Cora (second from the right) has criticized President Trump over his response to Hurricane MariaGETTY IMAGES
Red Sox manager Alex Cora "clearly didn't appreciate the implication that the team was fractured" before their visit to the White House today, according to John Tomase of NBC SPORTS BOSTON. Cora said, "There's been a lot of talk about what's going on tomorrow, the clubhouse being divided, race, politics, whatever. Those kids went out there and they played their heart out." Red Sox P Heath Hembree, who struck out the side in the 12th to preserve a 2-1 victory over the Orioles last night, is an "outspoken supporter of President Trump, a fact clearly not lost on Cora." Cora: "They're celebrating Heath because of the first save, they're celebrating [CF Jackie Bradley Jr.], and now, we go. There's a group that's going home, and there's a group going to the White House. And on Friday, we ... get back to playing baseball" (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 5/9). Hembree said, “As far as in the clubhouse and playing baseball, we are as united as we can be" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/7).
RIGHT TO DECIDE: In Boston, Peter Abraham writes, "Nobody should be surprised that the team is divided when it comes to visiting the White House." But as much as some "outsiders" want to turn players' decisions whether to attend into a "referendum of something bigger like patriotism, respect or duty, it’s not." It is a "choice they’re free to make." Red Sox C Christian Vazquez, who will not be going, said, “We all had a decision to make. We all play baseball, but we don’t all think the same way.” P Brian Johnson, who is going, was "worried at first that the issue would strain relationships," but that "didn’t happen." He said, "It's really not something that comes up very often. Only when we’re asked about it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/9). The AP's Jonathan Lemire notes those around the Red Sox clubhouse "stressed that a player’s decision to attend was a personal choice and not, in many cases, political." Hembree: “Politically, it didn’t matter who was in the White House. If I have an opportunity to go to the White House and meet the president, I’m going to go" (AP, 5/9).
SPLIT DECISION: In DC, Dave Sheinin wrote under the header, "The Racial Divide In The Red Sox' Visit To Trump's White House Is Impossible To Ignore" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/7). THE ATLANTIC's Jemele Hill wrote, "Forcing people -- including championship athletes -- to disregard how hurtful [Trump's] actions can be is disrespectful to those he has hurt." Cora "can’t laugh and shake hands with the president knowing that 3,000 people in Puerto Rico -- a U.S. territory -- perished as a result of Hurricane Maria" (THEATLANTIC.com, 5/7). In Boston, Michael Graham wrote Cora's decision is a "no-class move that puts his feelings ahead of the team, the uniform and the fans" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/7).
