Twins Video
"As long as our players are empowered and able to speak their minds, then we're doing something right." Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins Manager
Rocco Baldelli said that his team has had several meaningful discussions over the past 24 hours about what is going on in the country. There have been individual conversations, discussions in small groups and later in the day, the group assembled.
One player stood up first, and said, "I don't think we should play today."
Baldelli said that player was Taylor Rogers. He was followed by Nelson Cruz and Trevor May in voicing their similar thoughts to the team.
The manager said, "It was a very powerful gathering. The players were in solidarity in the decision. We ultimately formally raised our hands and unanimously voted not to play out of respect for all. I'm very proud of the way it was handled by our group, respectfully and thoroughly."
Baldelli said that he had several discussions with Tigers manager (and former Twins manager) Ron Gardenhire before this and that the Tigers also held emotion-filled meetings and voted the same way.
2020 has been a difficult year on so many fronts. Baldelli continues to lead by encouraging and facilitates open communications,
"This goes back to when we were all home and the only thing we could do was meet on Zoom calls and we would talk. We talked about a lot of things that we've never gotten into, a lot of topics that we've literally never broached in baseball. In my 20 years of baseball, I've never seen any of these types of discussions live and in person. We've had more discussions about inequality and how people are feeling and how it's affecting them at the field, away from the field, how it affects loved ones, and so many aspects of this that have long been something that people have kept to themselves, and that's not healthy."
Baldelli noted that the focus so much has been about what is happening today, but he also understands that the important discussion also has to be What is Next?
"How this affects tomorrow exactly, I don't know if anyone can answer that question. I think it's something that a lot off people are thinking about. I know that I don't have the answer for that. I just know that what we decided to do today was most definitely the right thing to do for our group, and we feel very good leaving the ballpark today about the way it was handled and the message it sends to everyone inside our clubhouse and outside our clubhouse."
He continued, "I think that the impact of what has been going on it sports is going to be felt throughout... If it wasn't meaningful. If it wasn't something that we thought was sending not only the right message but something that can push us toward getting more of the result of what people are looking for, which is the acknowledgement of all the different inequalities that continue to exist in our country and not ignoring these things."
The Twins have a lot of players from all around the world, some of whom don't know the country's history or follow current events. Baldelli said that's OK, but they do have a very key role on the team.
"What they are responsible for is to always been there for their teammates, and to always be willing to listen to their teammates. That is something we have been very very able to do from the beginning of this that has allowed us to get to this point to allow us to have the discussions we had today."
He continued by saying something that should resonate with all of us, "And if you have an open ear and an open heart for the people around you, you're going to be in good shape, and that's what our guys have done."
Baldelli added, "I'm actually really happy that I'm in baseball right now, to be experiencing everything that's going on. Baseball is a wonderful game. We all love showing up at the ballpark every day. We all love being able to focus on our jobs. We all love being able to step out there on the field and be out there on the grass watching guys do great things on the field. But I'm also really happy to be spending this moment with our group, going through everything that we're going through, experiencing it all, and feeling like we are doing something very positive, not just for baseball but for the country and for all people.
On Friday, the Twins will be back on the field for two games.
https://twitter.com/morsecode/status/1299100858257477632
Press release from the Twins::
“The Minnesota Twins remain committed to using our platforms to push for racial justice and equality. Therefore, we fully respect our players for their decision to not play tonight’s game versus the Detroit Tigers. The recent shooting of Jacob Blake, a mere three months after the killing of George Floyd, shows again that real change is necessary and far overdue in our country, and it is our responsibility to continue playing a role in efforts to affect meaningful reform. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and, as full partners with others in the Twin Cities and beyond, we are committed to creating the change we want to see in the world – where everyone is protected, safe and welcome. There is no place for racism, inequality or injustice in our society.”
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