The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers made the customary visit to the White House on Friday to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but were not accompanied by embattled pitcher Trevor Bauer, who was placed on administrative leave as he faces accusations of sexual assault.
The Dodgers captured the title by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays last October. They are the first professional sports team to be honored at the White House since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the first since Biden took office.
Friday's ceremony bore few of the political overtones that became a hallmark of teams' visits during the presidency of Donald Trump. Some title teams, like the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia Eagles, skipped being honored at the White House. Others, like the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox, only sent limited delegations, with many players opting to stay home.
The visit comes at an awkward time for the Dodgers, who are in Washington play a four-game series with the Nationals, because Bauer is facing police and Major League Baseball investigations into allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in April and May.
Prior to Bauer being placed on administrative leave, the team was being criticized for the decision to start Bauer on Sunday against Washington, with several sports columnists targeting manager Dave Roberts for the move.
'Bauer needs to be benched. He needs to be benched now,' wrote Bill Plashke of The Los Angeles Times.
Bauer will now be sitting out indefinitely.
Roberts deferred to MLB when speaking with reporters, saying that the decision to start Bauer in Washington is 'out of our hands.'
'I'm in the position of following the lead of Major League Baseball,' Roberts told reporters Thursday. 'Their recommendation was for us to ... he was our scheduled [starter] Sunday, and to move forward and start that game on Sunday. And so for me to try to read into it anymore outside of what they advised me and us to do, I just choose to follow their lead.'
Bauer, who is disputing the allegations, has not been charged with a crime, but under the league and union's joint domestic violence policy, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred can put a player on administrative leave during an investigation.
Robert said he spoke with Bauer but refused to share details of the conversation before declining to speak any further on the subject. Likewise, Bauer did not speak with reporters on Thursday
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