Brenly taking voluntary leave after comment

Arizona Diamondbacks television analyst Bob Brenly said on Thursday that he will take a voluntary leave of absence from Bally Sports Arizona while he takes sensitivity training following his comment earlier this week about Marcus Stroman, which the New York Mets pitcher said had “racist undertones.”

“I want to apologize again for my insensitive reference on Wednesday, as it does not reflect my values or who I am,” Brenly said as part of a statement given to multiple media outlets. “Beginning today, I have voluntarily decided to take some time off to listen, reflect and devote my attention to awareness training related to diversity and inclusion to enhance my understanding and appreciation of others. I plan to return to the booth next homestand, hopefully a better person.”

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Brenly sorry for ‘insensitive’ Stroman comment
The Diamondbacks’ next home game is June 11 vs. the Los Angeles Angels.

Brenly made what he later called an “insensitive” comment during Tuesday’s broadcast about the head covering worn by Stroman, who is Black and has been outspoken on issues concerning race and social justice.

“Pretty sure that’s the same do-rag that Tom Seaver used to wear when he pitched for the Mets,” Brenly said during the telecast. After the game, Stroman tweeted, “Onward and upward…through all adversity and racist undertones. The climb continues through all!”

Brenly issued an apology via social media on Wednesday, saying “I made a poor attempt at humor that was insensitive and wrong.”

Diamondbacks pitcher Jon Duplantier, who also is Black, said he found Brenly’s comment about Stroman disappointing.

“The most disappointing part is that, though there has been a ton of progress and work done so that I, Marcus and other guys that look like me can show up as authentically as ourselves and be ourselves in a big stage, comments like the one that was made, they put us back,” Duplantier said after Arizona’s loss Thursday night in Milwaukee. “They put that progress back.

“And the youth, the future ballplayers that are coming up, that are watching Diamondbacks games, that are watching Mets games, that are watching MLB games in general, by hearing that comment, potentially look at baseball and think they can’t be themselves. And that hurts.”

Former Chicago Cubs player Aramis Ramirez told The Athletic in a story published Thursday that he felt Brenly was unfair to Latin players when he was with the Cubs as a broadcaster and “should be fired right now.”

“With respect to Aramis Ramirez, Starlin Castro, Geovany Soto and all of the players who I have covered over the years, I have the utmost respect for their life stories, their talents and their careers,” Brenly said in the statement to The Athletic. “Having played the game and managed for many years, I understand how hard it is to play so successfully for such a long time. My job for many years has been to talk about baseball and I have had thousands of opportunities to both applaud and analyze performances and was privileged to witness the career of players like Aramis Ramirez.

“My job is to describe Major League Baseball and to call it the way I see it — the good and the bad. I have always tried to do so in an honest, unbiased way, regardless of a player’s background or race. I am sorry that my work offended Aramis, as I think of him as one of the most successful players of his generation.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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