NESN apologizes for Jerry Remy’s comments about translators

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Yesterday, for reasons that are only clear to him, Red Sox commentator Jerry Remy opined on the air that players who do not speak English should not be allowed to have translators on the field for mound visits. To the extent Remy explained his comments, it was to say that these players, such as Masahiro Tanaka, who inspired the comments, should “learn baseball language.”

Remy didn’t have some strategic reason for why players should not have translators. He did not identify any unfair advantage this may provide someone like Tanaka. It mostly amounted to an opinion that players should speak English. Which, given that translators are increasingly common and provided for via the Collective Bargaining Agreement, is not consistent with Major League Baseball’s views.

Remy’s opinion was likewise not consistent with his employer’s views. NESN just released this statement:

 

Between this and the Mike Schmidt nonsense, it may be a good idea for ballplayers who have been retired for 30 years to stop offering unsolicited comments about what language current players speak and why it matters.

MLB homer leader Pete Alonso to IL with bone bruise, sprain in wrist

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PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets will have to dig out of an early-season hole without star first baseman Pete Alonso.

The leading home run hitter in the majors will miss three-to-four weeks with a bone bruise and a sprain in his left wrist.

The Mets placed Alonso on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 8. Alonso was hit in the wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of a 7-5 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Alonso traveled to New York for testing on Thursday. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the Mets will be missing one of the premier power hitters in the game as they try to work their way back into contention in the NL East.

“We got better news than it could have been,” New York manager Buck Showalter said. “So we take that as a positive. It could have been worse.”

New York had lost six straight heading into a three-game series at Pittsburgh that began Friday. Mark Canha started at first for the Mets in the opener. Mark Vientos could also be an option, though Showalter said the coaching staff may have to use its “imagination” in thinking of ways to get by without Alonso.

“I’m not going to say someone has to step up and all that stuff,” Showalter said. “You’ve just got to be who you are.”

Even with Alonso in the lineup, the Mets have struggled to score consistently. New York is 16th in the majors in runs scored.

The team also said Friday that reliever Edwin Uceta had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Uceta initially went on the IL in April with what the team called a sprained left ankle. He is expected to be out for at least an additional eight weeks.

New York recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and left-handed reliever Zach Muckenhirn from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets sent catcher Tomás Nido to Triple-A and designated reliever Stephen Nogosek for assignment.

Nogosek is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 games this season.