The coda to an unforgettably weird 2020 baseball season came when Justin Turner celebrated with his Dodgers teammates in the wake of a mid-World Series COVID-19 diagnosis. That incident led Major League Baseball announce a “full investigation into this matter” in a statement that flatly panned Turner for his recklessness.
Now, the league and MLB Players Union are “moving closer to a resolution” of the case from a disciplinary perspective, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter links). Just when we’ll learn of the outcome isn’t known; neither is it clear what range of punishment is under contemplation.
The league and union typically interact regarding disciplinary matters. There’s a reason that most PED or domestic violence-related suspensions are announced alongside the player’s decision not to challenge the result.
That was all the more necessary here. The league’s coronavirus protocols were jointly developed and obviously required significant buy-in from union officials and the players they represent. And Turner’s covid-shedding celebration presents a situation without any obvious precedent.
It seems we’ll have a final determination — and an opportunity for Turner to make some amends — before free agency begins in earnest (whenever that may be). Turner is one of the top available players on the open market this winter. It’s an open question whether and how the surreal scene will impact his free agency.
Turner’s decision was clearly the wrong one, but most of those here who have criticized him probably would have done the same thing.
Agree 100%
Plus those players were already exposed since he was in the dugout with them the last few days and a few hours before.
Agree, it’s about the safety of all the workers and family members who weren’t in the dugout and clubhouse with him that were put at risk. That was the crummy part
true but irrelavent
The problem with the decision is he made it for everyone else. I’m not exactly afraid of it but if I had it I would respect others and stay away. It’s not my decision to make to expose them anymore than they may have been already. Think players don’t care? Check out how many in MLB and NFL turned down millions to not play.
I agree with the principle of what ur saying, but his teammates had already been exposed. His test didnt come back positive till the 7th inning. Maybe I’m wrong for looking at it this way, but at that point what was done had already been done. And it’s a freaking WS win. That alone wouldnt be justifiable excuse, but coupled with the fact he had already been in the locker room, clubhouse, restrooms, etc for probably 4 hrs already, who cares.
But the wives and children on the field had not been around him. I wonder if any of the wives were pregnant? He made the choice for everyone on that field. Now, how did he acquire COVID? Fans, breaking protocols; some players said it was all a facade. Someone knows, and hopefully they’ll be transparent. I hope he gets a small suspension and huge fine that’ll be donated to relief workers and their families.
I haven’t seen one video or photo of him interacting closely to other player wives or children. All we saw, and there was plenty media access so it would be out there, is a team photo and a photo with the trophy and he was gone. He shouldn’t have been able to be back on the field. MLB wants you talking about Turner celebrating so you don’t ask the obvious question: how was he exposed to the virus in a bubble?
Staying in a bubble just greatly reduces the chance for transmittal. They probably still had interaction with the hotel staff and could have got it from touching a door handle, who knows. Plus they were allowed up to 6 guests per game
I’m not saying it is a fool proof method but it sure seemed to work out for nhl and nba without incident. Baseball’s bubble was obviously slapped together.
Why is this on JT alone? He was in the dugout with everyone on team for most of the game and for the last several days. If JT’s positive test stands, everyone on the team was already compromised. MLB and the players knew this. Why were wives and children allowed on the field?
Because only his test was positive.
Sure players care…for themselves and their self interests. They could easily afford to “stay” away. The masses cannot. Go away adolescent.
Nice use of quotation marks there dr evil
Nah I don’t think most people on here would say if I kill people who cares….. he wants to celebrate fine but wear the mask and morons like you are trying to justify him not wearing a mask
The fact that he didn’t wear a mask is the ultimate act of selfishness. At least if you don’t get him out of the park make him wear a mask. MLB should fine themselves. They failed, the Dodgers failed. It’s up to them to get him out as well. What dopes. Just shows what a miracle it was that they finished.
If Turner confesses he got carried away with the moment and made a mistake, he probably gets a short suspension, and everybody moves on. MLB can’t afford to take no action in this case because they will almost certainly have similar protocols in place for the 2021 season and they need the players to take them seriously or a lot of people are going to lose a lot of money. Ironically Turner was a leader in sticking to the protocols on his team during the season so it will matter even more to MLB and the MLBPA if he can show some humility and accept some consequences. I think he will.
