S.F. Giants pitcher Sam Coonrod did NOT kneel with the rest of his teammates in a showing of support for the Black Lives Matter movement Thursday ... saying his religion and his personal feelings about BLM wouldn't allow him to do it.
"I’m a Christian," the 27-year-old relief pitcher said, "so I just believe that I can’t kneel before anything besides God."
If you missed it, the MLB provided teams with a long piece of black fabric to signify unity before its Opening Day games on Thursday.
The Yankees-Nationals ceremony went off without a hitch -- players joined together in grabbing the sheet and kneeling ... and the moment was powerful.
But, later in the evening, when it came time for the Dodgers and Giants to replicate the moment ... Coonrod refused to drop to a knee.
After the game, he told reporters his religious beliefs made it impossible for him to join in ... but he also said he didn't believe in some of the things he believes BLM stands for.
"I just can’t get on board with a couple things I’ve read about Black Lives Matter, how they lean towards Marxism,” Coonrod said. “And … they said some negative things about the nuclear family. I just can’t get on board with that.”
Coonrod said he meant "no ill will" by his gesture ... and added, "I’m not mad at someone who decided to kneel. I just don’t think it’s too much to ask that I just get the same respect.”
For the team's part, manager Gabe Kapler -- who not only knelt for the BLM moment but also during the national anthem -- said he respected Coonrod's decision to opt out.
"The one thing that we said is we were going to let people express themselves,” Kapler said. “We were going to give them the choice on whether they were going to stand, kneel or do something else. That was a personal decision for Sam.”
Mookie Betts dropped to a knee during the national anthem before his 1st game with the Dodgers on Thursday ... and some of his teammates, including N.L. MVP Cody Bellinger, showed major support for the move.
The new superstar outfielder displayed his dismay for social injustice in America by kneeling for the song before the Dodgers' home opener against the Giants ... and Bellinger and Max Muncy quickly jumped to his side.
Belli put his right hand on Betts' left shoulder, while Muncy put his left hand on Betts' right ... and afterward, the new Dodgers star said he hopes his actions can bring about change.
"I know my dad served and I'll never disrespect the flag," Betts said, "but there's also gotta be change in the world, and kneeling has nothing to do with those who served our country."
Mookie added, "Today was just to unify both sides and just to show that we are here for change."
Betts says he's unsure if he'll continue the kneeling throughout the season ... he told reporters he wants to focus more on tangible action rather than demonstrations going forward.
"I think kneeling is definitely something that shows we need change," Betts said, "but also I have to put some action into play as far as away from MLB."
No other Dodgers joined Betts in the kneeling ... however, several Giants players continued their tradition of taking knees on the opposing baseline.
Major League Baseball, meanwhile, did its part in recognizing the fight for racial equality on Opening Day Thursday... it played Black Lives Matter videos before both the Dodgers game and the Yankees-Nationals game.
The league also had players join in holding a long sheet of black fabric ... while many others on the Yanks, Nationals, Giants and Dodgers kneeled to show unity just before the national anthems began playing.
Several players also wore Black Lives Matter patches on their sleeves ... while pitchers pitched on mounds that had BLM stenciled into them.
Dr. Anthony Fauci just threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the first MLB game of the season ... and oh, boy.
The COVID-19 expert was tapped to do the honors before the Washington Nationals hosted the New York Yankees on Thursday ... and as the saying goes, it was juuuuust a bit outside.
And then some.
FYI -- Fauci is a HUGE Nats fan ... and the team was thrilled to have him on board for the big moment.
"Dr. Fauci has been a true champion for our country during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout his distinguished career," the Nats said.
"So, it is only fitting that we honor him as we kick off the 2020 season and defend our World Series Championship title."
Of course, the bigger picture here is that baseball is finally back for a 60-game season during the global pandemic ... and Fauci has been seen as a voice of wisdom through it all.
As for the players, both teams took a knee and held a black fabric before the national anthem to show solidarity ... and then stood for the rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner."
