Justin Turner and COVID

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I just saw my dad for the first time in a while last Friday night after seeing my mom for the last time on her death bed 12 hours before she passed away.

I didn’t take my mask off. But this spoiled Douchebag needs to celebrate with his teammates?!?!

I will see my family at the service tomorrow AM and cousins I havn’t seen in years. I will not go within 6 feet of any of them and of course I will have a mask on. You don’t think I’d LOVE to hug my 89 year old dad who just lost his wife of 62 years?

I don’t even believe we should have an in person service but it’s my father’s wishes and he’s very very frail and I will be there to support him with all my heart and soul - but I’ll be in the funeral home for a very short while and may not even stay for the short service he requested for after the 2 hour viewing.

Selfish assholes of the highest order - ALL of them / Roberts & Friedman sound like morons.
No words other than I’m so very sorry for your loss.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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No words other than I’m so very sorry for your loss.
And as I messaged a friend I had not posted anything about my mom in public on any of the few message boards I’m a part of and I do not belong to Facebook or any sites of that nature but I could not help myself after reading here about what happened last night. I don’t want this to be about my loss or more aptly my dad’s loss but maybe it might help someone who thinks they need a thanksgiving dinner have second thoughts
 

InsideTheParker

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Jul 15, 2005
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I just saw my dad for the first time in a while last Friday night after seeing my mom for the last time on her death bed 12 hours before she passed away.

I didn’t take my mask off. But this spoiled Douchebag needs to celebrate with his teammates?!?!

I will see my family at the service tomorrow AM and cousins I havn’t seen in years. I will not go within 6 feet of any of them and of course I will have a mask on. You don’t think I’d LOVE to hug my 89 year old dad who just lost his wife of 62 years?

I don’t even believe we should have an in person service but it’s my father’s wishes and he’s very very frail and I will be there to support him with all my heart and soul - but I’ll be in the funeral home for a very short while and may not even stay for the short service he requested for after the 2 hour viewing.

Selfish assholes of the highest order - ALL of them / Roberts & Friedman sound like morons.
All of us will be thinking of you tomorrow morning. Take care.
 

InsideTheParker

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Letter to the L.A. Times:
To the editor: If it wasn't shocking enough for Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner to be pulled from Game 6 of the World Series because of a positive COVID-19 test, seeing him unmasked and sitting close to his teammates celebrating their victory was heart stopping. What were he, the Dodgers and Major League Baseball thinking? ("A win for the Dodgers is another tonic for Los Angeles," Oct. 27)

Last month, the National Football League fined three head coaches $100,000 for not wearing face masks on the sidelines, a safety precaution that is required at games during the coronavirus pandemic. The coaches' teams also were fined an additional $250,000.

I love baseball as much as anyone, but Turner's behavior was a slap in the face of the more than 230,000 people in the United States who have died from COVID-19. I urge MLB to immediately fine Turner and the Dodgers $1 million each. The money should go to Los Angeles County for its efforts to mitigate this terrible virus.

Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Let me get this straight: if a player has an inconclusive test for steroids, doesn’t he automatically pick up a strike in the league’s steroid program? But if there’s an inconclusive test for a highly-contagious deadly disease sweeping the entire country, sure go ahead and keep playing and infecting all on-field personnel until we run another test!
 

E5 Yaz

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MLB laying all of this at the feet of a 35-year-old FA2B is bullshit. MLB is just as culpable as Turner and the Dodgers
 

Sille Skrub

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This really is a perfect example of why this country is failing in regards to COVID-19. This same exact thing will happen the next two months during the holidays, across households all over the country. It's like people think they can negotiate with the virus. "No, I don't think you understand; we just won the World Series! I may never get another chance to celebrate this! You have to let me celebrate with my teammates!"

Bunch of people everywhere in the US during the next four weeks: "I've stayed inside for 8 months. I'll be damned if I let COVID take away my family's Thanksgiving dinner. That's where I draw the line!!!"

And a lot of people are like, "okay that makes sense." It's maddening.
I think @Foulkey Reese said it on the Twitter. Let's get this election over with so we can get on with the Thanksgiving and Christmas picture shaming.
 