“MLB can’t afford to take no action”, Really? Like the non action with the Astro’s? Nothing should happen to Turner period, this is a non event! No harm no foal!
No harm no foul? He agrees to these rules before the season began but selfishly decided the rules did not apply to him!
Hello apple, I’m an orange.
Yes, but the Astros’ situation is different — they didn’t offend thousands of hysterical Karens.
Very well thought out comment
“got carried away with the moment, and made a mistake”
Which is more than likely the truth.
And, this is pretty much how it came down.
You are trying to say that most people here would knowingly put others at risk of DYING just so we could celebrate?
Sounds to me like you are talking about yourself. Human beings that care about others simply do not do that. That says a tremendous amount about your lack of humanity.
Dafuq?
Apparently if everyone does the wrong thing it becomes right.
Sanity is statistical.
It’s Orwell’s world, we just live in it.
Nope. That’s ridiculous.
If people are getting hospitalized with Covid as a respiratory illness, it can obviously have deleterious effects on their careers as professional athletes. So, yeah, it’s a problem.
For commenters to excuse this behavior because he’s celebrating a WS is flawed thinking. The fact that he’s playing while suspected of having Covid (hence the test) is another curious decision. I know the answer…but it’s the WS!
Well, either this thing is serious, or it isn’t. MLB has decided to follow local/state/national opinions and deemed this a serious public health concern. He should be punished.
it was only wrong because they had an a agreement. Those guys all have such strict guidelines to follow and they play on the field everyday alongside the same people, and in this case, travel, live with, and sit in the dugout with the same people he is on the field with.
no one was in any type of danger.
and I am not a Turner fan at all
No. I definitely would not. If anyone says they would, they are shameful, despicable people. He didn’t just go out when he knew he was positive (which is the worst part for sure)– he also defied the instruction of the league, the team, and multiple officials.
So not only was it a bad decision, but even worse when someone claims “well most of you would have done it too.” Well if that’s true, than “most of you” are f###ing terrible people.
Great outrage, Karen. I bet you’re also good at climate change events.
Yep!
Yep to Darkside, not to Mr. politically correct wiffle.
No yep to wiffle!
This site is ridiculous. I did not want to agree with wiffle.
Good point.
Did the same thing – are you nuts?? There were other families and there kids on the field. I understand his desire to be on the field with his teammates but if nothing else keep a mask on!!
he’s a total buffon
he kant even spel.
Oh give the guy a break. They won the World Series
Ahhh yes. Give him a break. He won a championship. Very old school way of saying “boys will be boys”. Except this time he can kill people. Soooo yeah.
“He can kill people”….. did he? What ifs don’t determine reality.
We don’t KNOW yet. It can take 2 weeks for an exposed person to be symptomatic and asymptomatic people can pass the disease to others just as easily. Who did the people expose take the disease home to? And it wasn’t just his teammates on that field. It was media and members of MLB.
So the end result justifies whether the action was justifiable? In other words, if nobody dies (and good luck tracing all the people who contract it because of him) it’s okay? But, if someone dies then his actions were reprehensible? No, that’s why MLB set the standards up front, because of the possibility.
The biggest issue with this virus for the medical community is it’s inherent unpredictability.
Go land crabs – so if I drive drunk but don’t kill anyone it’s ok?
But what we do know is that covid has still killed only about 0.08 percent of the US population and the survival rate is now about 98%.and climbing. And this is in the country that has the worst infection numbers and deaths.
Turner should just apologize and say he got caught up in the moment. Which is what happened. Even his teammates, those he put at risk have said they understand. A fine and a suspension and move on.
30 day suspension and a $100,000 fine sounds right
“But whataboutism”. Driving drunk is against the law. Going on a baseball field is not.
Koamalu You play a great “high and mighty”. Problem is, ALL the people there on the field were in the bubble. They’d been there for weeks with Turner and all the guys. If any took it home, they did so knowing it was a possibility.
thank god the virus is only active during on field celebrations and not during gametime
The fact that people feel this way is disgusting. What have we come to as a society? No wonder things are the way they are. Nobody cares about anything, nobody has any ethical standards as long as they’ve got a keg of beer and the game is on.
