Chicago Cubs react to Adam Jones situation

The Chicago Cubs just returned from Boston, where the atmosphere for three exciting games was fun, festive and friendly at Fenway Park.

Things took an ugly turn Monday, when Baltimore Orioles player Adam Jones, who is black, said he heard racist taunts at Fenway. Jones also had a bag of peanuts thrown at him.

Chicago Cubs players as well as manager Joe Maddon reacted to the situation Tuesday before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field.

"You hear stuff, and you hear stuff at times," outfielder Jason Heyward said. "You're going to hear stuff. Everybody hears different stuff. Nothing shocks you. Nothing really shocks me to the extent that kind of stuff happens. It's not the only park I've been in where I've heard it. I've hear it my whole life. It is what it is."

Relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. said he was saddened that such things continue to happen in 2017.

"I feel like those days are over with; Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier," Edwards said. "I'm with Adam Jones 100 percent myself. That's disrespectful as a fan and something you don't see in this game. He didn't say anything to them (the fans). If I was him, I wouldn't walk away, either."

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said he would like to see tougher penalties for fans who hurl such abuse.

"You're there just to enjoy entertainment," Bryant said. "Anytime you disrupt that, I think there should be harsher punishment. We're out there having fun. We're trying to perform, hit home runs, be entertainers. Anytime that kind of thing happens, it puts a damper on things. I would love to see harsher punishment."

Maddon says it's important to keep up the movement toward positive change.

"My comments are pretty much widely shared," he said. "But at some point you've got to do something about it. You just can't keep listening and hearing it. Then you talk about it briefly and you table it and hope it goes away, knowing it never will.

"Whatever it takes, I'd definitely be on board with trying to support it or help it (punishment), but it has to come from organizations and groups within cities.

"I still believe that if there is something you don't like and you consider it a legitimate problem, don't just table it. Just keep working at it until you find somewhat of a solution that's workable."