HERMOSILLO, Son. (apro)- The Mexican Pacific League (LMP) has sanctioned Román Benjamín Gil Aguilar, manager of the Tomateros de Culiacán Baseball Club, with a fine of 100,000 pesos for making obscene gestures during the celebration of the team's championship on January 29th.
Omar Canizales Soto, president of the LMP, notified the "guinda nation" manager that the bodily signals against the baseball clubs that had been defeated to achieve the trophy "completely undermine the image of what the Tomateros de Culiacán Club represents, the Mexican Pacific League, and its members."
According to the circular, with his actions, Gil Aguilar violated the forty-second clause, section J, of the LMP statutes, as well as article 10.02 of the Labor Regulations, which states: "Maintain a working attitude, discipline, and respect. Also, increase harmonious relationships with different media outlets, civil, military, and sports authorities; with Mexican and foreign professional baseball organizations."
Furthermore, in the notification against the head of the Sinaloan team, it was warned that at the next meeting of club presidents, "an additional sanction may be determined in addition to the one already established. In the event that this happens, you will be informed in a timely manner."
In the meantime, it is urged that he refrain from reoffending in the future and from failing to comply with any of the obligations imposed by the Labor Regulations; otherwise, "he could be expelled from the LMP."
Benjamín Gil's bellicose relationship with the rest of the clubs has had several episodes.
The best known, for which he was punished, was on January 29th when the leader of the Tomateros team was aboard the victory truck that would parade the LMP champions. Taking the microphone, he said: “You want me to say something, but I'm not going to say it; I'm not going to say it, but look closely…”, at that moment, he waved his arm up and down with his fist clenched repeatedly, causing a commotion among the fans.
Days earlier, on January 27th, in an effusive meeting in the locker room, Benjamín Gil injected words of encouragement to the players: "You formed a tremendous team, a tremendous team."
Seconds later, upon noticing the presence of the press, he covered the microphone of one of the cameras present with his hand and released colorful language. "Mochis (the Cañeros) screwed us over, Mexicali (the Águilas) screwed us over, and now, Guadalajara (the Charros)."