Toronto Blue Jays players reportedly could be facing a $750,000 fine if caught breaking quarantine.
And some players aren’t too happy about it, as their tweets in reply to the news getting out indicated.
“Here is what’s going to keep #BlueJays players in their stadium/hotel bubble this summer,” TSN ‘ s Scott Mitchell tweeted on Friday.
“Per multiple sources, players have been told penalty if seen outside ballpark is $750,000 fine and potential jail time.”
New Jays first baseman Travis Shaw, who was signed as a free agent, was the first to reply, though some tweets were later deleted.
“We were told two weeks, not all summer, all summer is a bit much,” Shaw tweeted.
“All summer isn’t gonna happen. Not an option.”
Outfielder Randal Grichuk tried to bring some clarity from the player’s side. “I wanna make it clear, we’re not asking for special treatment,” Grichuk tweeted.
“We understand that we need to stay in a ‘quarantine bubble.’ We wanna make sure everyone is safe. The toughest part is them not allowing our family to come with us. That’s what makes it tough for a lot of guys.”
Shaw tweeted then deleted a couple of tweets:
1) “Let me be clear. We are on board with the TWO week quarantine. I currently have a PAID for condo a block away from the stadium that I can’t use. At no point would I risk public safety or not follow rules. Is it wrong to want to live in a place that I’ve already paid for…”
2) “to be able to go on a walk (WITH A MASK) to be able to get fresh air walk to go get takeout food (not eat inside). We aren’t looking to party, hit the patios, go out at night, anything like that. Public safety is priority number 1…”
Former Jays star pitcher Marcus Stroman, now of the New York Mets, tried to bring some levity:
“Guys are going to be walking around in full disguises. Lol,” Stroman tweeted.
On Friday afternoon, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo emphasized only that the organization would follow all rules to the fullest.
“We’re fine. I talk to guys every day, communicate with them, everybody is fine,” Montoyo said of the grousing.
“The Canadian government gave us a chance to come to Toronto to have a spring camp. Nothing else has been decided (in terms of playing actual games in the city). You have no idea how grateful I am and the Toronto Blue Jays for this opportunity to be here in Toronto. It’s safer, believe me, I feel that way. I know we all do,” he said.
“The Canadian government, the Canadian people have done a great job with this virus and you have no idea how safe I feel.”
Major League Baseball’s current plan for a 60-game season has the Jays travelling to various American locales for their 30 road games, even though the U.S. is in the midst of record COVID-19 cases, with the pandemic’s spread showing no signs of abating.
Other leagues have already, or will be implementing, bubbles where all the games will be played, without any movement. That includes the NHL, with hubs in Toronto and Edmonton, and the NBA, with everything set up in a “campus” at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Major League Soccer has its own Orlando bubble, though two teams have had to pull out of its return to play tournament due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
When in Toronto (assuming the federal government approves games in Toronto and not just the training that is currently taking place), the Blue Jays and visiting teams will be bubbled at Rogers Centre and in the hotel attached to the stadium.
Part of Canada’s Quarantine Act reads : “Every person who fails to comply with an obligation imposed under section 35, subsection 39(1) or 44(3) or section 51 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $750,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.”
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
