The Los Angeles Dodgers have been urged to use their upcoming White House visit not just as a ceremonial event, but as an opportunity to publicly defend their city against what is described as President Trump's "deportation deluge" and other critical actions. The commentary argues that the team, which has a long history of social progressiveness, is failing to uphold its tradition by not speaking out against policies perceived as harmful to Los Angeles and its diverse communities.
The author draws an analogy to baseball strategy, suggesting that ignoring perceived intimidation tactics from the President is akin to a batter allowing a pitcher to dominate them. The piece criticizes the Dodgers' planned visit as a mere "photo op" for President Trump, contrasting it with the team's historical legacy of pioneers like Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax, who represented a more morally courageous approach that transcended the sport.
Manager Dave Roberts' stated intention to avoid political statements, as quoted by the Times, is juxtaposed with the team's history of breaking segregation barriers. The commentary notes that while many Dodgers fans are critical of Trump's policies, they often express frustration with the team's perceived inaction, believing that defending Los Angeles against targeted criticism is not a political act but a defense of the city's values.
The article highlights the limited number of players, Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández, who have publicly indicated they will not attend the White House event. Hernández's previous strong stance against immigration raids and Betts's stated reason of spending time with his newborn are discussed, along with Betts's comments suggesting athletes should not be seen as political figures. The piece also references past instances of Dodgers figures, including Jackie Robinson and others, taking political stances, sometimes of a conservative nature.
Furthermore, the commentary points to actions by Dodgers management and owner Mark Walter, such as preventing ICE agents from entering Dodger Stadium and donating to immigration aid nonprofits, as evidence that the organization understands the controversial nature of current immigration policies. However, it expresses dismay that despite these actions and Walter's divestment from companies involved in immigrant detention, the team is still proceeding with the White House visit.
The piece concludes by imploring the Dodgers players to use their platform during the visit to affirm the positive attributes of Los Angeles and to challenge President Trump's policies. It suggests that a simple message from a player stating that "multicultural, immigrant, Dodgers-blue Los Angeles is all right" would be a meaningful stand.