Morgan Freeman also contributed a powerful speech on social injustice ... and several players were featured in a video on Black Lives Matter.
The pitcher's mound also features "BLM" stenciled in black.
As for the first pitch ... we'll see how President Trump does with his opportunity with the Yankees next month.
Donald Trump says he's been tapped to throw out the first pitch at a Yankees game next month -- and points out there won't be any fans in the stands to react.
Trump says Yankees team president Randy Levine personally asked him to do the honors at an Aug. 15 game at Yankees Stadium -- when NY takes on the rival Boston Red Sox.
Trump says he asked Levine how the crowd is going to be -- before remembering, "You don't have a crowd. There's no such thing!"
Trump has had mixed reactions at sporting events ... he was booed during Game 5 of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park in D.C.
My wife sends along this video of crowd chanting “lock him up” as POTUS introduced at World Series. pic.twitter.com/zHJETTclPE
But, on the flip side, he was wildly cheered at the LSU-Clemson College Football National Championship game in New Orleans back in January.
You got to wonder how Trump would be received in front of a live New York audience -- but he probably knows that answer already.
Trump has long talked about his talents as a young baseball player ... he claims he had pro potential back in the day -- despite no video ever surfacing of his playing days.
By the way, ex-Yankees superstar Mariano Rivera was in the room when Trump talked about throwing out the first pitch ... and Trump showered him with praise in front of the media.
This will be the first time Trump has thrown out a first pitch since becoming president -- no pressure.
Horrible news for the Nationals ... phenom outfielder Juan Soto has tested positive for COVID-19 -- and he's now out for the foreseeable future.
Of course, the Nats are opening the MLB season against the Yankees in just a few hours ... and Juan was expected to be the team's best hitter.
FYI, Soto is just 21 years old ... but he hit 34 home runs and logged 110 RBI last season, helping lead the team to its first-ever World Series title.
But, Juan came down with a positive diagnosis for coronavirus Thursday ... and is now expected to miss at least the next two weeks -- a huge deal considering the season is just 60 games long.
Soto had already missed a huge portion of the Nats' camp this month ... after he had to self-isolate after coming into contact with somebody who had the virus.
The good news ... Nats general manager Mike Rizzo says Juan is asymptomatic -- but the MLB superstar will still need two negative tests in order to return to the lineup.
2:19 PM PT -- The Dodgers have made the move official ... although they say the contract is a 12-year one.
UPDATE
The team did NOT release money numbers for the contract.
UPDATE
12:49 PM PT -- 13 YEARS, $380 MIL!!
UPDATE
That's the deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan who says the 27-year-old is expected to remain with the club until he's 40!
UPDATE
WOW!!!
Dodgers fans, rejoice!!! ... Mookie Bettsappears set to be a Los Angeleno for life -- reportedly closing in on signing a massive 10-YEAR extension with the team!!!
Official numbers on the imminent deal aren't out yet ... but WEEI's Lou Merloni reports the figures could be anywhere from $350 to $400 MILLION for the life of the contract.
Of course, it's HUGE news for the Dodgers ... there was some worry in the City of Angels that the impending free agent, Betts, would bolt for another team after this season.
But, the outfielder -- who won an MVP and a World Series ring in Boston before being traded to the Dodgers this offseason -- now appears poised to finish out his career in California.
The 27-year-old is one of the game's brightest stars ... he's got a .301 career batting average and has already come up with a few monster hits in the Dodgers' exhibition games this month.
Crushing blow for Red Sox fans, meanwhile ... some thought Mookie would return to Beantown and sign a long-term deal there after this season.
Six-time All-Star and former league MVP Joey Votto dropped down to a knee during the national anthem Tuesday ... continuing his promise to help raise awareness for social justice.
The Cincinnati Reds star joined three other teammates in the demonstration before they took on the Tigers in an exhibition game at Great American ballpark, and the scene was powerful.
