Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Gabe Kapler has talked repeatedly about progressive actions following words that ensure those words don’t ring hollow. The Giants manager joined a joint action that nearly literally puts his money where his mouth is.
Kapler announced he will be donating his salary on Jackie Robinson Day to the Players Alliance, a group of more than 100 Black current and ex-players who want to unite their voices to “create change and equality in our game.”
Major League Baseball will be celebrating its first Black player Friday, each uniform bearing No. 42, and the Alliance collectively decided to donate its game checks to the cause, and Kapler did the same.
“We’re moving in the right direction. We’re using our voices and our platforms to create change,” Kapler said before beginning a series in Arizona. “…I think the Players Alliance right now is doing an outstanding job of not just speaking up but making a difference in the community and fighting systemic racism and promoting racial equality. I know a lot of the members of the Players Alliance and trust that the work that they’re doing is going to make a difference, and I just want to be a supportive part of that.”
I’m donating my salary today and supporting The Players Alliance. https://t.co/7hCIJd7vAv
— gabe kapler (@gabekapler) August 28, 2020
Kapler, like all uniformed players and staff, wore a cap that bore “42” on its side.
“There’s a photograph circulating of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson together,” said Kapler, who has been kneeling during the national anthem this season. “I think one of the things that we forget is that athletes historically have also been activists — Muhammad Ali comes to mind. I’ve had some conversations with players recently about Muhammad Ali and the impact he had outside of the ring. Jackie Robinson’s impact outside of the lines just can’t be measured, it’s been so powerful.”
Surprisingly the Giants started recently called-up righty Joey Rickard against Arizona righty Zac Gallen on Friday, Mauricio Dubon sitting for a third straight game and Steven Duggar, a lefty bat, also on the bench.
Rickard, who hits lefties well, has gone 0-for-3 with a walk in the early going of his campaign.
“While he hasn’t had the results that he’s wanted in the first couple of days on the surface, we feel like he’s been making pretty good decisions in the batter’s box,” Kapler said of the 29-year-old. “We just want to see more of him. And we want to give him an opportunity to perform. Sometimes it’s tough when you’re in and out of the lineup, and so we wanted to give him that opportunity.”
They will search for those opportunities for Dubon, who’s been outplayed by Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Crawford, Donovan Solano and Wilmer Flores, his competition at center, shortstop and second, respectively.
“We’re looking for ways to get him back in the lineup, and I had a good chat on the bench early in yesterday’s first game,” Kapler said of Dubon, whom the Giants want to be more selective. “We just talked about some of the improvements that he continues to make, and he’s constantly looking for ways to get better and asking questions about how to do that.”
Drew Smyly (left index finger strain) is scheduled to throw his third bullpen session this weekend. Kapler signaled the Giants will not wait around until he can extend himself before bringing him back.
“When he’s ready and we feel like he’s healthy and he can deliver all of his pitches with the highest level of conviction, we’re going to try to find a way to get him back into the game,” Kapler said of the lefty, who had three solid appearances before going down. “That might come out of the bullpen — that hasn’t been determined yet — but we’re certainly not going to try to build him up to four or five innings before he’s ready to pitch for us.”
Other injury updates from the Giants:
— Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder inflammation) is going to throw his second bullpen session this weekend.
— Reyes Moronta (recovery from right shoulder surgery) can throw live batting practice as early as next week.
— Austin Slater (right elbow flexor strain / mild left groin strain) is in San Francisco and has started his hitting progression. He will not be ready when his 10 days are up Monday.
— Aramis Garcia (right hip labrum repair) “is continuing to ramp up all baseball activity,” the Giants said.