Should the Red Sox have played on Wednesday?

Three games in Major League Baseball were not played Wednesday night.

Rain used to be the primary cause for postponement. This dreadful year has added team-wide outbreaks of COVID-19 to the list.

Reds-Brewers, Mariners-Padres and Dodgers-Giants were called off for something altogether different. Protests resulting from the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin have provided the latest American flashpoint in a sad chapter of our history that seems to have no end. [...]

Three games in Major League Baseball were not played Wednesday night.

Rain used to be the primary cause for postponement. This dreadful year has added team-wide outbreaks of COVID-19 to the list.

Reds-Brewers, Mariners-Padres and Dodgers-Giants were called off for something altogether different. Protests resulting from the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin have provided the latest American flashpoint in a sad chapter of our history that seems to have no end.

Discussions concerning systemic racism and social injustice remain at the forefront. Major League Baseball, the NBA, the WNBA and MLS all saw games go unplayed, with the Milwaukee Bucks stopping their playoff series against the Orlando Magic for at least 24 hours. Their home city is about 40 miles from Kenosha, which was entering its fourth night of unrest following the seven shots fired into Blake’s back.

The Red Sox were about to take the field in Buffalo for their game with the Blue Jays when they received word on Milwaukee-Cincinnati. Boston senior manager of media relations Justin Long informed manager Ron Roenicke of the decision. Red Sox players hadn’t formally discussed not playing and were closing in on their 6:37 p.m. first pitch.

"I didn’t really know anything else that was going on other than the one game that was postponed," Roenicke said. "I didn’t know if there was more or not."

Boston never entertained serious thoughts about pulling out of its 9-1 loss to Toronto. But this most recent groundswell has prompted more discussions between Roenicke, his players and his coaching staff. He sought counsel from first-base coach Tom Goodwin and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. prior to Wednesday’s game.

"I still felt like I wanted to be there for my team," Bradley said. "I’m not saying they wouldn’t have supported me – I’m sure they would have supported me wholeheartedly. I obviously think about it."

Jason Heyward, Dexter Fowler and Jack Flaherty were among players who asked to be removed from their respective lineups elsewhere. Mookie Betts told Los Angeles he would not play. Dave Roberts told the club he would not manage.

"Full support of it," Bradley said. "Obviously things are going to hit a lot closer location-wise. Obviously it hits a lot closer African-American-wise as well.

"There are feelings. There are a lot of things that go on and a lot of things that you think about."

Bradley, as he has done since Summer Camp, took on the postgame role of team spokesman. He called for a change of heart among fellow citizens during his first extended media remarks in July. He maintained a request for understanding and action on this occasion.

"I think voices are being heard," Bradley said. "Hopefully changes are being made. We just have to continue to grow, continue to push forward and try to be better as individuals and together as well."

The current Red Sox active roster features 12 players of color. It’s unconscionable that we sit here in 2020 and still need one of them to address matters of race on a regular basis. It’s a societal failure at large that Bradley can’t just be a 30-year-old World Series champion, Gold Glove winner, impending free agent, husband and father breaking down the difficulties of hitting against a young flamethrower like Julian Merryweather.

"I have support," Bradley said. "It’s not difficult for me to address. I am the only Black person on this team, so I kind of feel like it’s my responsibility to address it in certain situations just so people can see what I feel and the things that I think about. I can take it on."

Should he have to? That’s far simpler to determine than whether or not we should be holding sporting events in the midst of a pandemic while attempting to advance meaningful reforms regarding race relations.

No.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @BillKoch25