Betts: Baseball didn't do good job with response to Floyd

Mookie Betts wasn’t moved by Major League Baseball’s response in wake of George Floyd’s death in police custody, and Los Angeles Dodgers’ newest star has a goal of getting Black community to love baseball as much as he does.

MLB released a statement nine days after death of Floyd, Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes on May 25. MLB was last of major pro sports leagues that eir responded to Floyd's death or condemned racism.

“I think baseball did t do a good job with that, but voices were heard,” Betts said Monday on a video conference call with reporters. “That’s main thing, that we get our voices heard to make some changes. I kw it’s t all going to be at one time, but a little change here, a change re, we’ll eventually get to where we need to be.”

Betts said his goal of bringing baseball into Black communities is “more of a personal thing.”

percent of Blacks in big league baseball remains low and some think sport has an im problem because it's too boring.

Betts, 2018 AL Most Valuable Player with Boston, is one of game's biggest stars, but his national profile lags behind that of or sports stars who juggle multiple high-profile endorsements.

“Obviously, MLB can help,” Betts said, “but I think it’s on us, as in Black players, and kind of make baseball cool because I think that’s where disconnect is. Us, as Black people, don’t think it’s that much fun so we have to find a way to make it fun for Black community and get more guys here.”

Dodgers manr Dave Roberts said team held a video conference call to discuss issues surrounding Black Lives Matter movement and social injustice.

“Guys asked questions, guys gave thoughts and opinions, and it was very well received,” said Roberts, son of a Japanese mor and Black far. “I just don't want us to lose traction, momentum, conversations that we've had over last month. That's something that any person of color I think would agree with me, that it just can't be a footte.”

Roberts said he'd like to see more Blacks hired throughout baseball.

“To have people that look like you around you, sharing , having those conversations daily certainly will move needle ahead,” he said. “That's my goal.”

TES: Dodgers added right-handers A.J. Ramos and Clayton Beeter to ir 60-man player pool. Ramos missed last season and part of 2018 due to labrum surgery. Before getting hurt in 2018, 33-year-old was 2-2 with a 6.41 ERA and 22 strikeouts for Mets. Beeter was taken 66th overall in this year's amateur draft. 21-year-old out of Texas Tech made four college starts this season, allowing five runs over 21 innings with 33 strikeouts and four walks.

Im credits: AP