Jayson Tatum recently admitted he wasn’t very keen on the idea of being picked by the Celtics heading into the 2017 NBA Draft. In fact, the young swingman nearly denied Boston’s request for a second workout. Considering the C’s were coming off a 2016-17 season in which they claimed the No. 1 seed in the…
How Jayson Tatum Was Convinced To Attend Celtics’ Pre-Draft Workout — NESN.com
Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle voiced some concerns as MLB ownership prepares to present a proposal to restart the 2020 season.
Sean Doolittle has some thoughts about MLB’s proposal to restart season — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
By Bill BaerMay 11, 2020, 4:35 PM EDT5 Comments
Nationals closer Sean Doolittle is one of baseball’s truly good guys. He and his wife Eireann Dolan have been involved with numerous philanthropic efforts and Doolittle even earned a nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2016 when he was with the Athletics. They have supported Operation Finally Home, which is a nonprofit that provides “custom-built, mortgage-free” homes to members of the military and their widows. They also supported San Francisco’s veterans charity Swords to Plowshares, which “provides needs assessment and case management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance” to veterans.
In 2015, Doolittle and Dolan hosted Syrian refugee families for Thanksgiving amid a turbulent time concerning Syrian refugees and U.S. foreign policy. The pair continued to speak out in support of refugees, including in 2017. Doolittle and Dolan also supported LGBT people in 2015, buying enough tickets to fill the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum on LGBT night. That was in response to critics who vowed to sell their tickets in protest. Last year, Doolittle was recognized for his advocacy of union workers who serve food at MLB stadiums.
This is all to say that Doolittle is a thoughtful guy who puts his money where his mouth is. He doesn’t just shoot from the hip.
Today, we learned that MLB ownership has agreed on a proposal it intends to present to the MLB Players Association on Tuesday regarding the 2020 regular season. The proposal will include details about the schedule, location of games, as well as worker pay. Ahead of that proposal, Doolittle offered his thoughts on the matter in a thread on Twitter. He provides links to many resources, validating his concerns. It’s worth reading and considering.Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo ·
Bear with me, but it feels like we’ve zoomed past the most important aspect of any MLB restart plan: health protections for players, families, staff, stadium workers and the workforce it would require to resume a season. Here are some things I’ll be looking for in the proposal…Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
Because this is a novel virus, there is still so much we don’t know – including the long-term effects. On top of respiratory issues, there’s been evidence of kidney, intestinal, and liver damage, as well as neurological malfunctions, blood clots & strokes. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/coronavirus-destroys-lungs-but-doctors-are-finding-its-damage-in-kidneys-hearts-and-elsewhere/2020/04/14/7ff71ee0-7db1-11ea-a3ee-13e1ae0a3571_story.html …Coronavirus destroys lungs. But doctors are finding its damage in kidneys, hearts and elsewhere.A small but growing body of evidence suggests the virus invades other organs and tissues, causing heart arrhythmias, blood clots and renal failure.washingtonpost.com1,825Twitter Ads info and privacy280 people are talking about thisObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo · Replying to @whatwouldDOOdo
Covid-19 patients often develop lung scarring, or ‘ground-glass opacities’. These were found even in asymptomatic patients, and because the virus often affects both lungs, can cause permanent damage in some cases. Definitely a concern for an athlete. https://www.vox.com/2020/5/8/21251899/coronavirus-long-term-effects-symptoms …The emerging long-term complications of Covid-19, explained”It is a true roller coaster of symptoms and severities, with each new day offering many unknowns.”vox.comObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
Research has shown Covid-19 may cause issues with male hormone ratios – even in younger men, which could lead to fertility complications. Not ideal. Extremely suboptimal. Zero stars. https://www.vox.com/2020/5/8/21251899/coronavirus-long-term-effects-symptoms …The emerging long-term complications of Covid-19, explained”It is a true roller coaster of symptoms and severities, with each new day offering many unknowns.”vox.com1,498Twitter Ads info and privacy113 people are talking about thisObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo · Replying to @whatwouldDOOdo
We know that sharing indoor spaces greatly increases the infection risk, and it’s rare that only 1 person gets sick. Will there be modifications made to clubhouses or other facilities to prevent a spread?https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.04.20053058v1.full.pdf …https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/ …https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/8/20-1274_article …Mapping Covid-19 in meat and food processing plants | Food and Environment Reporting NetworkThis story was updated on May 8] According to data collected by FERN, as of May 8 at 12pm ET, at least 190 meatpacking and processed food plants and four farms have confirmed cases of Covid-19…thefern.orgObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
And we’ve learned that you release the most virus into your environment prior to symptoms even showing. So how frequently will we be testing to stay ahead of a potential spread and to mitigate as much risk as possible? https://virologie-ccm.charite.de/fileadmin/user_upload/microsites/m_cc05/virologie-ccm/dateien_upload/Weitere_Dateien/analysis-of-SARS-CoV-2-viral-load-by-patient-age-v2.pdf …1,097Twitter Ads info and privacy92 people are talking about thisObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo · Replying to @whatwouldDOOdo
Fauci spoke about conducting an NFL season & indicated a need for daily testing. Baseball players might not be in close contact during a game the way football players are, but there is a lot of shared space in a clubhouse among players, coaches and staff. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/05/11/dr-anthony-fauci-football-the-perfect-set-up-for-spreading/ …
Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
So how many tests do we need to safely play during a pandemic? And not just tests for players. Baseball requires a massive workforce besides the players; coaches, clubhouse staff, security, grounds crews, umpires, gameday stadium staff, TV & media…we need to protect everyone.1,363Twitter Ads info and privacy117 people are talking about thisObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo · Replying to @whatwouldDOOdo
