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zambonir
Jun '20
tom81

They get paid. They are under contract.

Over 65 is considered high-risk, period. Just like being immunocompromised at any age. In those cases right now you also shouldn't be eating at indoor restaurants, doing non-essential errands, or seeing family members without distancing. The reopening does not really apply to you.

Sure, to some extent it's an individual choice, but the team has liability to consider, and if one of them ends up on a ventilator that could end the Twins' whole season.

A little easier to make that call for minor members of the coaching staff though. I don't imagine Dusty Baker and Joe Maddon are taking the year off.

phillychuck
Jun '20
zambonir

As someone in that age group, it should be my choice as to whether or not I'm returning to work. I am not a higher risk to spread COVID, I'm just a higher risk to suffer serious complications. We need to set up a system where those who are risk averse (and not crazy about it) can protect themselves, but those who are risk tolerant can also make decisions that make sense for them and their families. Don't patronize me; let me decide. Using liability as an excuse is irrational. If I return to work I waive any right to hold my employer liable.

zambonir
Jun '20

Agreed, but I bet none of that applies to MLB. The Uniform Employee Contract probably gives the teams and league all the leeway. As it is, Manfred already suspended all contracts for the year so teams and leagues already have the right to fire, furlough or layoff anyone they want. To whatever extent they have not done so has mostly been due to PR blowback.

It would be an interesting test case. If your employer at a regular job required you to work from home - which is the case here, they are going to be "advisors" - and was still paying you full salary and benefits - would a court consider that a form of discrimination, or even worthy of the court's time?

phillychuck
Jun '20

Good hypothetical question.

I am planning to return to work in person in early September (as of right now--conditions may change). My employer has not indicated any preference for me to work solely from home; in fact, I think my employer would object to me doing that (although, in my job, it is a feasible option). We are all blazing new trails through the COVID wilderness..

zambonir
Jun '20

We're likely to have a lot more lawsuits for the exact opposite situation, older or immuno-compromised-adjacent employees who want to continue working from home but aren't being given the option.

Another issue that's going to come up - employers who decide to make WFH permanent or semi-permanent without compensating their employees for the space and resources used on company time.

LoneStarPhan
Jun '20

I have not heard of any Phillies' players opting out other than Wheeler probably missing a part of the season for the birth of their child. I guess we will know in a few days if anyone is not reporting to ST2.

zambonir
Jun '20

Per the Phillies thread Klentak said they are not expecting anyone to opt out. However there are still players who won't be medically cleared after testing positive.

andyb
Jun '20

Positive test absences will give them a little time to finesse 40-man roster moves if they need to. If they can elevate someone from the 60 who is not on the 40 to replace a positive test it will give all these AAAA pitchers chances without exposing them to waivers eventually.

BaseballCat
Jun '20
1

Wow, powerful. Thanks for posting. The MLB Trade rumors site has link to post, but it never mentions the meaningful words expressed by Ian Desmond before his announcement of sitting out. That is a shame.

Patchmk88
Jun '20
zambonir

Wow that was an experience reading that. Definitely a tear jerker and thought provoker. Desmond now has a new fan.

DurhamBull
Jun '20

Yes, I respect Desmond a lot after reading that. Very thoughtful & powerful. Thanks for sharing.

BostonRoss
Jul '20

The Lowell Spinners web site says that season ticket holders and others who purchased tickets for this season will receive a credit for next season. If MLB’s plan goes through, the Spinners won’t be playing next year either.

zambonir
Jul '20

Yeah that's a tough one. If I was a loyal longtime season ticketholder I'd happily do that as a show of faith and support that they will figure out a way to still exist, and to not further strain their finances this year, but there's also a chance they'd go away without being obligated to offer refunds, i.e. bankrupt (and that is also going to be true of a lot of teams, even ones that haven't previously been targeted for rumored MLB contraction).

And if I was an individual ticket buyer and they're not giving refunds I'd be calling my credit card company.

LoneStarPhan
Jul '20

Surely MLB will cover obligations of minor league teams in the interest of preserving the good name of professional baseball. :rofl:

Baseball is not alone in holding money for events not happening, at least not now. My son mentioned recently that he had two thousand tied up in tickets to concerts and Broadway plays, all now cancelled. Almost all want to roll the money over to future events. I have money with an airline for a trip that I couldn't take in May. Maybe later this year, we will feel we can fly again, but right now, I am not going to take a plane trip. In fact, the destination is not now being served by the airline. I don't know when they will resume flights to that airport.