DanoooME

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What should happen (but won't):

Turner - $1M fine
Dodgers - $10M fine
Patriots - loss of 1st round pick (j/k actually this goes to the Dodgers)
Immediately strip them of the title they just won. Leave it vacant.
Force them to cancel the parade.
 

Ferm Sheller

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If it wants, MLB could announce that they've fined Turner and the Dodgers and not make them pay anything. What would Turner or the Dodgers care? All three parties win.
 

BornToRun

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I think E5 Yaz actually had it right.

Turner is a free agent to-be.
Ummmm.

And if there was any justice in the world, Turner would be hit with a gigantic fine and steroid level suspension.There isn’t, though, so he won’t.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Was mentioned upthread, but what Turner should really be hit with is a suspension of not less than 60 games. If he'd otherwise pull in $14M in free agency this year, that'd be worth at least $5M.

This still has me spitting mad.
 

Sille Skrub

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Good. People should be shamed. Act like fucking adults and stay the fuck home.
Agreed. It's going to kill me, man. I'm going to be sitting at home missing my family and I guarantee we're going to see a million holiday pictures of people who don't give a fuck.

We're our own worst enemy.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Was mentioned upthread, but what Turner should really be hit with is a suspension of not less than 60 games. If he'd otherwise pull in $14M in free agency this year, that'd be worth at least $5M.

This still has me spitting mad.
Why should he be suspended though? This is a MLB issue. They let him play the game knowing his test was not conclusive. You really think while he was playing and around his teammates thr majority go the day and game he was fine, but because he came out to celebrate he put them in danger then?
 

Leather

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Jul 18, 2005
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If it wants, MLB could announce that they've fined Turner and the Dodgers and not make them pay anything. What would Turner or the Dodgers care? All three parties win.
I don't think they can do that. That tidbit would be in every appeal by a player or team contesting a fine as evidence that the league is acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner vis a vis enforcement rights.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Why should he be suspended though? This is a MLB issue. They let him play the game knowing his test was not conclusive. You really think while he was playing and around his teammates thr majority go the day and game he was fine, but because he came out to celebrate he put them in danger then?
1.) He should be suspended because he was separated from his teammates in the 7th (I believe by MLB, but it doesn't really matter), told he tested positive, put in a quarantined room, and decided to ignore those instruction and bully past his handler to get out on the field.

2.) Additionally, he should have been well aware of the protocols for tested players -- in the first weeks of the crisis maybe you could put that on MLB, but by now any player unaware of the rules is intentionally ignoring them.

3.) I 100% do NOT buy the "his teammates were already exposed, so no big whoop" part of the argument. Exposing somebody to a carrier of a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease for 80 minutes is more dangerous than exposure for 70 minutes, is more dangerous than exposure for 60 minutes, and so on. The more he's around other people, the more he is threatening their wellness and the health of their loved ones. Asshole. [That'd be Turner, not @NJ_Sox_Fan !]
 

mynameistaken

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Apr 23, 2010
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1.) He should be suspended because he was separated from his teammates in the 7th (I believe by MLB, but it doesn't really matter), told he tested positive, put in a quarantined room, and decided to ignore those instruction and bully past his handler to get out on the field.

2.) Additionally, he should have been well aware of the protocols for tested players -- in the first weeks of the crisis maybe you could put that on MLB, but by now any player unaware of the rules is intentionally ignoring them.

3.) I 100% do NOT buy the "his teammates were already exposed, so no big whoop" part of the argument. Exposing somebody to a carrier of a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease for 80 minutes is more dangerous than exposure for 70 minutes, is more dangerous than exposure for 60 minutes, and so on. The more he's around other people, the more he is threatening their wellness and the health of their loved ones. Asshole. [That'd be Turner, not @NJ_Sox_Fan !]
Adding to point #3 - even if someone does buy into "his teammates were already exposed", there were player's families, reporters, camera crews, and others who he potentially exposed. I can understand the want and desire to celebrate with his teammates, especially as a "FA2B". However, these are not normal circumstances and he is a grown man who consciously made the decision to break protocol after being told he had a positive test. His selfish decision not only threatened to expose others, but also has left a black mark on his team's accomplishment. For those reasons, I think a lofty suspension is warranted.
 

