Yoenis Céspedes suddenly gave up on the New York Mets amidst the coronavirus

Céspedes missed the last two seasons due to his injuries.

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Céspedes has opted out of the 2020 Major League Baseball Series without any warning.

On Sunday, Céspedes did not show up for the team’s afternoon game against the Atlanta Braves.

Some fans and MLB players feared the worst, and it took hours before Céspedes’ agent sent word to the team.

Céspedes chose to leave his team in light of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.

READ MORE: Two MLB games suspended after 14 Miami Marlins players and staff test positive for COVID-19

“It was surprising, without question,” said Van Wagenen. Céspedes’ decision to leave his team might have affected the Mets’ 4-0 loss against the Braves, one of the team’s rivals, The New York Daily News reported.

“He did not reach out to management with any explanation for his absence,” Van Wagenen said in a statement before the Mets had clarity on Céspedes’ status. “Our attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.”

Céspedes missed the last two seasons due to his injuries. His return since has not been remarkable. In the last eight games this season, he was batting .161, with two homers overall, The New York Times reported.

The Mets are currently on a five-game losing streak.

READ MORE: Ian Desmond calls out MLB for racism as he opts out of 2020 season

“I think it’s disappointing for the fans, from my vantage point prior to this job and then since. Yo’s a great player that I think everyone enjoyed watching play when he was at his best. There was optimism for his return. I know how hard he worked in his rehab to get back to this point, and I know this is a disappointing end to at least his four-year agreement with the Mets. I know it wasn’t for a lack of work ethic on his part to try to get back,” said Van Wagenen.

Though they eventually lost, Céspedes helped lead the Mets into the 2015 World Series, something the team hadn’t not done since 2000.

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Frank Ocean’s brother, Ryan Breaux, is dead at 18

Frank Ocean’s brother, Ryan, hit a tree while driving a Tesla

Grammy award-winning musician and producer, Frank Ocean‘s brother, Ryan Breaux, 18, has passed away alongside Ezekial (Zeek) Bishop, 20, who is said to be his classmate.

Breaux died in a car crash near Skelton Canyon Circle in Thousand Oaks, California. The fatal crash happened around 1:30 a.m., with the fire department arriving at the scene soon after, according to Acorn.

Our hearts and prayers are with Frank and his family. RIP @rryanbreaux ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/1F2bQY58qI

— Blonded. (@blondedocean) August 2, 2020

The two were driving in a Tesla which was consumed by flames, according to the sheriff’s office. Both passengers were pronounced dead on the scene and it was not currently clear who was driving the car.

READ MORE: Singer James Ingram dead at age 66

In the sheriff’s initial investigation, it was determined that the Tesla was approaching Skelton Canyon when the car left the road and collided with a tree in the center median, according to a statement released this morning. 

Many friends and classmates took to Twitter to confirm the news and mourn the death of their friends.

God can really take your last breaths at any given second… so much death has filled this year. my heart aches, Rest In Peace Ezekiel❤️

— jordan🧸 (@iamjordanbaker) August 2, 2020

the world lost 2 very bright souls today they could literally light up any room with their energy… rest in peace Zeek and Ryan 🕊 ❤️

— ♌️August 12♌️ (@destinyhardy_) August 2, 2020

According to Clash Music, Ocean and his brother were extremely close. Breaux was a vocal supporter of his brother on social media.

The cause of the crash is currently being investigated and officials are calling all witnesses. Wendell Campbell , Ventura County sheriff deputy, says that the crash may have been caused by speeding. The road they were on has a speed limit of 45, according to KTLA.

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White House says coronavirus bill talks have stalled

Lawmakers will meet again on Monday, but many officials are not optimistic about finding a solution.

Negotiations for a coronavirus relief bill have come to a standstill. Republicans continue to push for a short-term measure that Democrats say delays progress toward much-needed financial relief for citizens who cannot pay their bills.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi noted that Democrats want $1 trillion for food assistance and election assistance so that states could provide mail-in voting due to the pandemic.

The Trump administration wants $377 million in the next coronavirus relief bill for modernization of the West Wing to help “detect, mitigate and alleviate external security and pandemic threats.”

He hasn't protected us, why should we protect him? https://t.co/byIFree7BZ

— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) August 2, 2020

READ MORE: Despite virus threat, Black voters wary of voting by mail

As theGrio previously reported, President Trump is not a fan of mail-in voting. He suggested on Thursday that he’d rather postpone the November election, which he is not authorized to do without congressional approval.

