X

    Mariners vs. Padres Postponed to Protest Jacob Blake Shooting

    Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured ColumnistAugust 26, 2020

    Seattle Mariners' head groundskeeper Bob Christofferson paints on a team logo stencil behind home plate in preparation for the new season Wednesday, April 1, 2015, in Seattle. The Mariners open at home against the Los Angeles Angles Monday, April 6. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
    Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

    The Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres will not play Wednesday's game in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

    Seattle Mariners @Mariners

    https://t.co/wEIAIUX4YF

    San Diego Padres @Padres

    https://t.co/oCYHHdVKqC

    According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Mariners voted not to play. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune noted Padres manager Jayce Tingler and members of the National League West team's front office "huddled" during batting practice while a small group of players met with the Mariners.

    Mariners staff members removed the equipment from the field.

    A number of Seattle players took to social media to speak on the matter:

    Dee Gordon @FlashGJr

    Instead of watching us, we hope people will focus on the things more important than sports that are happening. - Dee Strange-Gordon

    Justus Sheffield @Topsheff42

    I love every single one of my guys, so proud to be apart of this group! @Mariners

    Taijuan Walker @tai_walker

    Glad to be apart of this organization and group of people! Thank you for standing with us always!! https://t.co/kPXNJdAeod

    Braden Bishop @bradenbishop7

    This is bigger than any sport. Period. The trauma is deeply rooted. As a white man, I will stand right along side Dee, Shed, Taijuan, Shef, Dunn, JP, CJ, KLew, Mallex, Fletch, Art. https://t.co/G8jlDKOVGd

    Shed Long Jr. @SLONG895

    Enough is enough https://t.co/Rhs0hbLVMN

    This comes after the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds elected not to play Wednesday night's game at Miller Park. Milwaukee is the only Major League Baseball team in the state of Wisconsin, which is where police shot Blake.

    Elsewhere, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward chose to sit out his team's game against the Detroit Tigers but encouraged his teammates to play.

    Baseball players have taken this step after ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowksi reported the Milwaukee Bucks decided to sit out Wednesday's NBA playoff game against the Orlando Magic. The NBA then announced all three playoff games Wednesday were postponed.

    ESPN's Jeff Passan reported a number of baseball teams discussed potentially sitting out after the contest between the Brewers and Reds was called off.

    Mariners vs. Padres Postponed to Protest Jacob Blake Shooting
    Video Play Button
    ✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content Right Arrow Icon

    Eric Levenson, Alisha Ebrahimji and Christina Maxouris of CNN reported on the shooting of Blake, noting police shot him in the back multiple times as he tried to get into an SUV that had his children inside.

    Blake's family said he is paralyzed from the waist down.