Cubs: Pedro Strop accepts apology from Bob Costas

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ST. LOUIS — Bob Costas apologized to Pedro Strop for his bizarre comments about the Cubs reliever’s family during an MLB Network broadcast.

The two had a face-to-face meeting on Sunday in the lobby of the team’s St. Louis hotel. Costas had called a Cubs media-relations official to make the request, and Strop handled the awkward situation with class.

“Everybody makes mistakes,” Strop said at Busch Stadium.

Costas caught fire on social media during Friday night’s game against the Cardinals. Strop couldn’t protect a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning, giving up a leadoff homer to St. Louis pinch-hitter Greg Garcia, hitting a batter and walking another. 

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As Strop walked off the mound, Costas said: “Strop is on his way out, pointing toward the heavens. We can only ask — or wonder — that he is asking some departed relative for forgiveness for this atrocious performance.”

The Cubs wound up losing to the Cardinals in the 10th inning. Strop — who’s normally a lights-out reliever and always one of the most approachable/upbeat guys in the clubhouse — discovered the Costas reaction after the 3-2 loss.

“That night, I didn’t know anything about it until I got into my room,” Strop said. “I was just laying in bed and then my Instagram was blowing up, people saying to me: ‘Hey, just don’t worry about what Bob said.’

“I finally went on Twitter and I saw the comments.”

Costas went to the hotel lobby on Sunday and saw Strop before the team left for Jason Motte’s charity event.

“He also asked me who else he has to apologize (to),” Strop said. “I told him: ‘You can just apologize to me. There are more people upset because of what you said, but we all make mistakes.’ I’m not going to judge him just because he made a mistake.

“I just feel better now that he’s apologized. And we all do stuff that we have to apologize (for).

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“I didn’t want to talk to him. (But) I realized he’s a good dude. A lot of people told me he’s a great guy and he’s a legend. He’s one of the best at what he does.”

Costas — a marquee personality for NBC Sports — told the New York Daily News: “The tone of it was not what I intended. I intended it as a kind of sarcastic comment about this overall thing where everybody seems to be pointing toward the heavens for every accomplishment, large and small, or even for no accomplishment at all.

“I inadvertently appeared harsh toward Strop. That wasn’t my intention. And so I owe him an apology.”

Strop is an emotional, demonstrative player who makes pointing to the sky part of his routine.    

“I always thank God for everything,” Strop said. “(It’s) for the opportunity. It’s nothing to do with (how I) perform. Oh, because I did good, I’m going to thank God? No, no, no, I thank God for everything. I always do that.” 

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