EvilEmpire

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1.) He should be suspended because he was separated from his teammates in the 7th (I believe by MLB, but it doesn't really matter), told he tested positive, put in a quarantined room, and decided to ignore those instruction and bully past his handler to get out on the field.
This is where I'm at. MLB's protocols may be lousy, but Turner willfully ignored even those inadequate measures. They need to slam him with a suspension. Covid isn't going away soon. Everyone will be dealing with it next season too. If there is a next season.
 

PseuFighter

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I really hope MLB isn't taking the "oh everyone will forget about this in a few weeks" approach, which they could theoretically do, or at least help downplay whatever happens next, since we're in off-season mode and I doubt anyone will be paying much attention to baseball for many months.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I don't think they can do that. That tidbit would be in every appeal by a player or team contesting a fine as evidence that the league is acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner vis a vis enforcement rights.
That's a good point.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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Buster Olney was just on ESPN and said that Turner has had contentious exchanges with MLB officials in the past regarding Covid and protocols. So this wasn’t the first time Turner displayed defiance towards MLB. There’s clearly a pattern here of him showing his ass to the league.
 

bankshot1

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Unless there's something in the CBA about covid-protocol for recently tested players, MLB probably is toothless in fining or suspending Turner.

So Manfred will take a Pats 1st rounder, have a drink or two, and be done with it.
 

Leather

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Unless there's something in the CBA about covid-protocol for recently tested players, MLB probably is toothless in fining or suspending Turner.

So Manfred will take a Pats 1st rounder, have a drink or two, and be done with it.
They came to an agreement.

And my guess is that the MLBPA probably would have told Turner not to worry too much about it because:

"Any covered individual found to be flagrantly violating these protocols, including refusing to wear a face covering after being reminded, can be banned from further participation in the 2020 season, following a written warning." [Emphasis added.]
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Those MLB guidelines also stipulate that players must wear masks anywhere except the field of play (e.g. dugouts, the stands, bullpens, locker rooms)... and that was never enforced. At least the NFL made an example of some coaches with fines to let everyone know they were paying some attention.
 

Kliq

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If the goal is for punishments to be significant enough to deter others from making the same infraction; then logically MLB should punish Turner in a manner that would make players think twice about running onto the field, without a mask, after testing positive for COVID, even if the team just won the World Series. To me, that means the punishment has to be incredibly harsh; like at least a year suspension and a hefty fine.

I know these guys are athletes and at low risk for significant health issues if they contract the virus, but even not accounting for the possibility of transmitting the disease to someone who is at higher risk, I can't help but think about poor Eduardo Rodriguez. You would think seeing a fellow player suffering potentially career-ending effects from the virus would make these guys think twice.
 

Max Power

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Buster Olney was just on ESPN and said that Turner has had contentious exchanges with MLB officials in the past regarding Covid and protocols. So this wasn’t the first time Turner displayed defiance towards MLB. There’s clearly a pattern here of him showing his ass to the league.
So he's an asshole who was probably flouting Covid safety protocols everywhere in his life and ended up getting infected because of it.
 

PseuFighter

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They came to an agreement.

And my guess is that the MLBPA probably would have told Turner not to worry too much about it because:

"Any covered individual found to be flagrantly violating these protocols, including refusing to wear a face covering after being reminded, can be banned from further participation in the 2020 season, following a written warning." [Emphasis added.]
Given the 2020 season is over, I wonder if they have anything to go on here. I would think Manfred has discretion.
 

RedOctober3829

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Agreed. It's going to kill me, man. I'm going to be sitting at home missing my family and I guarantee we're going to see a million holiday pictures of people who don't give a fuck.

We're our own worst enemy.
For me, it's doubly sad this year as my wife is in her 3rd trimester and we can't travel to see my family in Vermont. We're due the first week in January and family time before the birth would have been amazing. Sadly, between COVID and travel restrictions it isn't going to happen.
 