Idiocracy, folks. We’re here.
It was a normal reaction. Sure it might have been the wrong thing to do but I bet many of us would have done the same thing. I am sure I would have.
Issue him a fine and move on.
So why not wear a mask though? 2020 Dodgers are like 2017 Astros with a *. It’s so obvious Manfred wanted the Dodgers to win so to take the heat off him. Dodgers purposely played with a COVID positive player and league tried covering it up.
johnnydubz, that is an absolutely stupid post, plain and simple. As soon as Turner’s test came back positive, he was removed from the game.
He should’ve been removed from the park, idiocy that they didn’t get him out of there.
You would have knowingly put other people and their families at risk of DYING? Wow.
Apparently most of these people would, because hey, it’s the World Series. Ultimate act of selfishness to not wear a mask and be amongst others so closely.
Well if you did, I’d vote to suspend you 80 games, fine you and the team, and take away draft picks. I might even vote to have you prosecuted for gross criminal negligence.
ROFL…. “Off with his head” while you’re at it! Good thing you have no vote, you’re off balance.
I would be so happy if I never saw him again. Suspend him for life plus ten years
They should make him shave off that ridiculous soupcatcher. Who wants to see him wear a chinwig like that for the rest of his life
Or make him go to the Orioles
Either or, that’s about how I feel on ol’ Turner
Goodnight
Butt hurt at all?
He looks too much like Dr. Zaius.
Why so much hate over someone’s else’s style? Of all the things to complain about. Sheesh.
Mr. Wilpon, you’re no longer an owner of a major league team.
I’m sorry Mr. Wilpon, but you’re no longer the owner of a major league team.
Are you sure you’re not Peter O’Brien, pinkerton? Because you sure didn’t get rave reviews.
Soupcatcher and chinwig…that’s funny.
Pinkertons were wanna be cops so that reaction is on par.
Already had his purgatory in Baltimore.
I’d infect my whole team with COVID if it meant celebrating the World Series. Live in the moment and forget about what happens after.
And if I were your teammate I’d punch you in the face for it.
The problem with your comment is you assume it’s alright to disregard the wishes of others. If you came out and said you want to celebrate and provide an opportunity for some to separate then it may be okay. Otherwise, you’re losing some teeth,
Sure, be worried about infecting young and healthy athletes with a better than 99 percent recovery rate, if they show any symptoms at all.
What if those athletes want to see their parents or grandparents afterwards?
So, which player you gonna kill off? Kenley? The manager Roberts? Maybe a pregnant wife? Lookouts, you’re a fool.
4% CFR. 4% DIE after the disease has run its course. Not 99% recovery. 4% DIE. Those players, coaches, and the media and members of MLB he came into contact also have families they go home to. How many of those did that slimeball put at risk?
Koamalu is factual but not truthful.
This virus is HIGHLY age stratified. Age matters. He skipped that part.
The CFR and IFR for those under 60 is far less than the flu. Over 80 much, much worse than the flu.
Average them out and you get numbers closer to what Koamalu is listing.
It’s like saying the *average* Angels hitter produces 1.5 WAR. Well, not if you remove the primary cause of the numbers (Trout) they don’t.
Should Turner have been more careful? Perhaps.
Was he “killing” anybody? Highly doubtful.
You can’t be too careful. Pitchers should be required to throw underhand in order to avoid a permanent injury to the arm.
CFR is a useless number because it includes only diagnosed cases and we know the vast majority of cases are not being diagnosed. Estimates based on antibody testing suggest an IFR in the neighborhood of 0.3-0.5 percent. This sounds like almost nothing until you apply some simple arithmetic to that number. I will let you do the math, it’s so much more instructive than my doing it for you.
And, again, IFR is much, much different for different age groups. Lumping everyone together is lazy and uninformative.
But I have good news for Justin and his Dodgers teammates! The IFR for ages 26-34 is only 0.05-0.07 percent.
In baseball terms, that would be the equivalent of Mookie getting robbed of a base hit once every three years or so – not enough for Mookie to likely figure out when, how, or why it happened – or if it was just random bad luck.
(medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.23.20160895v7.…)
Nonsense. It is neither lazy nor uninformative, because it is virtually impossible to isolate people who are more vulnerable from those who are less vulnerable. That’s why it isn’t about whether Turner’s life is in danger but to whom he might have spread it, and who gets it from them. And so on. I don’t know why the simple fact that viruses are contagious (especially this one) is so difficult for some to comprehend when it’s the single most important thing to know.
The problem with your comment is that you assume all of Budlight’s hypothetical teammates would share your point of view on the matter as opposed to his.
His teammates wanted him there.
You would knowingly put not just teammates, but members of the media and MLB AND everyone they come into contact with at risk of dying just to celebrate? That says volumes about the type of person you are. The lowest of the low.
Shut this joke of a season down now!
Wut?
Done.
What I wanna know is how he got sick in the first place. Did anyone else get sick? MLB was so quick to tell the world about Justin, but we haven’t heard a word about all those that were around him. MLB wants to discipline Justin, but they’re the ones who were supposed to be protecting him from the virus, they failed him.
Lol.
No other teammates tested positive.
I’m laughing at the fact the poster immediately went to the notion mlb failed Turner. It’s not like there is a zero fail plan.
No other teammates tested positive, as far as we know. MLB is under no obligation to tell us now, just as they weren’t telling us about players who were infected before the season started. Mostly we had unexplained absences from training camp and only learned later who had it, and mainly from the players themselves if they chose to talk about it.
So in other words their plan failed
He was the only one that tested positive, so I’m not sure what more you are hoping for. It was a bad decision. Rooted in the fact that he wanted to be part of the celebration and in the team photos since he was the emotional leader of that team for the past couple years And finally broke through for the championship. He was dumb. Hopefully everyone else is ok, but technically the season is over and the protocols are no longer applicable.
30 day suspension and a fine
The last time I checked Turner has no symptoms he may not even have coronavirus.
Curious about the last time you checked. Because the test was positive. No one has denied this. Like, at all.
There never have been any false positives?
are you a doctor?
He left the bubble during the WS. Its 100% on him.
I’ll bet the Astros gave it to him.
Don’t understand all this attention, it’s not like he banged on a trash can???
ignorant comment
What’s so funny is turner was and had been around everyone for the entire day. Then all of a sudden they tell him he is positive and needs to quarantine immediately. Uh, what is going to change all of a sudden. He was around EVERYONE already. If he has COVID it’s a little too,late to quarantine since he had been in and around all of the players.
Yeah, I think had he been held out all day and came out then this is a huge deal. As it unfolded though he had probably already been in contact with every single one of those guys in the dugout for the bulk of the game. I’m not trying to downplay the fact that it was a poor choice, but the damage had sorta been done by that point.
I have disliked the narrative “celebrated on the field with his teammates”. He wore a mask out, took a picture, and then posed with the trophy. He deserves a fine. But he was in the dugout until the end. Gimme a break.
It’s sad that this has tarnished his legacy because he is an incredible man.
Done a lot of good in the community, yes. But he was without question dumb. I’m sure he’s going to make up for it. Good luck Children’s Hospital and community food banks.
Incredible men do not put others at risk so they can celebrate. They just don’t. Incredible men care about the people around them. He obviously doesn’t.
He DIDN’T just come on the field to take a picture. He walked around hugging people for several minutes. He was not wearing a mask at first and with that beard it doesn’t matter much if he does wear a mask.
My question to you is why lie when we all watched him celebrate on the field?
Show me footage of celebration. Have yet to see it.
The mafia does a lot of good in the community at times too
So they can drop the hammer on Justin tuner for this but half ass the Astros punishment.
Banging on trash cans does not put innocent lives at risk…
It does if you had as much money on the Dodgers as I did.
What the Astros did was not against the rules until mid-September of 2017 and the commissioner could not levy a penalty against players for something that was not against the rules.
What Turner did is against rules agreed to before this season.
Ahhh I see we have a lot of Trumper/Dodger fans with us who don’t care about murdering anyone else.
80 game suspension and a $2 million fine should cover it.
You probably wear a mask in you car when driving alone.
Ahhh yes. Give him a break. He won a championship. Very old school way of saying “boys will be boys”. Except this time he can kill people. Soooo yeah.
And don’t forget to disinfect your hands if you touch yourself.
