D-backs’ game vs. Rockies postponed in social justice stance

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Thursday game against the Colorado Rockies has been postponed.

“After reflecting and meeting as a group, Rockies players have decided not to play today’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, standing in solidarity with athletes and sports teams against social injustice,” the Rockies announced on Twitter.

The D-backs retweeted it, adding, “We stand with our brothers at the Rockies.”

“This is a moment about being together, about being in unison,” reliever Archie Bradley said. “And that’s what today’s about. It’s about supporting a decision to not play to bring about awareness to issues that we think are going on. … We were prepared to play, but we were also ready to not play as well.”

Bradley said the team had already decided on donating a game check from each player to a group that they all agreed on. They hadn’t made a final decision on what the organization receiving the donation would be. The D-backs also plan to wear black jerseys for the rest of the homestand.

The postponement follows other teams across the sports world that have done the same. The Brewers were the first MLB team to decide not to take the field as a protest over the shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the team’s home state of Wisconsin. Other MLB games had finished, were in progress or just about to start as the Brewers’ decision was announced.

“We talked about it. What message does not playing send? Is that the right thing to do? To play, or not to play? But ultimately, it was a joint decision,” Bradley said. “It was an emotional talk. There was a lot of things brought up today between both sides that, as I said earlier, I think are tough conversations. They’re awkward. They’re uncomfortable.

“But they’re pushing the needle in the right direction and causing people to have to open their minds and be aware of what’s going on. Ultimately, it’s the thing that sports are not bigger than what’s going on.”

The Milwaukee Bucks kicked off the movement on Wednesday night when they boycotted their playoff game against the Orlando Magic. Eventually, the NBA slate of games on Wednesday was postponed. Thursday’s NBA games were also not going to be played as scheduled, although players voted to continue the season at some point.

Also postponed on Thursday: Oakland at Texas, Philadelphia at Washington, Minnesota at Detroit, Baltimore at Tampa Bay and Boston at the Blue Jays in Buffalo, New York.

Three games that weren’t played Wednesday were set to be made up as part of doubleheaders on Thursday. Those games will be between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.

The Diamondbacks’ Thursday game was the final of a four-game series against the Rockies at Chase Field. A three-game home series against the Giants is scheduled to start Friday. Arizona has Monday off, but the Rockies will be in Denver that day to play the Padres.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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