RIrooter09

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My son is 14 months old and hasn't seen his grandparents since October/November of last year. I want to take a bat to Turner's stupid fucking face.
 
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Leather

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Given the 2020 season is over, I wonder if they have anything to go on here. I would think Manfred has discretion.
Yeah. Not sure they can do much. Kind of a "whoops" on the part of MLB not to allow for other discipline.
 

DeadlySplitter

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Buster Olney was just on ESPN and said that Turner has had contentious exchanges with MLB officials in the past regarding Covid and protocols. So this wasn’t the first time Turner displayed defiance towards MLB. There’s clearly a pattern here of him showing his ass to the league.
OK, so it's way more likely Turner broke protocol in contracting the damn thing.

This SHOULD kill his FA market. we'll see if it actually does.
 

Sille Skrub

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For me, it's doubly sad this year as my wife is in her 3rd trimester and we can't travel to see my family in Vermont. We're due the first week in January and family time before the birth would have been amazing. Sadly, between COVID and travel restrictions it isn't going to happen.
Congrats on the sex?

Haha, but seriously. Congrats! I didn't know you had slipped one past the goalie. Hopefully, life will be more close to normal by the time it hatches.
 

EvilEmpire

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They came to an agreement.

And my guess is that the MLBPA probably would have told Turner not to worry too much about it because:

"Any covered individual found to be flagrantly violating these protocols, including refusing to wear a face covering after being reminded, can be banned from further participation in the 2020 season, following a written warning." [Emphasis added.]
Yeah, that could be a problem.

Still though, Manfred should suspend him anyway in a 'best interests of baseball' sort of way and make the MLBPA go through the process of fighting it. The more contentious it is, the more visibility it gets, and that might not be in the MLBPA or FA Turner's best interest. Even if the penalty can't be imposed, maybe MLB can deter some of this stupid behavior.
 

JoePoulson

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My son is 14 months old and hasn't seen is grandparents since October/November of last year. I want to take a bat to Turner's stupid fucking face.
My daughter is 9 months and hasn't seen her grandparents since she was born. It's hard to make sense of things.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Buster Olney was just on ESPN and said that Turner has had contentious exchanges with MLB officials in the past regarding Covid and protocols. So this wasn’t the first time Turner displayed defiance towards MLB. There’s clearly a pattern here of him showing his ass to the league.
This is disappointing and infuriating.

I was sort of hoping that once the dust settled and the excitement of the moment died down, there might be a moment of reflection from Turner and Roberts and anyone else who, in the immediate aftermath of the game, shrugged off the COVID concerns because it was a "once in a lifetime" moment. That we'd get mea culpas from all of them saying how wrong it was and how, in the light of day, Turner was being eaten up with guilt for potentially exposing his teammates and the assembled media, so he was praying for negative tests for everyone. I guess that's probably not coming.

So I'll abandon any guilt I might have had for vilifying the guy and go right on hating him for his willful ignorance.
 

joe dokes

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I know he's just a baseball player, but my proportionality filter is broken in these times. Turner now occupies the same space in my head as the worst of the worst. The Stephen Miller Division.
 

Gdiguy

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I cancelled my mlb.tv subscription tonight (or I guess to be more accurate, cancelled the auto-renewal for next year). I'm in complete agreement with what a number of you posted - this is completely ridiculous and unacceptable, and I think I'm done.
 

richgedman'sghost

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I know he's just a baseball player, but my proportionality filter is broken in these times. Turner now occupies the same space in my head as the worst of the worst. The Stephen Miller Division.
I put Turner in the category just below Trump. Not quite as bad but pretty close. Think of all the innocent people he put at risk (not including players) tv techs, camerpersons, families of the players; MLB support staff, writers etc. Multiple that by all those people when they went back home to their families etc... He literally could have infected between 50 and 100 thousand people if you play out the percentages. Why wasn't he arrested and brought up on charges? In my state he could be fined for not wearing a mask.