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“If this game hasn’t gotten me by now, no virus is going to get me,” West said on Monday night. “I’ve weathered a bunch of storms in my life. I’ll weather another one.” Major League Baseball determined West to be high-risk for COVID-19. The league is offering full pay and service time to high-risk umpires who choose not to work, just as it is for high-risk players. But West, 67, told deputy commissioner Dan Halem on Sunday afternoon that he planned to return for his 42nd season, extending the longest umpiring career in major-league history. |
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The league cannot legally force an umpire to opt out, but most high-risk umps are expected to step aside. West said Halem was “taken aback” by his choice to work, and promised to do everything possible to keep him and the other umpires safe. “He said, ‘According to our doctors, you’re high-risk,’” recalled West, who lives in Clermont, Fl., about 22 miles west of Orlando. “I said, ‘Look, most of these people that they’re reporting are dying are not healthy to begin with. I’ve lost 25 pounds over the winter. I’m playing golf every day in the heat. I’m fine. I’m not going to back down now.’ “I don’t believe in my heart that all these deaths have been from the coronavirus. I believe it may have contributed to some of the deaths. |
trips and falls?
All evidence to the contrary that West is smart based on his comments.
Haha. That was exactly my first reaction to reading this. His arrogance seems to be the same on/off the field as well.
On what basis have you determined West is a smart individual? To be fair i dont know his educational background - also dont understand his comments above about "if this game hasnt gotten me by now" - is baseball somehow treacherous?
i thought i read a few months ago they were leaning that way? I guess the union wouldnt put up with any progress. So many of these ref jobs should be automated - don't get me started on why the NHL still has two on-ice linesmen... they do nothing but get in the way of plays.
I don't like West, but for as long as Angel Hernandez is employed, he's gotta be the undisputed champ.
Hopefully his other crony Angel Hernandez takes the deal and does not umpire this season.
This is what concerns me, older folks who are fine with the risk and what happens from there. If they get sick and die, what does that do to a company/entity? 1 reckless decision can have repercussions far beyond the individual.
If he dies it shouldnt be more than a footnote that we get a few times a year during an ESPN broadcast about how so and so official died from heart attack, stroke, cancer, accident, whatever.
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would have the worst opinion about science.
I don't like West, but for as long as Angel Hernandez is employed, he's gotta be the undisputed champ.
Ha, Forgot about him! Agreed.
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He'll get sick from exposure at work or he won't. If he gets sick, he's at especially high risk for severe illness or death, but it's not a sure thing. Nothing's a sure thing. I'm a bit younger than him, I wouldn't take that risk (In fact, I'm staying on work-from-home indefinitely, along with a number of older workers at my employer.), but people are gonna do what people are gonna do.
This is what concerns me, older folks who are fine with the risk and what happens from there. If they get sick and die, what does that do to a company/entity? 1 reckless decision can have repercussions far beyond the individual.
He's not at any more risk of infection than any other player or umpire, I guess. Though I suspect catchers and umpires are going to be at elevated risk of catching this from each other because they work in close physical proximity. If he gets it, and he's working the plate, the catchers will get it.
Interesting point about the robot umps. Don't forget that Joe West isn't just a regular old umpire, he's the President of the MLB Umpire's Association. So his opinion on matters like these reflect more than his own feelings, or so you would think. He probably views baseball using robot umps in a test run as a potential death knell to the Umpire Association. Doesn't excuse his dumb logic about the COVID deaths which has been repeated by way too many people, but I think he's definitely coming from a place where he's trying to protect his and other umps value to the game.
Makes perfect sense to me and best of luck to the Posey family.