April 28--BALTIMORE, Md. -- All of the TVs in the White Sox visiting clubhouse at Camden Yards on Monday afternoon were tuned to news reports of unrest in the streets of Baltimore.
Players and coaches took turns staring at the footage of violent clashes between demonstrators and police a few miles from the ballpark where they were supposed to begin a three-game series against the Orioles.
Instead, after Major League Baseball and the Orioles consulted with local officials, the game was postponed due to safety concerns. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who was on a previously scheduled visit to meet with Orioles and Sox players at Camden Yards, made the announcement.
He said they are considering all of their options as to when and where the series might be played. Playing the games elsewhere is a possibility, he said.
"We feel like we made the decision that would provide us the greatest possible security, in terms of protecting the fans, the players, the umpires, everybody involved," Manfred said. "We're looking at every possible alternative in terms of completing the schedule in a timely way and making sure the games are played in a secured situation that's safe for the fans. We're going to look at every alternative."
Baltimore initiated a citywide curfew from 10 p.m.-5 a.m., so the games, which were all scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. local time, could be moved to earlier in the day or be switched to another set of dates. Manfred said the games also could be played elsewhere. The Nationals, who play about 40 miles away, are out of town this week.
Sox general manager Rick Hahn supported the decision not to play the game and said the club is "flexible" as to how the games will be made up.
"The most important thing is the safety of the fans and players so we're going to do whatever it takes to come up with the best and safest solution," Hahn said.
"We've been talking about this since the middle of the afternoon that there was the chance this could happen tonight, and if it did there certainly are far greater priorities than playing one baseball game."
Sox center fielder Adam Eaton was among the many Sox players who dressed and left the ballpark together shortly after the announcement was made. He said the team was being escorted from the ballpark, where officials also suggested media leave quickly.
Eaton, who had family in town for the game, said it was hard to keep his mind off the protests while preparing for the game.
"It's a little scary," Eaton said. "You never want anything to happen to anybody attending a baseball game, on the playing field or anybody involved or in the city. We don't really want to tangle with that or put anybody in danger, so I think it's the best from everyone's perspective to cancel the game and hopefully the police officers and officials can get the situation under control."
About four hours before the game, police had already started to gather outside of the ballpark, but the surrounding area was otherwise quiet except for a few autograph seekers. Helicopters could be seen circling the downtown area while the Sox and Orioles took batting practice later in the evening.
During Saturday's Orioles game against the Red Sox, the crowd was asked to remain in the stadium during the ninth inning because violence broke out in the streets surrounding Camden Yards.
Demonstrators have taken to the streets to protest the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died after suffering a spinal cord injury while in police custody earlier this month. His funeral was held in Baltimore on Monday.
