CHICAGO Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw has come under fire for missing a game to go to Charlie Kirk’s memorial.
Shaw drew criticism from fans and broadcasters for missing the game.
Shaw was absent for a 1-0 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday that has turned out to be crucial for the team’s playoff seeding.
“I don’t want to talk about any of the politics of it, but the thought of leaving your team in the middle of a race for any reason other than a family emergency, really strikes me as weird,” opposing broadcaster Gary Cohen said.
The third baseman said he was invited to the memorial by Kirk’s wife and that he was given permission to attend the event.
He said that Kirk’s widow, Erika, texted him and asked him to go.
Shaw further said hat he was “not concerned at all” about any backlash.
He said that Kirk lived in the same apartment complex as him in Arizona and that they connected through their faith.
“Whatever backlash comes is OK,” Shaw said.
“I feel strongly in my faith that was meant to be.
“I felt as though it was something that was really important for me to do.”
Kirk was a native of the Chicago are and would text Shaw after Cubs games.
He posed with Shaw for a picture on the Cubs’ dugout in August.
The game that Shaw missed was part of a five-game skid that the Cubs are currently on.
While Chicago already clinched a spot in the postseason, they are at risk of dropping in the seeding.
As things currently stand, the Cubs have home field advantage for the Wild Card round.
However, the Cubs now hold just a 1.5-game advantage over the San Diego Padres for the top Wild Card spot.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/15244918/mlb-rookie-matt-shaw-chicago-cubs-charlie-kirk-memorial/
