Mariners' Steve Clevenger should be released for insensitive tweets about protesters

The Seattle Mariners say they’re OK with freedom of speech, but are simply " very disappointed" in catcher Steve Clevenger’s racist and hurtful tweets spewed Thursday across the Internet.

Really?

The only questions now should be:

Why is Clevenger still wearing a major-league uniform?

Why is he still employed by the Mariners?

Why haven’t they already released him?

There is no reason that Clevenger should be able to wake up Friday morning and be gainfully employed by Major League Baseball.

Mariners catcher Steve Clevenger tweets protesters should be treated 'like animals'

He took care of that Thursday with his series of tweets in response to the civil disturbance in Charlotte, N.C., managing to offend the human race, and embarrass the game of baseball, particularly the Mariners’ organization.

If the Mariners don’t release him Friday, MLB should suspend him all of spring training in 2017 and at least the first month of the regular season.

The precedent was already set when Atlanta Braves closer John Rocker was suspended 73 days in 2000 for his racist and insensitive remarks in an interview with Sports Illustrated. Bud Selig, then commissioner, responded swiftly and strongly.

''Major League Baseball takes seriously its role as an American institution and the important social responsibility that goes with it,'' Selig said in a statement at the time. “We will not dodge our responsibility. Mr. Rocker should understand that his remarks offended practically every element of society and brought dishonor to himself, the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball.''

Rocker’s suspension was cut in half by arbitrator Shyam Das after the players association filed a grievance to overturn Selig's sanctions.

No matter. It was the perfect penalty then.

It’s the right call now.

Clevenger disgraced the entire baseball industry when he called for protesters in Charlotte to be "locked behind bars like animals."

He wrote two tweets on his public account, which he later even confirmed were written by him:

“Black people beating whites when a thug got shot holding a gun by a black officer. Haha (stuff) cracks me up! Keep kneeling for the Anthem!"

And again: “BLM (Black Lives Matter) is pathetic once again. Obama you are pathetic once again! Everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals.’’

You can’t lock up Clevenger, 30, for freedom of speech, or even ignorance, but baseball can make sure it’ll be a long time before he plays again.

And the Mariners can certainly assure that he never again wears their uniform.

This wasn’t a case of someone breaking into Clevenger’s Twitter account, or Clevenger drunk-texting, or even a temporary moment of insanity.

He actually confirmed it was him, and his own comments.

He responded by changing his Twitter account to private, requiring permission for anyone to view his tweets, and then apologized in the Thursday evening for being a distraction.

Not once did he apologize for the message.

“First and foremost I would like to apologize to the Seattle Mariners, my teammates, my family and the fans of our great game for the distraction my tweets on my personal twitter page caused when they went public earlier today,’’ Clevenger said in a statement first released to FOX Sports. “I am sickened by the idea that anyone would think of me in racist terms. My tweets were reactionary to the events I saw on the news and were worded beyond poorly at best and I can see how and why someone could read into my tweets far more deeply than how I actually feel.

"I grew up on the streets of Baltimore, a city I love to this very day. I grew up in a very culturally diverse area of America and I am very proud to come from there. I am also proud that my inner circle of friends has never been defined by race but by the content of their character. Any former teammate or anyone who has met me can attest to this and I pride myself on not being a judgmental person. I just ask that the public not judge me because of an ill-worded tweet.

"I do believe that supporting our First Amendment rights and supporting local law enforcement are not mutually exclusive. With everything going on in the world I really just want what is best for everyone regardless of who they are. I like many Americans are frustrated by a lot of things in the world and I would like to be a part of the dialogue moving forward to make this a better world for everyone.

"I once again apologize to anyone who was offended today and I just ask you not judge me off of a social media posting. Thank you and God bless everyone."

This is today’s social-media version of former Los Angeles Dodgers GM Al Campanis on “Nightline’’ talking about African-Americans in baseball. He was fired by the Dodgers, and never allowed back into the game.

It’s no different than Clevenger. He didn’t get it when he felt compelled to write the tweets. He doesn’t get it now.

The Mariners won’t get it either unless they release Clevenger, the backup catcher they acquired from the Baltimore Orioles last winter for home-run leader Mark Trumbo.

The trade has proven to be embarrassing enough.

“The Seattle Mariners are very disappointed at the tweets posted on Steve Clevenger’s account,” Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “While he is certainly free to express himself, his tweets do not in any way represent the opinions of the Seattle Mariners. We strongly disagree with the language and tone of his comments.

“We are currently examining all internal options that are available to us as we determine appropriate next steps. We will have no further comment at this time.’’

The Mariners’ next comment should be a simple release announcing that Clevenger has been terminated. They need to issue a public apology, too, that one of their own employees would utter such despicable thoughts, particularly to the city of Charlotte, where Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency after the violence that has broken out in the death of Keith Lamont Scott.

This shouldn’t be done just because Clevenger is only a backup catcher with a career batting average of .227, playing in just 22 games this season.

This shouldn’t be done only to limit the distractions of reporters asking Clevenger’s teammates Friday how they feel about his thoughts.

Clevenger should be dismissed simply because it’s the right thing to do.

If the Mariners don’t take action, or MLB doesn’t step in, the only ones who will look bad is the entire baseball industry.

Someone better make the call.

Follow columnist Bob Nightengale on Twitter @BNightengale

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