MLB Has No Right To Suspend Or Fine Justin Turner
Looking at MLB’s statement on Justin Turner going on the field to celebrate the World Series, it seems like it’s primed to suspend or fine him. Well, based on their previous inactions, MLB has no right to single out Turner here.
The first known break from COVID19 protocols was Carlos Correa. After Joe Kelly threw up and him to him, Correa started a benches clearing incident. The entire altercation was in violation of MLB protocols, and yet Correa was not fined or suspended for his actions.
Perhaps the most egregious example was Don Mattingly and the Miami Marlins. Miami was a hot spot for the pandemic, and the Marlins knew they had teammates test positive. Rather than follow protocols, they held a team vote and decided to play. This shut down the Marlins and Phillies season for a week, and it was nearly catastrophic to the ability to have this truncated 2020 season.
Neither Mattingly nor the players were fined or suspended for their actions.
You can go further than this. The players didn’t wear masks or maintain social distancing in the dugouts. They threw the ball around the horn. Not everyone adhered to the COVID19 protocols. Essentially, following the season, the protocols were merely weak suggestions.
That was readily apparent when Turner was allowed to play in Game 6 of the World Series despite his first having an inconclusive test. Then, after there was a positive test result discovered in the second inning, Turner was allowed to play through the seventh.
That makes no mention of the fact COVID19 test results are supposed to be anonymous. Despite that, it was widely and immediately published Turner had tested positive.
Now, despite MLB not enforcing any protocols and their failing to take any action on the most egregious of violations, they’re going to throw the book at Turner? The very same Turner they let play in the game and enter the ballpark against their own protocols?
That’s completely and utterly ridiculous and purely reactionary. No, MLB lost the opportunity and the right to penalize Turner when they looked the way on each and every violation which happened during the course of the season.
Please stop making up stuff. Turner was taken out of the game when they found out he tested positive. They did not play him knowing he was positive.
Furthermore, there’s no valid argument to make that two wrongs make a right and Turner shouldn’t be punished because major league baseball didn’t do everything perfectly.
Turner knew he tested positive for a deadly disease and nonetheless opted to inject himself into the celebration and expose everyone he was near to possible serious illness or death.
The appropriate solution is to make it a felony for knowingly participating in a group while infected. Almost 230,000 Americans dead. Enough is enough.
First off, under protocols, with an inconclusive test, Turner was not permitted to play.
Second, they knew in the second inning he was positive, and they still waited until the eighth to remove him from the game.
Just because you don’t like the facts doesn’t mean they’re made up. Moreover, he did nothing different than the Marlins, and they faced no penalties.
MetsDaddy is playing the tit for tat playbook even in matters with life and death consequences. Turner even showed no respect for the health of his wife as he stood right next to her with no mask posing for the cameras. There’s something wrong with him, so selfish even with his family. What a prick.
Go ahead and explain why what the Marlins did was acceptable but what Turner did wasn’t.
I’m all ears.
His teammates should be furious. The entire Dodgers organization should be.
I think Turner and future violators of MLB Covid isolation protocols, should be as steep, if not steeper than failing drug and performance enhancement, domestic violence protocols.
In fact, suspend him without pay for the entire 2021 season, just like those who were suspended for the Astros cheating scandal.
Have to even question whether the Dodgers should ever let him play again for them. He violated such a sacred trust – the health and safety of everyone he came in contact with.
Calling out Turner is a separate and distinct discussion than what MLB has allowed.