I want baseball back just like the rest of you. I am so happy that an agreement has been reached and that baseball is coming back. If the league, players, and most importantly, experts, deem it safe conditions to play, who am I to say otherwise? I am thrilled that we will have America’s pastime back during this time. We can definitely use it.
But, we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Coronavirus has not gone away. And that’s why it is okay if a player opts out of playing this season.
As of Tuesday morning, four players have opted out of playing: Ryan Zimmerman, Joe Ross, Mike Leake, and Ian Desmond.
Ross and Leake did not give specific reason for not participating in the season (nor, should they have to, since again, we are in the middle of a pandemic) but Zimmerman and Desmond both opened up. Zimmerman took to the Associate Press where he detailed his decision to not play, she has three young children, including a new-born, and a mother at high-risk as she suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.
Desmond posted a long note on his Instagram page, writing “With a pregnant wife and four young children who have lots of questions about what’s going on in the world, home is where I need to be right now.”
All of that is understandable. All of it. As someone whose father had MS, I likely would have made the same decision that Zimmerman did if I were in his shoes. But unfortunately, these players (and those players who have yet to opt out but will) are facing backlash. And they shouldn’t. They are doing what they believe is best for themselves and their families.
Do I think every player should opt out of the season? No. If you want to play and are comfortable with the precautions that are being taken, that’s great. I am so happy you are getting to go out there, play the game you love, bring hope back to the fans, do your job and get paid for it. Baseball fans everywhere thank you for it, and appreciate it.
But if you are not comfortable playing, and especially if you have high-risk immediate family members, you should not be forced to play in the midst of this pandemic. And fans should respect this decision — it likely wasn’t an easy one.
For all of you who do have to go to work and do not have the option to forfeit a season like these players do, I thank you, on behalf of the entire MMO team.
