Former Atlanta Braves first sacker says if it’s only money play ball
By Fred Owens
Mark Teixeira on player safety and health
Players are people with families and friends, just like us, and I believe all of us want the Atlanta Braves, and the rest of baseball to remain safe and healthy. Spector and Bucholtz see those who support Teixeira’s position as not very bright, particularly if they have a lot of money.
Spector implied Teixeira didn’t care if people’s lives were endangered, and Bucholtz said Greenburg and Teixeira minimized player concerns. Early in his post, Spector specifically says Teixeira ignored safety and health.
"Teixeira ignored, as outlined by Jeff Passan . . .that one of the three “necessities to start the 2020 season” is the “determination, after talking with health experts and the union, that playing does not expose players, staff or fans to health risks.”"
No, no, and are you deaf?.
Jeff Passan opens the segment by going over Tuesday’s discussions, pointing out that MLB presented an outline of proposals to bring the game back this year. (My emphasis added.)
". . . (MLB said) in broad strokes: this is what we’re going to do to keep guys safe. This is what we’re going to do with testing, this what we’re going to do with health, this is what we’re going to do with social distancing . . ."
At that point, Greenburg asks what Teixeira was thinking about.
"Just what Jeff (Passan) said Greeny. I really need to make sure if I’m a player, that Major League Baseball has contingency plans if something does go wrong, if someone tests positive in your clubhouse. I don’t want to bring that home to my family, I don’t want anyone else to get sick, so that’s first and foremost . . .."
Teixeira says, without repeating everything Passan said, that testing, health, and social distancing are important. He goes on the say he wants to know if there are plans should someone become ill. So, it appears he is concerned with player safety. Either Spector wasn’t listening to understand or wasn’t listening at all. Here’s part of the interview, ESPN cut part of Greenburg’s comments out but I added them using Greenburg’s Tweet elsewhere in the post.
Bereft of facts, Spector insulted Teixeira’s intelligence.
"Teixeira, despite his Georgia Tech education, never has been much of a guy to follow the lead of science."
Greenburg’s final words indicate he cares as well.
"Baseball prides itself on being a piece of Americana, and an intrinsic part of American culture. This seems like the time to standup and be counted in that area. I’m not suggesting anyone should do anything that is dangerous to their own health, but if they can figure out a way to do this and have everyone feel safe doing it, I think everyone needs to bend over a little bit."
Those remarks don’t sound like someone minimizing player safety and health.