Protests ‘shock’ Parker
A week has passed since white supremacists and their opponents clashed in Charlottesville, Va., on a day that ended with the death of one counterprotester mowed down by a car and two police officers whose helicopter crashed.
Giants outfielder Jarrett Parker, a University of Virginia alum, remains flabbergasted that it happened in what he described as a very tolerant community.
“It was a huge shock for me,” said Parker, who also was born and raised in Virginia.
Asked if he remembered Charlottesville as welcoming environment, Parker said, “Oh, goodness. Of course. The whole thing is pretty shocking and absurd to me.”
Parker was referring to the racial intolerance espoused by white supremacists at the rally.
“I just think in this day and age it’s ridiculous that there’s
still stuff like this going on,” he said.
“I don’t think Charlottesville can be in any way described as a place where that’s acceptable or goes on in any way. I still have a (former Virginia) teammate who lives there, and my college coaches. I’m sure they’re just as shocked as anybody.”
More Parker: Earlier this week, manager Bruce Bochy said next spring training will feature a lot of competition for starting jobs. On Saturday, he suggested Parker could come to camp with a leg up.
Asked if any of the younger players could win a 2018 job with their performance now, Bochy said. “Parker is one of those guys. He’s not a young guy. He’s been around a little bit. He went into this season as the starting left fielder. These last few weeks are pretty important weeks for him.”
Parker rebounded from a tough trip with three doubles in the first two games of the Phillies series. The 28-year-old entered Saturday’s game hitting .315 with an .858 OPS, eight doubles, a homer and 16 strikeouts in 54 at-bats since he returned from a broken clavicle.
Briefly: Right-hander Johnny Cueto, recovering from an elbow issue, will throw 50 to 60 pitches in Sacramento on Monday in the first of likely two rehab starts. That timetable would get Cueto back to the majors around Sept. 1, when rosters can expand. … First baseman Brandon Belt and second baseman Joe Panik, both on the concussion DL, reported feeling better and are doing light cardio work. Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.