After Craig and Evan broke the news that unvaccinated Yankees and Mets players would not be allowed to play in home games this season, as the private sector mandates currently stands, social media caught fire with debate on why the mandate is still in place at all.
That argument has already gone on for weeks in regards to Kyrie Irving, who is now able to watch games from inside the Barclays Center as an unvaccinated individual after the Key2NYC mandate was lifted. But with the private sector mandate still intact, he cannot play, though visiting unvaccinated players can.
The same will hold true for baseball season in the outdoor venues of Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, which makes even less sense to many sports fans. New York City mayor Eric Adams has said himself that the mandate’s rules, in relation to how it impacts Irving, makes little sense, but has kept it in place. Asked about the mandate and how it will affect baseball season, Adams didn’t give any firm assertion of what will happen to the mandate in the coming weeks before Opening Day.
“We’re going to do an analysis,” Adams said Wednesday. “Baseball season is not tomorrow or next week. We’re going to work this out where we ensure the safety of New Yorkers without continuing the spread of COVID.
“I’m looking forward to speaking with Major League Baseball…and figure out how to come to a solution here. That’s my goal.”
Adams could be open to lifting the mandate, but as of now, with less than a month to go until Opening Day, the Yankees and Mets would be without their unvaccinated players for at least half of the season, not including games in Toronto, where they also would be unable to play. The wording of the mandate has long been in question thanks to Irving’s situation, and the realization that it will pertain to baseball season as well has only intensified that. But Adams does not have an immediate plan to lift the mandate, though discussions will be had.
“There’s so many different moving pieces of COVID…if you’re not wise enough to pivot and shift based on what you’re facing, then you’re making a big mistake,” Adams said. “I’m going to pivot and shift, but I’m not going to be rigid. I’m going to listen to my briefings every morning…I’m not allowing us to just get comfortable with where we are.
“We’re going to continue to evaluate and shift and make sure we’re safe. That’s the only answer I can give you.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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