Mets announcer baffled by Matt Shaw skipping Cubs game for Charlie Kirk memorial

Mets play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen expressed bafflement Tuesday night over Cubs rookie Matt Shaw's decision to miss Sunday's game to attend the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who had been slain. On the SNY broadcast from Wrigley Field, Cohen said leaving a team in the middle of a playoff chase for any reason other than a family emergency struck him as unusual, while avoiding a political debate.

Shaw had received permission from the Cubs to miss the game, a decision that drew attention as Chicago clinched a playoff berth last week and sat in the first wild-card spot in the National League. Shaw said he spoke with manager Craig Counsell, president Jed Hoyer and several veterans before deciding to attend the memorial service for Charlie Kirk because of its significance to his faith, noting that he was grateful for the team’s backing. The Cubs have maintained their standing in the playoff race, and the absence came amid a tense stretch of games for a club striving to secure a postseason bid.

Shaw told the Chicago Tribune that he discussed the decision with key club officials and veterans and that he felt supported by the organization in choosing to attend the service, describing it as a matter of faith and personal importance. He added that the decision was not made lightly and that he appreciated how the club handled the situation.

On the Mets broadcast, veteran analyst Todd Zeile described Shaw's absence as unprecedented and unusual for a rookie, suggesting that the timing and lack of initial explanation had contributed to the controversy, and noting that details about the reason for the absence were not disclosed until after it became an issue.

Cohen, attempting to keep politics out of the conversation, reiterated that he did not want to discuss political aspects but emphasized the concern about leaving a team during a playoff push. The context included that Kirk's wife, Erika, had invited Shaw to attend the memorial, a detail Shaw acknowledged as part of how the situation unfolded and how he was supported by teammates and staff.

The Cubs, who clinched a playoff spot last week, hold the NL's first wild-card position heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Shaw's absence and the team’s response have sparked discussion about how clubs balance personal commitments with the demands of a pennant race, though no further public details about the decision were provided by the Cubs.