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  6. article_body => "<p>WASHINGTON -- Questions about what will happen Thursday night when Major League Baseball starts its season aren\u2019t restricted to only play on the field.<\/p>\n<p>The Nationals and New York Yankees are discussing what to do during the National Anthem, according to Nationals closer Sean Doolittle, who was asked Wednesday whether he has thought about taking a knee during the anthem.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve certainly considered it,\u201d Doolittle said. \u201cI\u2019ve been considering it, especially here over the last week. But, as a team, we\u2019re having conversations in our clubhouse the last two days -- I know the Yankees are doing the same thing. We\u2019re obviously going first, we\u2019re opening this thing up, so I think it\u2019s really important for us as a league to echo what other sports leagues have done so far. We\u2019ve seen MLS, we\u2019ve seen NASCAR, we\u2019ve seen Formula One make really powerful statements. Obviously, the NBA coming back, too, they\u2019ve got some stuff planned as well. I don\u2019t exactly know how it\u2019s going to look but I know there are a lot of those conversations happening about what guys are going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/racing-presidents\">CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NATIONALS TALK PODCAST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/racing-presidents\/episodes\/9982137d-c316-411d-8384-47a5c121449d\/embed?theme=light-custom\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<p>Monday, the San Francisco Giants were the first MLB team to have multiple members take a knee during the anthem. Giants manager Gabe Kapler took a knee near the home dugout. Outfielder Jaylin Davis and first base coach Antoan Richardson, both of whom are Black, also took a knee. Outfielders Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski and hitting coach Justin Viele, who are white, joined them in taking a knee. Shortstop Brandon Crawford stood with his hand on the shoulders of Davis and Richardson.<\/p>\n<p>Major League Baseball is attempting to be the first of the four major pro sports in North America to return to the field on a regular basis. Washington hosting the Yankees in a nationally-televised first game is the opening display for the season and a chance to set a tone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/why-velocity-down-sean-doolittle-and-other-nationals-pitchers\" target=\"_blank\">WHY IS VELOCITY DOWN FOR MOST NATS PITCHERS?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think this whole season is kind of an example of the kind of measures that it takes to resume a lot of things during the pandemic,\u201d Doolittle said. \u201cI think it will be an important and kind of powerful statement [Thursday] when people are watching the game and there\u2019s guys in the dugouts wearing masks and people are social distancing and players have fully bought in to all these protocols because we want to play and we know this is what it\u2019s going to take to be able to have a chance to continue to resume the season safely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Stay connected to the Nationals&nbsp;with the MyTeams app.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb65a2b6cedb?site_id=Dig_RSN_Wash&amp;creative_id=nbcswash1200&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcswash1200\" target=\"_blank\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download for comprehensive coverage of your teams.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE NATIONALS NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Report:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/report-blue-jays-play-their-home-games-pittsburgh-share-pnc-park-pirates\">Blue Jays could play home games in Pitt<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Alyssa Nakken:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/san-francisco-giants-alyssa-nakken-becomes-first-woman-coach-field-during-mlb-game\" target=\"_blank\">MLB trailblazer<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Nats' schedule:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/2020-mlb-season-nationals-schedule-opponents-format-and-odds\" target=\"_blank\">What you need to know<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Nationals

Nationals

WASHINGTON -- Questions about what will happen Thursday night when Major League Baseball starts its season aren’t restricted to only play on the field.

The Nationals and New York Yankees are discussing what to do during the National Anthem, according to Nationals closer Sean Doolittle, who was asked Wednesday whether he has thought about taking a knee during the anthem.

“I’ve certainly considered it,” Doolittle said. “I’ve been considering it, especially here over the last week. But, as a team, we’re having conversations in our clubhouse the last two days -- I know the Yankees are doing the same thing. We’re obviously going first, we’re opening this thing up, so I think it’s really important for us as a league to echo what other sports leagues have done so far. We’ve seen MLS, we’ve seen NASCAR, we’ve seen Formula One make really powerful statements. Obviously, the NBA coming back, too, they’ve got some stuff planned as well. I don’t exactly know how it’s going to look but I know there are a lot of those conversations happening about what guys are going to do.”

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Monday, the San Francisco Giants were the first MLB team to have multiple members take a knee during the anthem. Giants manager Gabe Kapler took a knee near the home dugout. Outfielder Jaylin Davis and first base coach Antoan Richardson, both of whom are Black, also took a knee. Outfielders Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski and hitting coach Justin Viele, who are white, joined them in taking a knee. Shortstop Brandon Crawford stood with his hand on the shoulders of Davis and Richardson.

 

Major League Baseball is attempting to be the first of the four major pro sports in North America to return to the field on a regular basis. Washington hosting the Yankees in a nationally-televised first game is the opening display for the season and a chance to set a tone.

RELATED: WHY IS VELOCITY DOWN FOR MOST NATS PITCHERS?

“I think this whole season is kind of an example of the kind of measures that it takes to resume a lot of things during the pandemic,” Doolittle said. “I think it will be an important and kind of powerful statement [Thursday] when people are watching the game and there’s guys in the dugouts wearing masks and people are social distancing and players have fully bought in to all these protocols because we want to play and we know this is what it’s going to take to be able to have a chance to continue to resume the season safely.”

Stay connected to the Nationals with the MyTeams app. Click here to download for comprehensive coverage of your teams.

MORE NATIONALS NEWS: