Phils & Covid

[BostonRoss]

I thought I read that he is a Mormon.

He is a Mormon, and he doesn't drink. That's why he said "That's a clown question, bro" when he was asked if he would drink in Canada while with the Nationals in Toronto before he turned 21.

[bkox]

MLB will require non-playing personnel (managers, coaches, athletic trainers, etc.) to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to gain access to field and other restricted areas in postseason, sources tell @TheAthletic . 1/2

— Ken Rosenthal ( @Ken_Rosenthal ) September 17, 2021

Sources add: Any staff member who is currently unvaccinated but wants to retain access to restricted areas during postseason may do so if staff member receives one dose of one of the vaccines prior to October 4 and has a second dose scheduled.

— Ken Rosenthal ( @Ken_Rosenthal ) September 17, 2021

[LoneStarPhan]

No reason to not make that requirement 100% for access, including the players.

Every person who has made the decision to not vax for personnel reasons (not valid medical reasons) has contributed to the continuation of COVID as a major problem in this country and they have contributed to deaths that didn't have to happen.

[bkox]

No reason to not make that requirement 100% for access, including the players.

Union and CBA would be in the way

[BostonRoss]

Seems like a lot of unions in many fields oppose vaccine mandates.

[LoneStarPhan]

Yes, there are other unions that are fighting vaccine requirements. That is not a reason in my opinion for MLB to do the right thing.

[zambonir]

Some unions are more opposed that others. I get why that's the case on principle, though I think MLB could have been a lot more aggressive about negotiating. NBA is not mandating either (the union has said it is opposed) but the teams in NY and SF may have to do so by law.

[andyb]

I think more unions are for mandates now than opposed. School unions took a really safe, oppositional approach to opening schools initially, but that has been reversed of late. Unions realized the vast majority of their members wanted the mandate even if 100% did not. They are organizations that work for their majority even if they strive to get rights for everybody.

[BostonRoss]

My point is that many unions are against the mandate or think they should get something in return for doing the right thing. Baseball is reflecting society. The interesting thing is that some entities, including the federal government, are imposing mandates anyway. It will be interesting to see if any union challenges are upheld.

[bkox]

Players who will be participating in the Arizona Fall League this year are required to be vaccinated https://t.co/FctCelHazb

— Doug Gray ( @dougdirt24 ) September 21, 2021

[julio]

Players who will be participating in the Arizona Fall League this year are required to be vaccinated

https://t.co/FctCelHazb

— Doug Gray (@dougdirt24) September 21, 2021

Good.

[zambonir]

Actually not going great in the NBA

The NBA's Anti-Vaxxers Are Trying to Push Around the League--And It's Working

This might be paywalled, but there are certainly news stories kicking around about Kyrie and Wiggins, among others.

[bkox]

Mickey Moniak just shared an anti-vax post on his Instagram story. We were all rooting for you Mickey and you let us down. What a loser pic.twitter.com/FVwJcp4dXr

— Owen ( @Plunancie ) October 2, 2021

Apparently JoJo Romero shared the same post as well

[Squire]

If Moniak himself is not vaccinated he won’t be playing in the Arizona Fall League as MLB requires vax to participate in that

[zambonir]

The only thing worse than an anti-vaxxer is a vaccinated anti-vaxxer.

[California_Dreamin]

Anyone else think Mickey is subtly trying to force his way out of Philadelphia? My guess is that this will work. Its one thing to feel the way he does. Its quite another to pontificate about it in a post that he knows will reach thousands, including Phillie phans and executives. Say good bye to MM, he is as good as gone after this...and my guess is that is precisely what he wants. He will be traded, likely for pennies on the dollar. Maybe JoJo too.

[zambonir]

I don't think he needs to do anything to force it! 50-50 he's traded anyway. But I also don't think this would be a big enough deal. If anything, the message he would have received this year is that the Phillies have no problem with it, and some of his best teammates have his back.

Also, while I don't agree with what he shared, it's not like it was outright misinformation or propaganda. Heck, being against vaccine mandates and not thinking you should you lose your job because of it is technically the official position of MLBPA.

[Squire]

No....I think there is a prevalence of right wing anti vaxx nutjobs in the entire organization.....if anything the Phillies have shown themselves to be more tolerant of this inane way of thinking than other orgs. So I don't think he is trying to force his way out by sharing an anti - vax post

[BostonRoss]

I think if Moniak were trying to shoot his way out of Philly, he might have reduced his market by doing this. Some organizaitons may not want to give up anything for someone who disagrees with their organizational philosophy (unless it was a star, which Moniak is not).

[LoneStarPhan]

Regardless of where you stand on the vaccine, it is a fact that those who have not been vaccinated have contributed to the deaths of many who might not have died had we reached an effective herd immunity.

I hope the Phillies will not trade for or sign any free agent who is not fully vaccinated.

I hope MLB and the Players Association reach an agreement that requires every player to be fully vaccinated unless there is a documented valid medical reason not to be vaccinated.