Votto, Amir Garrett, Phillip Ervin and Alex Blandino all shifted to a knee when the pregame song began playing ... while some of their Reds teammates showed support by placing their hands on their backs.
After the game, team manager David Bell -- who stood next to the kneelers during the anthem -- praised the guys ... saying, "I know this situation is personal."
"It’s emotional for all of us. I wanted them to know that they had my support."
Votto -- who didn't speak with reporters after the game -- has been extremely vocal in his support for racial equality following George Floyd's death in May.
The 36-year-old first baseman wrote an op-ed piece for The Cincinnati Inquirer in June ... explaining how the nationwide protests after the Floyd tragedy made him realize he needed to join the fight for racial justice.
"I am awakening to their pain, and my ignorance," Votto wrote in the piece. "No longer will I be silent."
In addition to the kneeling ... Votto has also been spotted wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt at team workouts this month.
As for the other kneelers ... Garrett released a statement on social media after the game saying, "No matter how you twist this story, my intentions today were based solely on wanting change throughout this country."
On Monday night, S.F. Giants players and coaches also knelt for the anthem before their exhibition game with the A's ... while in San Diego, a Los Angeles Angels pitcher dropped to a knee in the pregame ceremony before their tilt with the Padres.
As we previously reported ... President Donald Trump wasn't happy to see any of it -- he tweeted early Tuesday morning, "Looking forward to live sports, but any time I witness a player kneeling during the National Anthem, a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag, the game is over for me!"
Several S.F. Giants players and coaches -- including manager Gabe Kapler -- knelt for the national anthem Monday ... and Donald Trump took aim at them afterward, calling it all a "great disrespect."
Here's the deal ... before the Giants took on the A's in an exhibition match in Oakland, Kapler and a few others decided to kneel during the pregame song to protest social injustice.
One of the players involved in the demonstration was Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of legendary Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.
The MLB praised the Giants for the move ... defending the team on social media from critics and writing, "The players and coaches are using their platforms to peacefully protest."
When one Twitter user said the team should not politicize the game ... the MLB responded, "Supporting human rights is not political."
Giants brass also weighed in on the kneeling ... celebrating the team for the moves as well, with president Farhan Zaidi saying "we're proud of our players and staff."
"We support those who knelt to peacefully protest racial injustice and those who stood to express love of country," Zaidi said. "We do not see these as mutually exclusive sentiments and believe the freedom to express both is what our country is about."
But, just hours later, President Trump chimed in on Twitter ... and he was furious to see the kneeling protests return to sporting events.
"Looking forward to live sports," Trump said, "but any time I witness a player kneeling during the National Anthem, a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag, the game is over for me!"
Doesn't seem the comments are going to deter baseball players ... 'cause in San Diego on Monday night, Angels pitcher Keynan Middleton also took a knee and raised his fist during the anthem.
Several other players across the league have also said they're considering some sort of demonstration when the league officially opens regular season play this Thursday.
Move over, Max Scherzer ... the Nats are now relying on Dr. Anthony Fauci to pump in a fastball on Opening Day -- the team says it's tapped the COVID-19 expert to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday!
It's a huge honor for Fauci ... the guy is a self-proclaimed Nationals superfan -- and WA team officials say they couldn't be happier he accepted their invite to help kick off their season this week.
"Dr. Fauci has been a true champion for our country during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout his distinguished career," the Nats said.
"So it is only fitting that we honor him as we kick off the 2020 season and defend our World Series Championship title."
Fauci will take the bump just minutes before the Nats host the New York Yankees at Nationals Park in D.C.
2:57 PM PT -- This just went from bad to worse for Yasiel Puig ... the positive COVID test has reportedly torpedoed his deal with the Atlanta Braves.
UPDATE
Puig's deal with the team was never finalized -- it hinged on him passing a COVID-19 test, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
UPDATE
Now, Rosenthal said the deal is off -- he won't be signing with the team -- and remains a free agent as the season draws closer.
