HOUSTON — Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. said he and his family received threats on social media following his poor outing during Saturday’s 13-9 loss against the Cincinnati Reds.
An Astros spokesman said the team notified both the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball security about the threats toward McCullers, a 31-year-old right-hander who made his second start of the season on Saturday.
Advertisement
“It’s been a tough evening,” McCullers said. “I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with.”
Astros manager Joe Espada began his postgame news conference with an impassioned opening statement in which he revealed the threats.
“I just left my office and it’s very unfortunate that there are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance,” said Espada, who at one point slammed the dais in anger.
“It’s very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he’s done for this city, this team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office, I got kids too. It really drives me nuts. It’s very sad. Very, very sad.”
Asked whether the threats arrived via social media, McCullers responded, “Yeah, of course.” McCullers, a father of two young daughters, needed a moment to compose himself while describing the evening’s toll.
“I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public, they’re going to stab my kids to death, it’s tough to hear as a dad,” McCullers said.
McCullers faced eight batters, allowed seven runs and recorded one out. He returned to the Astros’ rotation last week after a 915-day absence due to flexor tendon surgery and a slew of subsequent setbacks.
McCullers threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his season debut against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday but battled his command and inefficiency throughout the outing.
Those problems persisted on Saturday during a 36-pitch appearance that prompted some questions about McCullers’ viability within the Astros’ rotation. Espada said McCullers will make his next turn in the Astros’ rotation “unless he’s not feeling well.”
Advertisement
“Listen, he hasn’t pitched in two and a half years,” Espada said. “Two and a half years. We have to give (him) some time. Two and a half years, hasn’t pitched. It’s going to take a little bit of time to get him going.”
“S—, (threats) can’t happen. I’m just really upset that this happens to athletes. We’re trying our best. Everybody’s trying our best. The fact that I have to go in my office and deal with this, come on. We’re better than this.”
McCullers acknowledged there have been “many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly” about other happenings in the baseball world.
Though McCullers did not specify which events, he is one of two remaining members of the Astros’ 2017 World Series team that illegally stole signs en route to the title. At the time, players revealed threats made over social media.
“You fail on a very large stage. A lot of eyes and there’s nowhere to hide,” McCullers said. “At the end of the day, I just want to do my job and be a good pitcher for the Astros. I believe I will get there. Having to worry about that, having to worry about leaving town and leaving them and things like that or dropping her off at school, there should be some type of decency.”
(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Rangers’ Josh Jung hits 2-run HR for mom while facing brother Jace on Mother’s Day
<!--> Josh Jung delivered a special Mother's Day gift to his mom, Mary. The Texas Rangers third baseman hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning of a 6-1 win over Detroit on Sunday. Jung's brother, Jace, was in the Tigers' lineup at the same position. Before the game, Mary Jung delivered the game ball to the mound and her sons joined her on the field."My heart is just exploding. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better Mother’s Day gift," Mary Jung said in an interview on the Rangers’ telecast. "We’re all in the same place, to begin with. But then to watch them live their dream, do what they love to do, I couldn’t be more proud."ADVERTISEMENT -->According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first home run by a player facing his brother's team on Mother’s […]
Vinícius Júnior acerta renovação de seu contrato com o Real Madrid até 2030, segundo jornal espanhol
O futuro de Vinícius Júnior deverá ser ainda mais ligado ao Real Madrid, Uma informação do jornal espanhol As indica que o atacante brasileiro está acertando sua renovação de contrato com o clube, com o novo acordo sendo válido até 2030. Salário milionário As informações da publicação dão conta de que o futuro vínculo do brasileiro lhe renderá muito financeiramente. Estima-se que, anualmente, os salários do brasileiro serão de 20 milhões de euros (R$ 127 milhões) líquidos por temporada. Ao todo, o atacante deverá embolsar algo em torno de 100 milhões de euros (R$ 636 milhões) na duração do contrato. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE E também haverá diversas provisões que poderão render ainda mais para Vinícius Júnior. Conquistas de títulos, prêmios individuais (no caso, o Fifa The Best ou a Bola de Ouro) e número de gols acrescentarão bônus ao valor ao […]
Josh and Jace Jung square off in rare, emotional Mother’s Day matchup with mom watching: ‘My heart is just exploding’
Mary Jung had perhaps the best Mother’s Day an MLB mom could have asked for.She got to watch her two sons play each other, and throw out the first pitch, at Comerica Park on Sunday afternoon in a rare Mother’s Day brothers meeting in Major League Baseball.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMary — who wore a custom half-and-half Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers jersey — threw out the first pitch on Sunday ahead of her son’s, Josh and Jace Jung, matchup in Michigan. Josh and Jace’s dad, Jeff, was also there in the same custom jersey.“I mean my heart is just exploding,” Mary said on the Rangers’ broadcast. “I mean, I couldn't ask for a better mother’s day gift. To watch them — we’re all in the same place, to begin with — but then to watch them live their dream, do what they love […]
Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace on driving for Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing
NASCAR Cup Series Video Details Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace on excitement, pressure, and expectations with driving for Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing. 3 MINS AGO・NASCAR Cup Series・3:00
Fábio Matias não resiste a mais uma goleada e é demitido do comando técnico do Juventude
Antes da derrota deste sábado, o Juventude já havia perdido para o Flamengo por 6 a 0. Na 16ª colocação, com sete pontos conquistados em oito partidas, o time gaúcho tem a pior defesa da Série A com 20 gols sofridos. O saldo é de -13. Além disso, há um jejum de cinco jogos sem vencer, com quatro derrotas e um empate no período.