And that’s before we get to hotel workers and transportation workers (pilots, flight attendants, bus drivers). They are essential workers. We wouldn’t be able to play a season without them, and they deserve the same protections.Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
We need to consider what level of risk we’re willing to assume. 80% of cases are considered mild, but what if a player, a staff member, an auxiliary worker, or a family member gets a case that’s in the 20% and they develop severe symptoms or chronic issues? 1 feels like too many?1,321Twitter Ads info and privacy103 people are talking about thisObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo · Replying to @whatwouldDOOdo
There are a number of players & staff who have pre-existing conditions that they are aware of (and likely more who aren’t yet). We need a plan that seriously considers the increased health concerns of any players, staff or workers who are at higher risk. https://theathletic.com/1806075/2020/05/11/rosenthal-what-players-with-underlying-health-concerns-say-about-a-possible-return/ …Rosenthal: What players with underlying health concerns say…The players only will push forward with the 2020 season if they are assured the league will take every measure to keep them safe.theathletic.comObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
And if even mild cases can cause long-term health effects, will there be added healthcare benefits for players, staff and workers that will extend beyond their employment and into retirement to mitigate the unknown risks of putting on a baseball season during a pandemic?1,150Twitter Ads info and privacy95 people are talking about thisObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo · Replying to @whatwouldDOOdo
We don’t have a vaccine yet, and we don’t really have any effective anti-viral treatments. What happens if there is a second wave? Hopefully we can come up with BOTH a proactive health plan focused on prevention AND a reactive plan aimed at containment.Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
Hopefully these concerns will be addressed in MLB’s proposal, first and foremost: 1) what’s the plan to ethically acquire enough tests? 2) what’s the protocol if a player, staff member, or worker contracts the virus? We want to play. And we want everyone to stay safe.1,407Twitter Ads info and privacy132 people are talking about thisObi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo · Replying to @whatwouldDOOdo
Sorry, I had to get that out of my system. I’m going to turn my phone off now. Best of luck to my mentions. Stay safe. Keep washing your hands and wearing your masks. I hope we get to play baseball for you again soon. 
Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle✔@whatwouldDOOdo
Oh,
3,895Twitter Ads info and privacy213 people are talking about this
We haven’t heard from many players about the risks they face if they were to resume playing. Doolittle has taken it upon himself to speak up. Hopefully, union reps take his concerns into account before hearing MLB’s proposal tomorrow.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/follow_button.c63890edc4243ee77048d507b181eeec.en.html#dnt=true&id=twitter-widget-0&lang=en&screen_name=Baer_Bill&show_count=true&show_screen_name=true&size=m&time=1589258642321View 5 Commentsby TaboolaSponsored LinksAround The Web
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball will cut its amateur draft from 40 rounds to five this year, a move that figures to save teams about $30 million. Clubs gained the ability to reduce the draft as part of their March 26 agreement with the players’ association and MLB plans to finalize a decision next…
MLB draft cut from 40 rounds to 5 in money-saving move for teams — Daily News
On the 10-year anniversary of his perfect game against the Marlins, ESPN will air a documentary about former Blue Jays and Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay.
ESPN to air Roy Halladay documentary on May 29 — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
MLB should not, however, expect the players to rubber-stamp a return-to-play plan
MLB to submit a return-to-play proposal to the players within a week — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. recently suggested that giving hitters chin music would solve the problem of sign stealing in baseball.
Cal Ripken Jr. suggests throwing at batters would fix sign stealing — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
Major League Baseball is eager to start its season. The league reportedly proposed starting a second training camp in June with the regular season following in July to its players association. An Opening Day on July 1 has been floated around, optimistically speaking, but everything rides on two things. The coronavirus, and the players’ actual…
Red Sox’s Collin McHugh Says MLB Can’t Make Return Mandatory For Players — NESN.com
Collin McHugh, who the Boston Red Sox signed a week before the original spring training got shut down, told MassLive’s Chris Cotillo that the league can’t force players to play if they’re uncomfortable with it. Here’s what McHugh had to say: We’re in a situation right now where you can’t make this mandatory. You can’t tell a guy you have to come play or else your roster spot is not going to be here when you come back. You can’t tell a guy to risk his life and the life of his family and the lives of anyone he chooses to be around to come play this game. There’s probably going to have to be some waivers signed and whatever else you need to have done to make guys feel comfortable coming back. Then, MLB and the teams are going to have to do everything in their power so that we go about this in the best way possible and don’t just start playing games, but really set an example of how to do this, how to do it well and how to do it safely. I’m probably in the minority here because I see baseball for what it is, which is an amazing game but not an essential activity. We’ve got a lot of things going on in this world that we need to happen and need to get going, and we need to do it in a safe manner. It’s going to be really hard to get the risk level down to zero no matter what we’re doing. As long as this virus is still out there and as long as we don’t have a treatment or vaccine, there’s going to be risk inherent in leaving your house. For me, as a major league baseball player and as a husband and father, I want to make sure I’m protecting myself and my family, first and foremost. With all this anticipation for sports to come back, how the players feel about returning to play has been overlooked. At the end of the day, it’s their call.
Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/05/red-soxs-collin-mchugh-says-mlb-cant-make-return-mandatory-for-players/
AP study: MLB average at around $4.4M for 5th year in row Jacksonville Journal Courier Read More: https://ift.tt/2SH2LZj
AP study: MLB average at around $4.4M for 5th year in row – Jacksonville Journal Courier — West Central Connected
Pedro Martinez is going above and beyond to help the Dominican Republic cope with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, and he’s not doing it alone. The Hall of Fame pitcher has developed a coalition of more than 40 Major League Baseball players to create the “Step Up to the Plate” fund aimed at supporting…
Pedro Martinez Forms Coalition To Help Dominican Republic Amid COVID-19 Outbreak — NESN.com
The Hall of Fame pitcher has developed a coalition of more than 40 Major League Baseball players to create the “Step Up to the Plate” fund aimed at supporting coronavirus relief efforts in the Dominican Republic, according to ESPN’s Marly Rivera. So far, the coalition (run by the Pedro Martinez Foundation) has raised more than $550,000 for items like essential supplies, personal protective equipment, food and more. “The Dominican Republic has always been my home, and right now it truly needs our help,” Martinez said on a video call with ESPN, per Rivera. “Being supported in this effort by so many of my fellow players is an honor. These are people without the most basic needs, and we are blessed to be in a position to help, and it is our duty to do so.” A number of past and present MLB players (all of which hail from the Dominican Republic) have pitched in their efforts, including fellow Red Sox legend David Ortiz. Martinez’s wife, Carolina, is helping lead the charge. “The focus of the help we’re providing will be twofold,” Carolina, who happens to be the director of the Pedro Martinez Foundation, said. “First, we are providing food to needy families, especially to the many that have lost their jobs. Players will be in charge of distributing meal kits in their respective communities. Second, we are providing protective equipment to our medical personnel. As it happened all over the world, the Dominican Republic is short on medical supplies to deal with a pandemic of this magnitude. It’s amazing and humbling to see all these players and artists come together to support our homeland.” Martinez said he’s received MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s word that the league will help the cause. Read more at:
Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/05/pedro-martinez-forms-coalition-to-help-dominican-republic-amid-covid-19-outbreak/
It feels like yesterday Jon Lester signed a six-year, $155 million contract with the Cubs, squashing any chance of the pitcher returning to the Red Sox in free agency months after Boston dealt him to the Oakland Athletics at the 2014 Major League Baseball trade deadline. In reality, however, it’s been more than half a…
Jon Lester Sure Sounds Open To Red Sox Return If Opportunity Arises — NESN.com
A handful of former major leaguers are on the rosters of teams in the KBO League, which kicks off its regular season in about nine hours.
The MLB connection to the KBO League — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
The KBO League, South Korea’s highest professional baseball league, will begin its regular season in about nine hours from the time of this posting. ESPN will broadcast the games “generally on ESPN2 and the ESPN App.”
For many Americans, who only watch Major League Baseball, watching Korean baseball will bring in a whole host of unknown faces and talents. There are, however, a handful of former major leaguers currently on KBO rosters. If you’re looking for a familiar face, you may find one here:
Doosan Bears
Hanwha Eagles
Kia Tigers
Kiwoom Heroes
KT Wiz
LG Twins
Lotte Giants
NC Dinos
Samsung Lions
SK Wyverns
It feels like a lifetime since the Boston Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. As you likely may know, Betts and pitcher David Price were sent to the Dodgers on Feb. 11 in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo and prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. All five players participated in spring…
Alex Verdugo Says It’d Be ‘Crazy’ If Mookie Betts Never Played For Dodgers — NESN.com
As you likely may know, Betts and pitcher David Price were sent to the Dodgers on Feb. 11 in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo and prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. All five players participated in spring training before Opening Day was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19outbreak. And there’s a chance Betts, who’ll be a free agent following the 2020 season, might never play a game for the Dodgers depending on Major League Baseball’s decision regarding the season. On Monday, Verdugo weighed in on the possibility of that happening. “That would be pretty crazy,” Verdugo said, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “That would be pretty nuts. I really haven’t thought about it much, but I think it’s tough. It’s a tough situation, if that is the scenario, for the Dodgers. That’s part of life. We can’t expect these things. I think for the Dodgers, that’s tough. That’s a tough deal. But everything happens for a reason.” It certainly would make for an unusual situation for Betts should the season be canceled. And while some suggest the season could begin as early as July, nothing is certain right now.
Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/05/alex-verdugo-says-itd-be-crazy-if-mookie-betts-never-played-for-dodgers/
The view from left field 