The Baltimore Orioles And Chicago White Sox To Play In An Empty Stadium Wednesday
Baltimore is in the middle of deep civil unrest sparked by the death of Freddie Gray at the hands of the Baltimore Police Department. Gray had his spine severed while being arrested earlier this month and died several days later. Protests had arisen in the aftermath of his death, leading to spurts of violence on Saturday evening that led the Orioles to briefly lock their gates during an extra-inning game against the Boston Red Sox. Orioles Executive Vice President John Angelos defended the protesters after the O’s game, pointing out the various societal and governmental issues at play that cause the powerless to rise up.
Tensions completely boiled over on Monday afternoon after Gray’s funeral as demonstrators took their rage out on police officers gathered in West Baltimore. Numerous officers were injured as protesters, many of them young teenagers, attacked them with bricks, rocks, bottles and other objects. Fires were set to vehicles and buildings while local businesses were ransacked and looted. Eventually, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake put a week-long 10 PM curfew in place and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a state of emergency and mobilized the state’s National Guard.
As for the Orioles, they were also scheduled to play a home series against the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend. That series has been moved to Tampa Bay, and the Orioles will be listed as the home team, batting last and wearing their home uniforms.The empty-stadium game in Baltimore Wednesday will be record-setting in one respect.
Regarding the Orioles’ decision to play a game in front of an empty park,Deadspin’s Barry Petchesky stated that it was a “little baffling.”
The weekend series against the Rays will be played at the Trop, which seems fine and logical (playing in Washington would be another good option). But this empty-stadium game tomorrow is a little baffling. If the game is being moved up to avoid the citywide curfew that begins at 10 p.m., why not just open it to fans? If city officials are afraid of making downtown a target, what’s the point of stocking it with National Guardsmen? If they’re gonna do this, why not make it a doubleheader and knock out at least one of the games that’ve been postponed?
One thing is for certain, though. The broadcast of the game will be both captivating and eerie.
Source: Politicususa.com