Taylor Swift, furious after being quoted in Blake Lively’s case with Justin Baldoni, breaks her silence
Taylor Swift has officially broken her silence following a subpoena that drags her into the intensifying legal conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Though she has no direct role in the dispute or the production of the film It Ends With Us, Swift's team has issued a firm statement condemning what they describe as an attempt to exploit her name for media attention.Swift, whose song "My Tears Ricochet" was licensed for the film's soundtrack, is now being asked to provide evidence by Baldoni's legal team. However, her representatives insist this move is baseless and purely for publicity."Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie," a spokesperson said. Tom Cruise has hailed his ex-wife Nicole Kidman as a "great actress""She was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never […]
Related
Rangers’ Josh Jung hits 2-run HR for mom while facing brother Jace on Mother’s Day
<!--> Josh Jung delivered a special Mother's Day gift to his mom, Mary. The Texas Rangers third baseman hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning of a 6-1 win over Detroit on Sunday. Jung's brother, Jace, was in the Tigers' lineup at the same position. Before the game, Mary Jung delivered the game ball to the mound and her sons joined her on the field."My heart is just exploding. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better Mother’s Day gift," Mary Jung said in an interview on the Rangers’ telecast. "We’re all in the same place, to begin with. But then to watch them live their dream, do what they love to do, I couldn’t be more proud."ADVERTISEMENT -->According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first home run by a player facing his brother's team on Mother’s […]
Vinícius Júnior acerta renovação de seu contrato com o Real Madrid até 2030, segundo jornal espanhol
O futuro de Vinícius Júnior deverá ser ainda mais ligado ao Real Madrid, Uma informação do jornal espanhol As indica que o atacante brasileiro está acertando sua renovação de contrato com o clube, com o novo acordo sendo válido até 2030. Salário milionário As informações da publicação dão conta de que o futuro vínculo do brasileiro lhe renderá muito financeiramente. Estima-se que, anualmente, os salários do brasileiro serão de 20 milhões de euros (R$ 127 milhões) líquidos por temporada. Ao todo, o atacante deverá embolsar algo em torno de 100 milhões de euros (R$ 636 milhões) na duração do contrato. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE E também haverá diversas provisões que poderão render ainda mais para Vinícius Júnior. Conquistas de títulos, prêmios individuais (no caso, o Fifa The Best ou a Bola de Ouro) e número de gols acrescentarão bônus ao valor ao […]
Josh and Jace Jung square off in rare, emotional Mother’s Day matchup with mom watching: ‘My heart is just exploding’
Mary Jung had perhaps the best Mother’s Day an MLB mom could have asked for.She got to watch her two sons play each other, and throw out the first pitch, at Comerica Park on Sunday afternoon in a rare Mother’s Day brothers meeting in Major League Baseball.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMary — who wore a custom half-and-half Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers jersey — threw out the first pitch on Sunday ahead of her son’s, Josh and Jace Jung, matchup in Michigan. Josh and Jace’s dad, Jeff, was also there in the same custom jersey.“I mean my heart is just exploding,” Mary said on the Rangers’ broadcast. “I mean, I couldn't ask for a better mother’s day gift. To watch them — we’re all in the same place, to begin with — but then to watch them live their dream, do what they love […]
Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace on driving for Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing
NASCAR Cup Series Video Details Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace on excitement, pressure, and expectations with driving for Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing. 3 MINS AGO・NASCAR Cup Series・3:00
Fábio Matias não resiste a mais uma goleada e é demitido do comando técnico do Juventude
Antes da derrota deste sábado, o Juventude já havia perdido para o Flamengo por 6 a 0. Na 16ª colocação, com sete pontos conquistados em oito partidas, o time gaúcho tem a pior defesa da Série A com 20 gols sofridos. O saldo é de -13. Além disso, há um jejum de cinco jogos sem vencer, com quatro derrotas e um empate no período.
Taylor Swift, furious after being quoted in Blake Lively’s case with Justin Baldoni, breaks her silence
Taylor Swift has officially broken her silence following a subpoena that drags her into the intensifying legal conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Though she has no direct role in the dispute or the production of the film It Ends With Us, Swift's team has issued a firm statement condemning what they describe as an attempt to exploit her name for media attention.Swift, whose song "My Tears Ricochet" was licensed for the film's soundtrack, is now being asked to provide evidence by Baldoni's legal team. However, her representatives insist this move is baseless and purely for publicity."Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie," a spokesperson said. Tom Cruise has hailed his ex-wife Nicole Kidman as a "great actress""She was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never […]
Be the first to leave a comment