Another one bites the dust, with another MLB Social Media blunder. The latest “victim”; Sean Newcomb of the Atlanta Braves. But, is there a more substantial issue going on than meets the eye?

By Neil Harrington

Evidently, MLB has neglected the sensitivity training of Toby Flenderson, because another MLB’er has sent the Social Media world aTwitter.

Photo Credit: NBC/The Office

Once again, like Josh Hader before him, Sean Newcomb of the Atlanta Braves still does not know precisely what hit him.

One moment, he is one strike away from a no-hitter. The next?

Hell of a performance by Sean Newcomb today. Loses a no-hitter with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning. 25-year-old kid from Brockton, MA. If you didn't know the name before, you know it now.

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) July 29, 2018

We certainly know his name, but for all of the wrong reasons — with this GIF speaking louder than words, about a series of Tweets surfacing from Newcomb’s past.

Sean Newcomb after nearly throwing a no hitter: “Damn my phone is blowing up, must be a lot of people congratulating me on a great game”
*checks phone* pic.twitter.com/jaAWbdiDKr

— Brooks (@EBrooksUncut) July 29, 2018

The Atlanta Braves released this statement following the “choice words” of Newcomb.

Statement from the Atlanta Braves regarding Sean Newcomb: pic.twitter.com/T9kP9TF5d1

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 29, 2018

Newcomb himself was (sincerely) apologetic, but the damage has already been done.

“I know I’ve grown a lot since then. I didn’t mean anything by it. It was just something stupid I did a long time ago, and I didn’t mean anything by it, for sure.”

What Newcomb is apologizing for are Tweets quoting a rap song with homophobic and racial slurs. 

Haven’t we heard this story before?

I genuinely buy the apology from Newcomb — he appears to be reformed. The problem is seeded much deeper than what’s revealed on the surface.

Sean Doolittle of the Washington Nationals hits the nail right on the head.

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for baseball on twitter. It sucks to see racist and homophobic language coming from inside our league – a league I’m so proud to be a part of that I’ve worked really hard to make a more accepting and inclusive place for all our fans to enjoy.

— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) July 30, 2018

It’s a cultural issue; one that needs to be dug up and replanted.

What bugs me the most is that no one is outraged at the content that a (significant) portion of musical artists release to the public.

Musicians get a free pass, with many saying, “It’s only a song. No big deal.” But when such words are quoted by MLB pitchers or the every day Joe Schmoe, they are crucified for it.

Also, how many of you quote songs containing vulgar/inappropriate lyrics while cruising in your ride? Sean Newcomb, Josh Hader, and many of us have something in common, don’t we?

We have become desensitized to the content fed to us by media outlets. Words have become “just” words.

We need to do better and nip racism/homophobic thoughts in the bud. We need to demand a change in music, TV, books; entertainment in general.

Our mainstream culture needs a cleanse. Our minds need a reboot. We need a significant change. What we say matters and how we treat others, even verbally; matters.

As Lecrae states in his song Nothin:

“Here we go again in circles. I think I heard it all. We been here before. But we need something more…”

We need something more, indeed.