Trump believes that allowing voters to send in their ballots by mail will encourage fraud. With Trump’s skepticism, it isn’t likely that Republicans will agree to pass a bill that advances the Democrats’ request.

The coronavirus does not care that we are divided. The coronavirus will not care if Washington Democrats decide it suits their partisan goals to let relief run dry.

The American people are hurting and Congress should have their backs.

— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) July 29, 2020

The federal unemployment assistance of $600 per week expired on Friday, and it doesn’t look like additional funds will be going into the pockets of Americans that were hit hard by the pandemic any time soon.

Senate Republicans offered to extend the $600 benefit for one week or give states the choice of receiving $200 per week or sufficient funds to replace two-thirds of prior income through the end of the calendar year. Democrats rejected the offer, and the Senate adjourned until Monday.

READ MORE: Roughly 95% of Black-owned businesses shut out of coronavirus relief

At her weekly press briefing on Friday, Pelosi urged Republicans to sit down with Democrats and get the work done. “Let’s recognize people need $600. Let’s recognize state and local need help with allaying the money the they have spent fighting the virus and the revenue loss.”

Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows accused Democrats of never attempting to counter GOP offers. Lawmakers will meet again on Monday, but many officials are not optimistic about finding a solution.

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Homeland Security official being reassigned for collecting data on journalists

Lower level officials carried out Brian Murphy’s order to gather and share information.

Brian Murphy oversaw the intelligence division as the undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis. He will be reassigned to an unknown position after collecting information on two reporters.

The two reporters in question are Mike Baker, a New York Times reporter and Benjamin Wittes, the editor-in-chief of the blog Lawfare and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. 

READ MORE: Portland protesters file lawsuit against U.S. government

Wittes is responsible for publishing leaks regarding the unrest in Portland, Oregon. The relevant documents were not classified by the government.

Lower level officials carried out Murphy’s order to gather and share information on the journalists. Many on social media say that this is used as a scare tactic to silence critics and journalists.

Wittes, who is vocal about his dislike for President Donald Trump, says that the practice of collecting information infringes on Freedom of Speech.

Exactly this. Very interested in using my situation as a way of shedding light on what I believe is a larger pattern of collection and reporting based on purely First Amendment protected activity. In my case, that activity is journalism. In the more common case, it’s protesting. https://t.co/GG6edvceEj

— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) August 1, 2020

Last Friday, Homeland Secretary Chad Wolf announced that Murphy would be moving another position.

“In no way does the Acting Secretary condone this practice, and he has immediately ordered an inquiry into the matter,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement earlier this week, CNN reported.

READ MORE: NAACP sues Homeland Security over Haiti immigration policy

“[The department] will no longer identify US members of the media in our intelligence products…[there will be an] immediate review of the circumstances surrounding the collection and dissemination of intelligence on US members of the press,” said a statement obtained by CNN.

Chair of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff said that he has been “conducting rigorous oversight.”

“In light of recent public reports, we are concerned that Murphy may have provided incomplete and potentially misleading information to Committee staff during our recent oversight engagement,” said Schiff.

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Rescue mission called off for 7 marines and 1 sailor, all presumed dead

There is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

An extensive 40-hour rescue mission for eight missing service members officially ended today. They are all feared to be dead.

On Thursday, during a routine training exercise near San Clemente Island, 15 marines and one sailor were involved in an accident while inside an amphibious assault vehicle (AAV).

Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched by the marines with help from the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

READ MORE: How did a Black Navy vet disappear for three years only to be found dead in his apartment?

One marine was pronounced dead at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Two others sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals. A total of eight people were recovered from the AAV, while another eight went missing in the water.

The AAV weighs approximately 26 tons, and is believed to have sunk to the ocean floor – below the depths where divers can go.

Prayers going out to all the Marines that are missing, in the Pacific Ocean. After a training accident. Can we get a Prayer chain going?🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

— Kitty Hawk 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲👣👣👣 (@kittyHawk1960) August 1, 2020

The Marine Corp commanding general, David Berger, suspended all amphibious assault vehicle operations “until the causal factors of this mishap are better understood.”

He tweeted on Sunday that the difficult decision to suspend the search-and-rescue operation was made only after all resources were exhausted.

READ MORE: U.S. Marines bans depictions of confederate flag at its installations

“Our thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to be with our Marines’ and Sailor’s families during this difficult time,” Col. Christopher Bronzi, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in a statement.

There is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. All of the victims’ next-of-kin have been notified as of Sunday.

The names of the dead marines and the sailor will be released within the next 24 hours.

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