Turner made the wrong decision for sure but the MLB shouldn’t have allowed him to make that decision. The league made a lot of blunders in this too.
An MLB official tried to keep him off the field but he refused to comply. Turner also spent a while talking to Andrew Friedman but neither of them have disclosed what was said.
My initial feeling was that he’d appropriately be suspended / fined in accordance with MLB Policy for a player receiving a DUI with no injuries or fatalities. Not saying his actions couldn’t cause either, but virtually impossible to prove that they did if some occur and we all hope there are none. Both infractions can be viewed as a lapse in judgment that could have serious consequences.
Most of us are empathic to the emotions of just having won the WS and wouldn’t likely rush to judgment on a relatively young man who has a good reputation. The real game changer is if he really did brush off an MLB Official. Then the idea that his emotions ‘ran over’ losses all credibility because he had help refocusing them and selfishly blew it off. So I hope MLB investigates it properly and acts consistently with other similar offenses.
Something like that. The dollars at stake in the 2021 season will be a huge motivating factor. MLB simply can’t have players blowing off the health and safety protocols whenever they feel like it. They’d really like to run a full season next year, is my guess.
Last I heard was Turner was escorted onto the field after asking if he could celebrate, also Dave Roberts chose to sit next to Turner to support his team captain.
MLB’s statement:
“Immediately upon receiving notice from the laboratory of a positive test, protocols were triggered, leading to the removal of Justin Turner from last night’s game. Turner was placed into isolation for the safety of those around him. However, following the Dodgers’ victory, it is clear that Turner chose to disregard the agreed-upon joint protocols and the instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of others. While a desire to celebrate is understandable, Turner’s decision to leave isolation and enter the field was wrong and put everyone he came in contact with at risk. When MLB Security raised the matter of being on the field with Turner, he emphatically refused to comply.”
Pay particular attention to the last sentence. It’s why we’re having this entire conversation.
What Dave Roberts or any of his teammates did at that point isn’t even slightly relevant unless you want to make them complicit with the violation. That seems like a bad idea.
Good for Turner. Defiance of Karens is resistance to tyranny.
What?
I do t think it’s as simple as a fine, I think it’s a big fine. $250,000 and a 10 game suspension.
If one of my co-workers tested positive for an infectious and potentially fatal virus and came around me and my family I would most definitely be upset. I like Justin and I understand wanting to celebrate with teammates but it’s still wrong. It’s also funny how it seemed like the majority of people were all over Clevinger and Plesac this past summer for being selfish and irresponsible for going out yet they weren’t even positive.
So I guess it depends on who the player is?
It cracks me up how now, all of the sudden, after the tv informed you, you’re aware of infectious viruses. If you only knew what you’ve been exposed to on ANY any airline flight. It’s almost like the human body has a natural defense for infections. Crazy!
Yeah, I mean the experts are still learning about it since it’s still kind of new, continues to change and there’s no vaccine but what the hell do they know. I’m so stupid for exercising caution. Glad folks like you and our idiot president are around to keep me in check.
You gonna be ok bro?
Oh yeah, I got some good edibles and coffee. Everything’s great.
Cheers!
Its a NOVEL virus. The human body has NO natural defense to this disease. That is why 4% of the people whom it has had a conclusion die.
The guy is playing in the World Series & finds out he’s positive 30 minutes before a life time dream comes true. Give the guy a break.
Ok Gary. How about no. Make an example of him. Maximum punishment. Because of people like you is why our legal system is a joke.
Typical butt hurt Padre fan.
Confused SD fan unable to distinguish between baseball and the court system? Feeling the need to win the Comments Title since San Diego is o-for-ever on real titles? Big hint…. Turner didnt break any laws, so this has nothing to do with the American legal system.
Suspend him 50 games, 5 million, and pull all of the Dodgers draft picks in 2021.
I’d say 50 million games, $2.75 trillion fine and banishment to somewhere terrible, like California. Wait. Shoot.
Should LA forfeit 2021 too?
Troll
yes, take their draft picks because its totally the team’s fault. smh.
If they knew prior to the game then yes their draft picks and much, much more.
