In the Name of Virus Protection
On the surface, it looks like a good policy. Under the threat of a public health crisis, the MLB has removed the access of media members to clubhouses across the league. It certainly feels like a protective policy, with the players’ interests at heart.
But what is it really doing?
Former Dodger Casey Sadler has become somewhat of an internet darling with Dodger and Cubs fans alike. He and his wife Marin have been refreshingly open about their struggles with what it means to be a low-paid major/minor league up-and-downer with their three year old Kaysen. Casey recently posted a video of her cheering him from the stands and it’s maximum adorableness. His wife also shot a video poking fun at his post-game ritual – Casey was changing his daughter’s diaper in the back of their SUV. I’d bet my very last dime that he kisses his wife and baby girl goodnight every night.
The optics of removing press from the clubhouse to protect Casey Sadler from the coronavirus seems good, but it is an empty gesture without also taking steps to protect kids and family members like Kaysen as well.
Without trying to downplay the seriousness of this virus, there are some basic practices that players can do to avoid exposure. They are already passing by fans instead of signing balls and jerseys. The removal of a handful of reporters (the actual number varies greatly with each team) when there are dozens of trainers, coaches, nutritionists, maintenance staff, security, and social media personnel still allowed in is token at best.
The fact that they went for the journalists first is extremely troubling. Limiting press access is something the MLBPA has been pushing for more and more.
In 2016, reporter Jeff Passan spoke about it in a Sports Illustrated roundtable, stating, “The fear is that after significant access cuts in the last collective-bargaining agreement, the players’ union will try to close the clubhouse pregame and turn postgame into a press conference-type setting starting next season. That would be a huge mistake—access is the lifeblood of good journalism…”
Some of the biggest stories in sports come from the trust and relationships built in the locker room. With the upcoming CBA negotiations, now is not a good time to remove journalists from places they belong.
The MLB isn’t the only sports league to institute this policy, but the faulty reasoning could apply to the NBA, NHL, and MLS as well.
Even though the ban is supposed to be temporary, consider this: if one of the players DOES contract the virus, what’s the odds that reporters find out about it from outside the clubhouse? It would be very easy to hide behind something like food poisoning, especially since one high profile MLB player has already been held up by it this spring.
With the MLB’s tendency to protect profits over integrity, any move to make any section of baseball less transparent is a loss for everyone.
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