Photo:Elsa/Getty; Cole Burston/Getty
Elsa/Getty; Cole Burston/Getty
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins is speaking out about cutting Anthony Bass, the team’s relief pitcher who drew widespread criticismafter he reposted an anti-LGBTQ videoon Instagram.The Blue Jays designated Bass for assignment Friday, hours before he was scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch as part of the Toronto Blue Jays' celebration of Pride Weekend.
“Like any decision, we’re focused on building the best possible team,’’ Atkins, 49, said to the media,according to theToronto Sun. “There are a lot of variables. Like anything, there are times when things get momentum and become a distraction in our clubhouse, and that was a variable.”
Bass apologized in the days after he reposted the video, and last week, did so again — but told reporters last Thursday, before the team’s final game in a series at Houston, that he nonetheless believed “the video reflected my [Christian] beliefs.”
Mark Blinch/Getty
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Bass went on to say that he had a “productive meeting” with Sherwin Modeste, the executive director of Pride Toronto, and apologized for “not being sensitive to obviously what that community goes through.”
Atkins’ decision to release Bass came days after he initially said the pitcher would not be disciplined, claiming Bass had been apologetic and “accountable” for his actions.
source: people.com