SD got spanked and this man is salty
Hhahahahhah
Let’s not forget, he was in the dugout and clubhouse, not taking any precautions with all his teammates before and up to the 8th inning. He obviously didn’t catch it during the game so they were already at risk. All he did was come out for a picture and kept the mask on until the photo was taken. He kissed his wife but if he has it, she has it or is gonna get it very soon. Plus that’s none of our business. He wasn’t out there for most of the celebrations so this really isn’t a big deal. Can anybody produce a picture of him hugging a teammate, fan, etc? No, nobody can.
I guess you must have turned off your TV early.
You can’t really blame him. They finally won the word series and it was the most exciting moment of his career. I’m also curious to how his teammates reacted. Did they know and gave him permission or were they cool with it after they found out?
And lets be honest. MLB could have kept him off of that field if they really wanted to.
He was asked to stay off the field and he refused to do what MLB asked,
Blake Treinan said MLB officials escorted Turner to the field….. No refusal to comply…. Maybe you could be better informed
I haven’t seen any such statement from Treinan, but I did read the press release from MLB that says precisely the opposite. So I will go with that.
I think a two year deal for $24MM keeps him with LAD…
I’m waiting for the “the season was over once the game ended, therefore no punishment will be handed out.”
When Turner is retired some day everyone will forget he joined his teammates celebrating victory while knowing he was infected with the Covid.
What a joke. MLB protocol is to remove someone with a positive test from the entire building ASAP. Why did they not make Turner leave? Why can’t they follow their own protocols? That’s on them and now because he made them look bad, they are going to go after him.
How about the fact that you get back your Monday test in the middle of the of the 2nd inning on Tuesday? Then you decide to rush the Tuesday test? How about MLB gets all the testing back the same day, before any games are played so they don’t have to worry about this at all! It’s not like the game was at 7am. They had all day to get it right!
Fail MLB, fail!
Nope. His pregame test came back inconclusive, so they had him take another.
Your post is a total fail because you didn’t even bother to find out what happened.
Now I see why they turned off comments the first time. Some crazy people out there with the ability to type…
Yea free speech in an open forum is crazy!
Resolution will basically be “nobody got sick so let’s all move on.”
Clearly a selfish, bad move but thankfully no damage.
Only as far as we know, and we can’t say we know anything, because MLB hasn’t reported anything, and probably won’t.
True.
We don’t know if anybody got sick. It takes as much as two weeks for symptoms to appear and some that caught it from exposure to him have taken it home to their families.
Suspend him. For the entire season.
Zero tolerance.
And if it ruins his career… it is what it is.
He didn’t just expose the other players. He exposed their parents,their children,and their wives. Let’s not forget about the writers and team associates. It was a selfish act. He put many peoples health at risk. The punishment should be heavy.
Honest question. Did any other players test positive afterward? None were allowed to fly until cleared. Has there been any other positives related to it? If so, whom? If not, did he then take the neccesary precautions to mitigate passing it? I have not seen any reports that anyone else has been infected here, despite the fact he obviously was in close contact with his team and presumptively thw traveling familiea theoughout the day. Please share any reports of cases following the event as I’d be intereated in those direct correlations.
This question has already been answered. The answer is we don’t know, and we’re probably never going to know.
its not the outcome its the fact he’s hugging players his Mgr etc. Big Suspension and fine
Spoiled brat syndrome, greedy idiot man-child that have no regards for others. Endanger others for a celebration, please. This is not cheating or ped use, this can result in death, hence should be regarded as depraved indifference attempted man slaughter. To all the jokers that do not take this seriously, think one second that the athletes that were present might not be at a high risk of dying if they contract the disease but what about the family members they interact with, like grandma or grandpa? So let us call it for what it is a greedy idiot who has no concern for others.
There can’t possibly be any middle ground between being a joker who doesn’t take it seriously, and charging him with manslaughter
Turner’s punishment should be having to listen to Kamala Harris speak for 30 minutes…
Ah you’re one of those people. Wonder who you voted for.
You’re forgetting that there’s a law against cruel & unusual punishment.
Didn’t see much of a fight from Turner’s teammates when he returned to the field. Didn’t see the entire team run away from him or tell him to leave. Because of that, this should be a non-story and the real story should be the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series. Not this.
