience took him out of uniform and out of the dugout, and we’re OK with that.”
Cashman pointed out that Hernandez will be paid for last night, and that the decision was made much easier because El Duque wasn’t slated to start.
“We don’t have a player who refused to play. He came to me and asked permission, and I appreciate that,” said Cashman, adding that dealing with a player who refused to play “is a problem for the Mets, not for us.”
Torre and Cashman spoke about the issue as well, and were in agreement with allowing Hernandez to not be present for last night’s game.
“He [talked about] Miami and what the players there are doing, he wanted permission to do the same. Knowing what’s happening in Miami, he didn’t have to explain any further. It’s tough to turn that stuff down,” said Torre. “I’m sure anybody who’s lived there and knows what’s going on, it makes more of an impact. You have a relationship with [the Cuban people].”
