Baseball notes: MLB honors Orlando victims
Billy Bean spoke hopefully in Washington, the Oakland Athletics eschewed a traditional first pitch for a silent tribute and stadium flag poles featured the gay pride rainbow alongside the Stars and Stripes.
Major League Baseball on Tuesday honored the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 49 dead.
Moments of silence and other ceremonies were held at stadiums across the country, including in Washington and Oakland, where LGBT pride nights had already been planned even before the shooting.
Bean, a gay former player and Major League Baseball’s first ambassador of inclusion, was at Nationals Park as Washington hosted its 12th annual Night OUT event during a nationally televised game against the Chicago Cubs. Bean was scheduled to visit with members of the Nationals even before the attack in Orlando.
“Everyone’s heart in baseball was broken on Sunday morning,” Bean said. “It doesn’t matter who it happened to. It was a terrible, terrible event in our U.S. history.”
Still, Bean carried an optimistic message, inspired by his own experiences and by what he saw beyond the outfield wall at Nationals Park.
“I turned around and I saw … the (gay) pride flag underneath the American flag,” Bean said. “That’s an image – that’s a new image. That is a powerful one for the LGBT community and one I want to make sure we’re all appreciative of.”
Elsewhere, the Rays’ Pride Night was already scheduled for this Friday, and Tampa Bay has made open seats available for $5.
Collins back in uniform
Mets manager Terry Collins is back in uniform and feeling better. Not so for some of his top players, though.
Smarting second baseman Neil Walker (back) and left fielder Michael Conforto (left wrist) remained out of the starting lineup when New York opened an eight-game homestand Tuesday night against Pittsburgh. Center fielder Juan Lagares has a toothache – and general manager Sandy Alderson revealed that injured third baseman David Wright might need neck surgery.
Collins missed Sunday’s loss in Milwaukee after feeling “disoriented” about 45 minutes before the game began. The 67-year-old Collins, the oldest manager in the majors, was taken to Froedtert Hospital in nearby Wauwatosa and kept overnight.
Pirates put Cole on DL
Gerrit Cole was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right triceps Tuesday, leaving the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates without their ace.
Cole left his start early Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals because of triceps tightness, and it’s unclear how long he’s expected to be sidelined.
Papelbon placed on DL by Nats
The Washington Nationals placed closer Jonathan Papelbon on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday with a right intercostal strain and reinstated reliever Matt Belisle following a rehabilitation assignment.
Manager Dusty Baker said Papelbon injured a muscle between his ribs while the right-hander was warming up Sunday.
Papelbon is 1-2 with a 3.28 ERA and 16 saves. The 35-year-old heads to the DL for the first time in his career.
Clearing the bases
The Kansas City Royals claimed lefty Tyler Olson (Gonzaga University/University High) off waivers from the New York Yankees and assigned him to Triple-A Omaha. … The Cincinnati Reds have recalled right-hander J.J. Hoover and infielder/outfielder Jose Peraza from Triple-A Louisville. The Reds placed infielder Jordan Pacheco on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 3, and optioned right-hander Daniel Wright to Louisville. Pacheco was sent to Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment. … The San Diego Padres have called up hot-hitting utility man Ryan Schimpf from Triple-A El Paso. This is Schimpf’s first trip to the majors. The 28-year-old is hitting .355 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs with the Chihuahuas and has played all four infield positions plus left and right field. … The Atlanta Braves have optioned right-hander Ryan Weber to Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled left-hander Dario Alvarez. The Braves claimed Alvarez on waivers from the New York Mets on May 25. Alvarez, who will join Atlanta’s bullpen, posed a 1.12 ERA in eight innings at Gwinnett. … The Chicago Cubs signed left-hander Brian Matusz to a minor league contract. Matusz, 29, was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft and posted a 27-41 record and 4.85 ERA over parts of eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. … After dealing with a short start and taxing their bullpen Sunday in Toronto, right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne joined the Orioles from Triple-A Norfolk. In a possible indication of what his role will be, Despaigne took the roster spot of right-hander Vance Worley, who is on the disabled list. … The Oakland A’s are using the disabled list for a 16th time in 10 weeks with left-hander Sean Manaea headed to the DL. Manaea came out of Monday’s game against the Texas Rangers feeling discomfort in his left forearm.