Baseball’s action was quick, decisive and seemingly conclusive. Less than 24 hours after Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel made a racist gesture toward Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yu Darvish in Game 3 of the World Series, commissioner Rob Manfred suspended Gurriel without pay for the first five games of next season.



Manfred knew his decision would not satisfy everyone, and Dodgers fans, in particular, expressed their displeasure when the Series returned to Los Angeles, booing Gurriel unmercifully. However, the frustration among some with baseball’s delayed discipline of Gurriel was not simply a partisan matter.



While Darvish, a native of Japan, was forgiving of Gurriel, a native of Cuba, some Asian-Americans believe Manfred and baseball struck out by failing to give Gurriel a more immediate, resounding punishment—a one-game suspension during the Series.



David Inoue, the executive director of the Japanese American Citizens League...