MLB outfielder Yasiel Puig says he just learned he has COVID-19... and will quarantine for the foreseeable future.
"Although I tested positive, I am asymptomatic, and I feel absolutely fine."
"I will be quarantined until I receive 2 negative test results, which I hope will arrive shortly."
Puig says he's sad about his diagnosis -- "but I believe that everything is in God's timing and that my return to MLB will happen in His perfect plan and timing for me."
"When I return to the field, I will do so knowing that I will have one less hurdle to overcome."
FYI -- the MLB's 60-game season is set to finally begin with Opening Day on July 23 and 24.
Puig says he never believed it could happen to him ... and is urging everyone to "take this pandemic seriously, this can happen to anyone, even the healthiest athlete."
The 29-year-old ended his statement with a reminder to his fans to wear a mask, social distance, and follow your local protocols.
"Please take care of yourselves. I will see you all very soon when I return to play ball."
Some VERY encouraging news coming from MLB -- the league says more than 10,500 coronavirus tests were completed in the past week ... and only 6 came back positive.
The league announced the update on Friday ... just one week before Opening Day is set to kick off on July 23.
Of the 6 positives, 5 were players and 1 was a team staffer ... and the league also pointed out a 5-day period where ZERO new cases were reported.
The results are an improvement from a week prior ... when the league announced 12 positive cases.
It's a big confidence boost with the 60-game season approaching ... and after big stars like Freddie Freeman, Charlie Blackmon and Aroldis Chapman tested positive.
As we previously reported ... Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier says he intends on wearing a mask on the diamond ... and more players are testing out the possibility during practices.
Great news ... Atlanta Braves superstar Freddie Freeman is finally "feeling great" -- this just 1 week after his wife said he was in rough shape after contracting coronavirus.
Last Friday, Chelsea Freeman said her 30-year-old hubby was hit "like a ton of bricks" by COVID-19 ... suffering from fever, headaches, chills and body aches.
In her post, Chelsea sounded VERY concerned for the MLB superstar ... writing, "He is someone who rarely gets sick."
But, Chelsea provided an encouraging update Thursday ... saying Freddie is now "feeling great!"
"Our whole family is healthy," she said. "Thank God!"
Freddie has yet to rejoin the Braves for summer camp, and even though it seems unlikely at the moment he'll be a part of the team for Opening Day later this month -- manager Brian Snitker has said he's still hopeful.
Freddie is one of the best players in the entire sport ... he's a four-time All-Star with a career .293 batting average.
The Braves, meanwhile, are expected to make a serious run at the World Series with Freddie in their lineup this season.
Four-time MLB All-Star Charlie Blackmon says he didn't have many issues in his fight with COVID-19 at all ... telling reporters Monday the flu he had a few years ago was worse.
"My symptoms were what I would consider mild flu symptoms," the Colorado Rockies OF said. "I had a headache, I had a bit of a cough and then I had some body aches. I just felt sick."
But, Blackmon -- who returned to Colorado camp for the first time since contracting coronavirus last month -- says his symptoms went away after only about a day and a half.
"It only lasted for about 36 hours," Blackmon said, "and I would consider it mild compared to the flu. I had the flu proper a couple years ago and I thought that thing was going to wipe me out."
Don't get it twisted ... Blackmon says he knows he's lucky his experience with the virus wasn't much worse -- but he emphasized, "I would consider the symptoms that I felt to be minor."
It's great news for the Rockies and the MLB as a whole ... when Blackmon was diagnosed last month -- there was obviously some concern for the 34-year-old.
But, Charlie told media members he's all good ... and could even be ready for the team's season opener later this month.
"I'm healthy and I don't expect to be at risk," Charlie said, "and I don't expect to be risking other people's health for the rest of the season."
NY Yankees outfielderClint Frazier says he's not the only MLB player considering wearing a mask when the '20 season starts -- telling TMZ Sports he knows a few guys are trying them out during practice.
