Unvaccinated Players

[jerb]

 

Ethan Diamandas

@EthanDiamandas

 

#BlueJays President Mark Shapiro on vax status affecting potential moves:

 

"It impacted our access to talent, and negated some trades and limited our free agents."

 

Said the team did broach the idea of players getting vax'd specifically to play in Toronto.

[Jimcanuck]

I would bet plenty that they were talking to Conforto.

[jaysblue]

 

Ethan Diamandas

@EthanDiamandas

 

#BlueJays President Mark Shapiro on vax status affecting potential moves:

 

"It impacted our access to talent, and negated some trades and limited our free agents."

 

Said the team did broach the idea of players getting vax'd specifically to play in Toronto.

 

Taking a neutral stance here.

 

So many people on here loving how the Jays will have a huge home field advantage when American teams are up here failed to realize that these Federal vaccine mandates still have a negative impact on this organization as Shapiro this offseason probably was limited in terms of which players he could sign and trade for. Now granted, majority of players in the MLB seem to be vaccinated, but I'm sure they were interested in some players who remained unvaccinated.

 

What happens at the trade deadline? What happens if there is a certain player or pitcher that the Jays could acquire but can't because of the Federal vaccine mandates? I'm just saying as a baseball fan and a fan of this organization, that would suck knowing that the Jays missed out on getting a certain player or pitcher that could have put them over the top at the trade deadline because of the Federal mandates.

 

Hopefully this isn't a long term thing and that in the next couple of months, all of this is over.

[jaysblue]

Yup Jim, it applies to both sides for sure.

 

An unvaxxed American player though can always go back to the US and doesn't require any quarantine etc. Though Canadian border measures would have to change for that to happen in order to have that American player playing at the Rogers Centre.

 

As for a Canadian player, yes then they wouldn't be able to play in the US unless they had a certain special visa or green card where they can cross the border.

 

So overall, if Federal mandates are eased on both sides, it would make things a lot easier.

[jerb]

 

Ethan Diamandas

@EthanDiamandas

 

Mark Shapiro, quoted in this story:

 

“I almost jumped through my phone screen when I see a reporter write that it's a competitive advantage of the Toronto Blue Jays because [teams] can't bring players across the border. You got to be freaking kidding me."

 

Ethan Diamandas

@EthanDiamandas

 

Takeaways from media Q&A with #BlueJays President Mark Shapiro:

https://t.co/C0nlM8wdhF

[Olerud363]

Yup Jim, it applies to both sides for sure.

 

An unvaxxed American player though can always go back to the US and doesn't require any quarantine etc. Though Canadian border measures would have to change for that to happen in order to have that American player playing at the Rogers Centre.

 

As for a Canadian player, yes then they wouldn't be able to play in the US unless they had a certain special visa or green card where they can cross the border.

 

So overall, if Federal mandates are eased on both sides, it would make things a lot easier.

 

Yeah. Sounds like it is a net disadvantage especially long term, as it sounds like there were players we could have had, were it not for the mandate.

 

Carlos Correa too maybe? Would be ironic if Jays miss the playoffs by a game or 2, and say Robbie Ray leads Seattle to that spot, and Correa leads Twins to a spot.

[Olerud363]

We'll see what happens. I'm thinking it won't be that severe. Something might give...

 

It's hard not to be political here, however we now have players who probably aren't going to come to Toronto for political reasons. Beyond the players not coming because they aren't vaccinated, others may not come because they don't like where the culture here is headed, regular lockdowns, mandates, etc., even if vaxed they may not be cool with the environment. Not saying it is right or wrong, just saying it's a legit issue.

 

So it's not just the 20% or whatever of unvaxxed that Toronto can't sign, it's a larger number including vaxed with concerns.

 

Jays seemingly did a good job navigating that this winter, but we don't know how it will play out long term, and we don't know what other options would have been available without the vax constraint.

[Laika]

It's hard not to be political here, however we now have players who probably aren't going to come to Toronto for political reasons. Beyond the players not coming because they aren't vaccinated, others may not come because they don't like where the culture here is headed, regular lockdowns, mandates, etc., even if vaxed they may not be cool with the environment. Not saying it is right or wrong, just saying it's a legit issue.

 

So it's not just the 20% or whatever of unvaxxed that Toronto can't sign, it's a larger number including vaxed with concerns.

 

Jays seemingly did a good job navigating that this winter, but we don't know how it will play out long term, and we don't know what other options would have been available without the vax constraint.

 

That's true

 

Also, and this is a razor's edge as far as the convo going off track, but I am sure there are a few right wing baseball players who were shocked by Canada's emergency decision to let banks freeze people's money if they had any whiff that they were connected to that trucker protest. There might be players who see things like that and decide they will just never play for Toronto.

 

It does work both ways though. Maybe certain players would prefer to play somewhere where mask wearing is not as socially ostracized?

[Stangstag]

 

Ethan Diamandas

@EthanDiamandas

 

Mark Shapiro, quoted in this story:

 

“I almost jumped through my phone screen when I see a reporter write that it's a competitive advantage of the Toronto Blue Jays because [teams] can't bring players across the border. You got to be freaking kidding me."

 

Ethan Diamandas

@EthanDiamandas

 

Takeaways from media Q&A with #BlueJays President Mark Shapiro:

https://t.co/C0nlM8wdhF

 

Lol.

 

Shapiro is great. Wish Atkins was less of a wet noodle

[jaysblue]

Yeah. Sounds like it is a net disadvantage especially long term, as it sounds like there were players we could have had, were it not for the mandate.

 

Carlos Correa too maybe? Would be ironic if Jays miss the playoffs by a game or 2, and say Robbie Ray leads Seattle to that spot, and Correa leads Twins to a spot.