The other Justin Turner topic should be whether or not he stays in LA or signs elsewhere.
Uhhh. No
With this riveting reply I’d say, uhhh yes.
Uhhhh yes!
He’s at that over the hill point in his career don’t think many teams are going to sign this guy
He’s productive. Many teams with vie for his services. To think he can no longer land any contract is absurd thinking.
Turner is a typical selfish athlete who only cares about himself. He is a scumbag.
You are an idiot. He’s one of the most charitable players in all MLB.
How dare you.
His lack of a response speaks volumes. Very selfish. He puts his teammates in a very awkward position as they need to answer the questions. Suspend him at least 30 games and he sacrifices any playoff share.
His lack of a response speaks volumes about we won’t hear anything out of him until the league and union figure out what to do with him.
The high death count from Turner’s brazen attitude and actions towards this deadly killer of a disease shows he should be banned for good. No letting him off during this all-time worst pandemic.
Justin Turner is a very bad orange man.
Banned for good? Really? What an absolutely dumb comment. I have waited for over a week to hear how many players came down with the virus, after coming in contact with Turner. He was on the field for what, 15-30 minutes?
His comment dripped with sarcasm, so…..
Technically, the season was over. Can’t imagine MLB really being able to anything legally.
He is still under MLB union protection however. So they can enforce any punishment.
Good grief. Could this article get any more sanctimonious with its wording?
Admit it: Justin Turner is the second worst orange man ever!
Now, you have to wonder who has the authority on that dodgers team! I mean, a player – no matter how good or multimillionaire he is – must follow SOP’s, guidances, rules etc like we all do in ordinary life. If the player gets away with all of that he might as well own the team…
All the outrage is ludicrous. Turner was in the clubhouse, the dugout, and on the field with these same people continuously for the previous 7 hours. A call from the Commish doesnt make him suddenly more contagious. A half hour to celebrate hardly seems relevant.
Why can’t we cancel a comment, when it falls behind another poster with whom we do not agree? Happens all the time and there is no way to remove the comment.
fox471@, That only means you are second in line to that original comment. The one directly above yours is commenting on the same original comment you are, but he just posted first. What I do is I add the name every time like in this case Fox471@. Problem solved.
Total idiot thinking only of himself not even wearing a mask during the celebration, hugging players and coaches this guy is only thinking of himself
Suspension and fine is forthwith coming
Turner should explain to the authorities that he was just protesting social injustice — or better, not even celebrating, just engaging in some mostly peaceful on-field rioting. Total exoneration.
nah, the people at the protests all wear masks cause they actually care about each other!
So let’s get this straight, the Astros cheat their way to a world championship, breaking the rules along the way, with not even a slap on the wrist for most of those involved! Justin Turner has played baseball the right way his entire life and because he spends a few minutes on the field celebrating a once in a lifetime achievement and a moment he richly deserves, baseball will make an example of him.. If this is the state of baseball today it’s truly pathetic..
Let’s get this straight: your analogy is nonsensical.
MLB wants to run a full season next year, and they can’t do that if players aren’t following the health protocols. It has nothing to do with the Astros and everything to do with the business of the game.
You’re forgetting that the election is now over, so exaggerating the dangers of Covid is no longer politically useful.
You are forgetting to say anything true.
We’ll find out soon enough.
Right, all those dead people will spring back to life and nobody else will die. It will be a miracle!
Good point Bob lol. I don’t think some people on here can seem to fathom that the media and politicians are often untrustworthy and often act to an agenda that are be based on half truths.
What?
I should have been clearer: my comment was in reference to the future.
I’m confused why the union would go along with this (legally, not in principle) so I must obviously be missing something. I happened to read the 2020 MLB operations manual and it states clearly that the COVID protocols end “at the end of the season.” I’ve never considered the season to still be ongoing after the World Series has ended. Additionally, the Covid memo sent to players in August states that breaking the Covid protocols could result in a maximum penalty of “suspension through the 2020 postseason.”
So there must be some document other than those that is legal justification and overrules these supposed legal documents? If anyone knows specifically what that is that I’m missing, please share.
The players and the owners agreed to the protocols. Maybe you can explain what you mean by legally, because as far as I can tell the concept doesn’t seem to apply here.