25-year-old Frazier just rocked a COVID mask during a Yankees inter-squad game last week ... wearing it in the field and during his at-bats.
Frazier says the mask didn't really bother him -- "I feel comfortable" -- and at this point, it seems like he'll continue to wear it into the 2020 season, which is set to begin later this month.
And, with COVID numbers exploding in certain cities, we wondered if other players would be following Clint's lead.
"I know that some guys are wearing it more in practice on the field," Clint told us ... "It's just a comfortability thing."
"Obviously, I speak for myself. But, hopefully, guys just continue to be safe and do whatever they feel is best possible for them and for us and for everyone else around."
So far, 3 Yankees players have already tested positive for COVID -- Aroldis Chapman, Luis Cessa and D.J. LeMahieu.
Clint tells us he's already spoken with LeMahieu -- and the infielder is champing at the bit to get back with the team.
"I spoke to D.J., I know he's frustrated," Frazier says.
"I know that he wants to get back. He's probably walking around with his batting gloves on right now. He's definitely missed in the clubhouse. Whenever he comes back, I'm sure he's gonna be ready to bat .300 immediately."
We also asked Clint if he feels the 2020 World Series will be tarnished due to the shortened season ... and Frazier shot that notion down hard,
"I don't think anyone's going to deny a World Series championship if we get it," the NYY outfielder says. "I don't think anyone won't come to the parade if we win it."
Of course, a lot of people disagree ... with the season only scheduled to go 60 games -- and with several stars already opting out of the 2020 iteration of the MLB season, some believe this year's champ WILL come with a caveat.
But, when we got Frazier out in NYC this week ... he told us he believes a ring's a ring regardless of a shortened season.
"They all count the same, I think," Frazier said. "It's obviously a unique situation right now and somebody has to win the World Series."
"So, I think whoever gets it, it's going to be just as special to everyone that's involved."
S.F. Giants superstar Buster Posey will NOT participate in the MLB's rebooted season ... in order to care for his newborn twin babies who are currently being treated in the NICU.
Buster and his wife have adopted identical twin girls -- they were born prematurely last week and are currently in stable condition in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
It appears the outlook is good -- but as you can imagine, it's an incredibly stressful situation for any parent to endure.
Posey says the decision to opt out of the MLB season in order to be with his family is a no-brainer.
"From a baseball standpoint it was a tough decision," Posey told reporters. "From a family standpoint and feeling like I'm making a decision to protect our children, I feel like it was relatively easy."
While Posey is certainly not the first to make the call -- several others including Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman and Braves' Nick Markakis opted out several days ago -- he's definitely the biggest name so far.
Buster was expected to bat in the heart of the Giants' lineup, as usual, this season ... especially with the National League adopting designated hitter roles for the 2020 reboot.
For their part, the Giants backed their star in a statement Friday, saying, "The Giants fully support Buster's decision."
"Buster is an integral part of our team and will be sorely missed, but we look forward to having him back in 2021."
The 2019 World Series MVP ... Stephen Strausberg?!?!
The Nationals superstar says his name was comically misspelled on the World Series ring box he received Thursday ... but fortunately, Strasburg told reporters the team at least got it right on the ring itself.
"I got a little nervous at first," the Nats ace said, “because on the outside of the box that it came in my last name was spelled wrong. So luckily it was spelled correctly on the ring, so I was pretty happy about that."
Hilarious tale ... considering everything Strasburg did to get Washington its first-ever World Series ring.
The dude was LIGHTS OUT in the Nats' playoff run ... going 5-0, including two huge victories over the Astros in the World Series.
Of course, Strasburg laughed off the box's spelling error ... and said he was stoked to eventually show off the new bling to his family nonetheless.
"You just look at all the little things that they put on the ring to kind of commemorate some of the big moments of the season, and it kind of just takes you right back to that moment," Strasburg said.
"They did a great job on it and they really put a lot of time and effort into making it something special, and I can’t wait to get it home to show my kids."