 

Yup exactly. I don't know why people on here thought the vax mandate was a huge advantage for the Jays when in reality and behind the scenes, it wasn't. The vax mandates for sure prevented the front office from signing or trading for certain players/pitchers but at the end of the day we won't know who it was unless something gets leaked by the FO. Regardless, the Jays still had a solid offseason, though would kind of suck knowing they could have acquired better talent if it weren't for the mandates. Hopefully moving forward this isn't an issue. Most importantly, I would hate the Jays being restricted at the trade deadline from adding a top bat or arm because of a vax mandate still in place.

[jaysblue]

It's hard not to be political here, however we now have players who probably aren't going to come to Toronto for political reasons. Beyond the players not coming because they aren't vaccinated, others may not come because they don't like where the culture here is headed, regular lockdowns, mandates, etc., even if vaxed they may not be cool with the environment. Not saying it is right or wrong, just saying it's a legit issue.

 

So it's not just the 20% or whatever of unvaxxed that Toronto can't sign, it's a larger number including vaxed with concerns.

 

Jays seemingly did a good job navigating that this winter, but we don't know how it will play out long term, and we don't know what other options would have been available without the vax constraint.

 

Most MLB players are Conservative leaning but regardless of political association or vax status, a lot of American and Latin American ballplayers probably prefer playing in the US after seeing the tight restrictions in Canada over the past year. Regular lockdowns, mandates, fear mongering everyday by the mainstream media & government up here doesn't make it a very enticing place to play, let alone dealing with the cold weather and higher taxes. Like you said, I'm sure many other players have the same concerns whether vaxxed or not.

 

It's a lot easier playing for a US based team and only maybe crossing the border once or twice a year to play in Toronto versus crossing the border multiple times throughout a season. Factor in the environment in the US versus the environment here in Canada during the pandemic, most athletes would prefer playing in the States and I don't blame them. Long term who knows the consequences these vax mandates have on the Blue Jays targeting free agents or players in trades. Even which high school or college players to target in the June draft! The Jays already had to overpay to bring talent north of the border and I'm sure all these developments over the last year didn't make things easier.

[jaysblue]

That's true

 

Also, and this is a razor's edge as far as the convo going off track, but I am sure there are a few right wing baseball players who were shocked by Canada's emergency decision to let banks freeze people's money if they had any whiff that they were connected to that trucker protest. There might be players who see things like that and decide they will just never play for Toronto.

 

It does work both ways though. Maybe certain players would prefer to play somewhere where mask wearing is not as socially ostracized?

 

Aubrey Huff for sure haha.

[Grant77]

Chris Woodward confirmed that the entire Rangers roster is vaccinated. I expect that a lot of teams will be in the same boat.

[connorp]

Ok fine mods. I will rephrase.

 

I regret that Covid was probably a thorn in the side of the Ray deal. I wish he was pitching for us right now Game 1, which might be the case if the Canadian government didn’t have strict rules that may have scared the Bluejays away from signing him

[L54]

Why would my post be deleted when it was a copy and paste from another poster?

[connorp]

Why would my post be deleted when it was a copy and paste from another poster?

 

Based on who’s active atm, it was likely BTS and he isn’t one for explanations

 

Laila, Deadpool, and Hurl are more transparent

 

Edit- apologies there’s a few potential deleters

[Deadpool]

Based on who’s active atm, it was likely BTS and he isn’t one for explanations

 

Laila, Deadpool, and Hurl are more transparent

 

It was me, and I just didn't want to deal with this s*** tonight.

[connorp]

It was me, and I just didn't want to deal with this s*** tonight.

 

Respectable stance. Don’t let anybody “Will Smith” opening day

[Stangstag]

Respectable stance. Don’t let anybody “Will Smith” opening day

 

I heard someone Will Smith’d a cop at the dome tonight.

 

Some people just can’t hold their liquor

[Spanky99]

I heard someone Will Smith’d a cop at the dome tonight.

 

Some people just can’t hold their liquor

 

lol

[Krylian]

I heard someone Will Smith’d a cop at the dome tonight.

 

Some people just can’t hold their liquor

 

Some chick apparently. She's getting charged

[Deadpool]

Some chick apparently. She's getting charged

 

Like, how drunk do you have to be where "yeah, I think I'll punch a cop" seems like it's not the absolute worst idea you could possibly ever have.

[Krylian]

Like, how drunk do you have to be where "yeah, I think I'll punch a cop" seems like it's not the absolute worst idea you could possibly ever have.

 

Cops came by cause her and some guy were being s*** disturbers

[Deadpool]

Cops came by cause her and some guy were being s*** disturbers

 

Yeah, it's opening day in the 500 level, obviously they were being drunken idiots, but like... It's one thing to be a drunken idiot, it's another thing to be so drunk that you don't realize you're going to have a bad time if you punch a f***ing cop

[connorp]

Someone said it was a chick. It becomes like 100% more understandable

[Stangstag]

Like, how drunk do you have to be where "yeah, I think I'll punch a cop" seems like it's not the absolute worst idea you could possibly ever have.

 

“I’m a woman, we’re allowed to hit men with no repercussions”

[connorp]

“I’m a woman, we’re allowed to hit men with no repercussions”

 

Basically the gist

[Deadpool]

“I’m a woman, we’re allowed to hit men with no repercussions”

 

[Dick_Pole]

I don't know why this Will Smith meme is seeping in here but if you hit someone square with all of your might and they don't go down - or barely flinch - that's called a Rougned Odor.

[Spanky99]

Like, how drunk do you have to be where "yeah, I think I'll punch a cop" seems like it's not the absolute worst idea you could possibly ever have.

 

lol... what an idiot.