The players might argue that technically the season was over when the last out was recorded and the protocols were no longer in force, but I don’t see anyone involved trying to make that argument. Everybody, players and owners, know it was not a good look for baseball for that to happen, especially with so many people watching.
I mean legally in the sense that – some document exists as “the rules.” (for example, somewhere there is a document that lists the punishments for a positive PED test). If a player breaks a rule, the league would presumably have documentation somewhere of what that rule is, that was broken.
So I’m saying MLB and MLBPA agreed to the rules for this year, which is the 2020 Operating Manual. Then MLB sent out a memo in August to teams, clarifying some of the issues, including punishments. (scribd.com/document/466744205/2020-MLB-Operations-… AND shorturl.at/oCKNW). My question is basically – if the document that lists the punishment for breaking COVID rules (and says they don’t carry over beyond the season) isn’t enforceable, what document or principle would be used to overrule it?
Here are two relevant parts: 1) Players and staff members who have been ordered to quarantine or isolate on the road…Any club official who does not receive permission from the commissioner’s office to end their quarantine or isolation is subject to discipline. 2) any player or staff member who repeatedly violates the COVID-19 protocols will be subject to a suspension from the regular season and postseason.
Also, the thing about Justin Turner disobeying MLB security….point #1 above is from the operating manual, but the August creates self-appointed team compliance officers and states “a player in quarantine or isolation may leave it with permission of the team compliance officer.”
I don’t know who was appointed as the Dodgers team compliance officer or even if this figures into what went down, but from what we’ve seen so far (granted, not a lot) the intention is to show that MLB and the players take the protocols seriously and nobody is looking to exploit any technicalities. I expect JT will at some point put his hat in his hand, say he made a mistake in the excitement of the moment, gets a few days suspension, and maybe makes an appropriate charitable contribution. Seeing as he is also a free agent he has a lot of incentive to get this behind him.
The season ending is defined in their contract as being 11:59:59pm on the day of Game 7 being completed (Or scheduled to be completed if a Game 7 is not necessary). All players are “in season” through that date.
Does anyone know if guidelines for not following COVID protocols were put into place. Sounds like he was told to “Isolate, or else…”.
I wild like to think most people would go back to the field and stay distanced from everyone, and at least be there… But I think I would have done the same, with mask on.
Had to compare it to Astro’s player’s punishment because it is different, but if Rose can’t be inducted, Shoeless Joe couldnt play, and Turner gets suspended, please tell me why the Astro’s were let off? I love LA and like JT, I think he deserves a fine, the Dodgers deserve a bigger fine, and the MLB should apologize for not having a policy in place in case a player violates their guidelines.
Just my 2 cents.
I didn’t know that detail about 11:59…. seems legitimate (I trust you) and if so, that takes away my entire argument. Thanks for teaching me something new!
I think there’s a codicil in there somewhere that says the commissioner can unilaterally do whatever he wants if he thinks it’s in the “best interests of baseball.” Which comes down to what the owners want or the political winds dictate.
I think this must be it!
The real question was how did the MLB not create a strong enough bubble that something like this happened. A player shouldnt be forced to pick between celebrating with his team and a punishment. The MLB needs to realize they were the one who messed up more than Turner.
Please MLB TR don’t perpetuate and dramatize beyond the initial story of a player choosing not to adhere to a rule. Never mind the argument of whether his decision was bad. Just stop with the drama. I cannot imagine anyone on this site really actually caring about this story beyond it’s matter of fact occurrence. You – the media – have the incredible responsibility of making news and opinion something that is reasonable. Something that stands alone as worth reading.
What?
Who cares if he went out and celebrated. In 30 years, nobody will be whining about this at all. He will have the memory of the celebration.
Maybe his last words to his detractors could be, “Its a celebration, bitches!!!”
You are the reason why comments are closed.
Turner will not be further punished. Being scolded by the Covid Karens was punishment enough.
What?
It’s true — no further punishment.
So what’s the reason for turning off the comments on the newer article? I get it but that’s the reason I come here, to comment or read comments. If I just wanted to read article I can go to espn, fox, mlb, and the athletic websites
Perhaps you haven’t heard, but our tech overlords are shutting down free speech everywhere they can.