:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67301038/1257494538.jpg.0.jpg)
The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to play a game Wednesday night at 6:45 p.m. But just a few hours before first pitch, it’s unclear whether the game will take place.
To protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, manager Gabe Kapler said that the Giants “continue to have conversations” about playing the second game of the series.
Kapler said Giants will "continue to have conversations around this topic" when asked about Giants playing tonight. Said decisions like this have be made collectively by players and staff.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 26, 2020
Gabe Kapler opened his media session today with a long statement about what's going on around the country. Here's what he said: https://t.co/0PmOvB5jHc pic.twitter.com/GxBAyOyyD7
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 26, 2020
Reporters showed the Giants having some of those conversations before the game, and then both teams clearing the field.
Giants players and staffers meeting during batting practice just now: pic.twitter.com/qimNNlaHxn
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 26, 2020
Farhan Zaidi, Scott Harris and Gabe Kapler just had a long meeting with veteran Tony Watson. Now Giants and Dodgers coming off the field.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) August 26, 2020
A few minutes ago #SFGiants players and coaches had a meeting on the field. After going back to stretching for a few minutes, everyone has left the field (including Dodgers players and everyone in the bullpens carrying their gear). Field now completely empty.
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) August 26, 2020
Earlier on Wednesday, the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks were set to play the Orlando Magic in a playoff game, but never took the floor. Shortly before the scheduled tip-off, the Magic vacated the floor as well. The other four NBA teams slated to play later in the day — the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers — all decided not to play as well.
Shortly after those protests, the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds decided not to play their game as well.
The Reds have agreed not to play as well. No forfeit situation. Both teams have agreed to sit out tonight’s game. https://t.co/BZJAg8GujJ
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) August 26, 2020
And then the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.
The Mariners have voted to not play tonight.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) August 26, 2020
Austin Hedges, Tommy Pham and Manny Machado just met with Kyle Seager, Shed Long and Marco Gonzales.
All six WNBA teams that were scheduled to play on Wednesday — the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, Connecticut Sun, and Phoenix Mercury — opted to protest as well.
All four teams at the Wubble courts right now are linking arms and kneeling. There will be no WNBA games tonight. Tonight’s Dream-Mystics game was scheduled to air on ESPN2 tonight at 7, a big platform for the players to read their statement. Labor solidarity with other athletes.
— Britni de la Cretaz (@britnidlc) August 26, 2020
There’s no single correct way to protest. If the Giants and Dodgers decide to play, hopefully they use it as a chance to use their enormous platforms to spread awareness and encourage action.
And if they choose not to play ... well, that would be a pretty strong and important showing. This is, of course, far, far, far more important than baseball, and a stand needs to be taken. Kapler said in his Wednesday statement that they are going to “look for ways to use our platform individually and as an organization to promote meaningful change and to combat inequality and injustice.”
That’s what’s important right now.