Blue Jays' confounding Anthony Bass saga comes to inevitable conclusion
CBC
One has to wonder who conceived the Toronto Blue Jays' bungling attempt to rehabilitate the image of the team's mediocre middle reliever Anthony Bass.
The team finally abandoned that effort Friday afternoon, just hours before the 35-year-old right-hander was slated to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQ activist leZlie lee Kam as part of the team's annual Pride celebration. Bass was designated for assignment, effectively ending his tenure with the team.
To many beyond the hallways of Blue Jays management, it was an inevitable end to a confounding saga that has dragged on for nearly two weeks.
Bass has spent that time apologizing and at the same time justifying a story he shared on his Instagram on May 29 that urged people of Christian faith to boycott Target and Bud Light because of those companies' support of LGBTQ rights.
WATCH | 'Distraction' of Bass saga a factor in parting ways:
Both Budweiser and Target have faced backlash from many conservative circles — Target for its sale of Pride-themed merchandise and Budweiser for its marketing partnership with transgender personality Dylan Mulvaney.
Instead of disciplining or holding Bass accountable for his actions, which caused great upset in the city's LGBTQ community, the team appeared to rally around Bass.
The team even brought in Sherwin Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto, to meet with Bass.
But if Bass's recent appearances at home are any indication, few were willing to forgive the embattled pitcher. Fans at the Rogers Centre crowd roundly booed him and many wondered on social media why Bass was still wearing a Blue Jays uniform.
WATCH | Bass apologizes for Instagram post:
Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada, one the country's leading advocates for LGBTQ rights, said the team's handling of this incident has been confusing and insulting.
"I'm offended I think, and I think the community is offended," Kennedy told CBC Sports just prior to the news of Bass's release. "There has to be a consequence. You can't do what he did and say what he said and just apologize and everything's going to be OK.
"It takes a lifetime of learning to change these views. It's not a quick fix. And anybody who thinks it is is just fooling themselves."
The Blue Jays have dealt with these types of situations before, handling them quite differently. In recent years, the team suspended popular outfielder Kevin Pillar and shortstop Yunel Escobar for using anti-gay slurs.
