Maddon changes tone on Russell issue
Whether someone offered PR advice to Joe Maddon after an awkward exchange during his weekly radio appearance Tuesday, the Cubs’ manager said Wednesday he finally had read the emotionally charged blog that re-ignited baseball’s domestic-violence investigation into Addison Russell.
“My stance has not changed,” said Maddon, after a new report circulated that Russell’s ex-wife, who published the blog last week, had been interviewed by league investigators, which is part of “additional credible information,” cited in the report by The Athletic.
The blog post outlined emotional, verbal and physical abuse by Russell, including physical abuse in front of their son.
“Domestic violence is horrible, absolutely it is,” Maddon added. “By reading that, you feel her pain, absolutely. But in the end, there’s nothing that I’m able to do. This is in the hands of MLB and the players’ union, period.
“That was my initial stance, and that is my stance.”
Russell has been on paid administrative leave since Friday and is expected to have that seven-day leave extended. It’s doubtful he will play another game for the Cubs.
“It’s horrible to think what that lady’s gone through, absolutely,” Maddon said, “but I don’t know enough about the other side. So I’m waiting for the full report to come out, and then we can all draw conclusions at that point.”
Maddon has said since Friday he has not reached out to Russell since the latest action. But he said Russell texted him Tuesday.
“He just wanted to encourage us to play well. That was the gist of the text,” Maddon said. “‘Good luck, I’m with you guys,’ that kind of stuff.”
Another Bartman?
Twitter was buzzing in the late innings of the Cubs’ 10-inning victory about another fan becoming part of the action, a la Steve Bartman in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series.
With one out, a runner on first and the Cubs leading 6-4 in the ninth, the Pirates’ Francisco Cervelli hit a foul pop-up that drifted into the seats. Rizzo reached over the wall and around the protective screen to make the catch, and the ball was partly in his glove. But a fan in the front row made the grab, practically taking the ball away from Rizzo. Realizing he didn’t catch it, Rizzo pounded his fist into his glove.
Cervelli then doubled, putting runners on second and third. After Adam Frazier popped out to
Javy Baez, Starling Marte doubled with two strikes to tie the score.
First-base umpire Jim Wolf initially signaled an out before realizing Rizzo didn’t have the ball. Because the ball was on the fans’ side of the railing, the faninterference rule was not in play.
“I thought I caught it. It’s just one of those weird plays,” said Rizzo, appearing sensitive to singling out a fan when asked if the ball was taken from him. “I don’t know. It was a big win for this team. That’s all I’m really worried about, is getting this win and coming back after giving up a lead there.”
Bryant sits
Third baseman Kris Bryant was out of the lineup a day after being hit on the left wrist by a pitch.
He’s expected to be a game-by-game decision for the rest of the regular season.