As a coda to this World Series, I offer this section of an open letter written to Justin Turner and Rob Manfred.
This year’s World Series was already destined to be remembered as the first played amid the pandemic. But now, whenever future generations look back, along with Clayton Kershaw’s pitching and Corey Seager’s Most Valuable Player Award will be images of you [Justin Turner], maskless and coronavirus-positive, sitting near your teammates with the championship trophy.
As I write this note, you have not apologized. Not publicly at least. Neither has Major League Baseball.
That means you, Rob Manfred. You’re the commissioner. This can’t all be blamed on one player whose judgment lapsed.
Sure, there has never been a season like this one. And after a terrible early going — with players infected in batches and games canceled — you were close to pulling it off with something like momentum. Until Turner, no player had tested positive for the virus in nearly two months.
You were even blessed by luck. One example: The series did not go to a seventh game. Could it have been played as scheduled with Turner having tested positive?
There is much for baseball to answer for. Turner’s test results came back during Game 6, not before play started, which was needed to ensure everyone’s safety on the field that night. So far, there hasn’t been a good explanation as to how that terrible a lapse occurred.
Sure, Turner defied protocol and rushed to the field when he was told not to. M.L.B. has already placed the blame squarely his way in a statement that announced an investigation.
But Mr. Manfred, who is ultimately responsible for what happens on the field? You are.
It’s time to own your part in this mess, just as Turner must own his.
I don't buy his blaming Manfred for Turner's thoughtlessness (really, what was "MLB Security" going to do with Turner, handcuff him?) but the writer does bring up a couple of good points.
1) They got Turner's positive test results only in the sixth inning?
2) What would have happened if there needed to be a Game 7?
Here is the entire
open letter if you care to read it.