What do you mean it killed us

[officialsbaseball]

Denis Poroy/Getty ImagesAfter being placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball on Friday following new details in his domestic violence case coming to light , Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell has denied the accusations leveled against him.Russell addressed the situation in a statement on Friday, per the MLB Players Association:MLBPA Communications MLBPA_NewsThe Major League Baseball Players Association is releasing the following statement on behalf of Addison Russell lQkp8GMdN0Major League Baseball opened an investigation into allegations against Russell last June after his now-ex-wife, Melisa Reidy-Russell, took to Instagram to say he cheated on her and lied to her. A friend of Reidy-Russell's also left an Instagram comment claiming Russell was "mentally and physically abusing [Reidy-Russell]."Russell denied those allegations."Any allegation I have abused my wife is false and hurtful," Russell said in June 2017, according to the Chicago Sun-Time's Gordon Wittenmyer. "For the well-being of my family, I鈥檒l have no further comment."The case re-entered the spotlight recently when Reidy-Russell published a blog post this week to detail the "toxic environment" she was previously in with her ex-husband. In the post, she says there was infidelity as well as emotional and verbal abuse.In response to Reidy-Russell's post , MLB opted to keep Russell from playing as the league continues to investigate:Yahoo Sports MLB MLByahoosportsMLB announces that Addison Russell has been placed on quot;administrative leave.quot;Per MLBs domestic violence policy, thats an indefinite leave. QUWa7AgmgDThe Cubs also issued a statement to make it clear they will cooperate with the investigation, via Yahoo Sports:Yahoo Sports MLB MLByahoosportsThe Cubs have also issued a statement on the Addison Russell case: mAQV6JEzAQChicago currently holds a two-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central with nine games to play.Russell, 24, has a .250 average with five home runs, 21 doubles, one triple and 38 RBI in 130 games this season. Javy Baez slid over to shortstop in Russell's place on Friday, with Daniel Murphy playing second. A look at what’s happening around the majors Thursday:BACK AT ITAstros shortstop Carlos Correa is trying to get his aching back as healed as possible before Houston’s AL Championship Series opener Saturday. Correa told The Associated Press on Wednesday that although he’s tried to put on a brave face , his back is hurting him on every swing and miss, and on the bad days it can even be uncomfortable to walk. Correa returned from a six-week stint on the DL on Aug. 10 and declared he was better, but he hit just .180 in the second half of the season and had just one hit — a homer — while Houston swept Cleveland in their three-game AL Division Series.“Not only to find my swing, just to feel comfortable at the plate when I swing,” he said. “Because I know every time I swing and miss it’s going to hurt. So, I try not to swing and miss and then I try to baby my swing and I don’t swing as hard as I usually do or as quick as I usually do. So, it’s definitely been tough.”STURDY DEFENSEIndians manager Terry Francona is still feeling a “sting” from Cleveland’s early postseason exit, but he’s not letting the blame fall on one of his biggest stars. Francona got defensive Wednesday when pressed about Jose Ramirez’s struggles. Ramirez went hitless in 11 at-bats during an AL Division Series sweep , continuing a slide that began in mid-August and cost the All-Star any chance of being named MVP.Francona stiffened when a reporter said Ramirez “killed” the Indians.“What do you mean it killed us?” Francona snapped. “We won the division by 15 games.“He got himself into a predicament and he couldn’t get himself out of it,” he added. “It’s hard to figure out because a guy can be that good, that dominant and then he just couldn’t get … he kept peeling off balls even when he got pitches to hit. He kind of peeled off and he knew it and he watched video and he just couldn’t get the feeling of staying through the ball.”MAKING MOVESThe Nationals aren’t waiting for the World Series to end to get going on their 2019 roster. Washington acquired reliever Kyle Barraclough from Miami on Wednesday, its first offseason move to rebuild its bullpen. Barraclough went 1-6 with 4.20 ERA and 10 saves in 17 chances during 61 appearances this year. He allowed one hit in 36 at-bats in June, when he was chosen NL reliever of the month, but struggled with his command the rest of the season.Washington sent the Marlins $1 million in international slot allotment as part of the deal. Miami may use the space to acquire 22-year-old Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa, who worked out at Marlins Park for big league scouts last week.