Dodgers' Turner opposed to family limitations in possible playoff bubble
Major League Baseball is still reportedly mulling the introduction of a bubble for the forthcoming postseason, and Los Angeles Dodgers star Justin Turner is against rules tied to players seeing their family.
The league is considering introducing a seven-day isolation rule for family members looking to enter the postseason bubble, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. That's the same procedure the NBA and NHL have followed in the playoff bubbles for those leagues.
MLB is willing to provide accommodations for the players' family members during the postseason.
"You're asking us to choose between our families and the playoffs?" Turner said, according to Rosenthal. "That’s a stupid question, especially when we've played however many successful games this season. Obviously, there were two blips early on but it was out of poor choices by individuals. Other than that, it has been a pretty successful season. Why change all the protocols now?
"We finish the last week of our season at home," Turner added. "I'd be at my house with my wife. Then they’re like, 'We've got to separate you guys.' I don't understand why she would be quarantined. I lived with her the whole season."
The blips Turner is referring to are the COVID-19 outbreaks on the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, which caused multiple games to be rescheduled.
However, the league can't make an exception, even after the Dodgers have been largely unaffected amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a source told Rosenthal.
"You just can't be in a position to roll the dice and say, 'Look, the Dodgers have been fine so far. Let's hope it stays that way,'" the source said. "If you’re running a league, it's not the type of policy you would want. It's basically a policy based on luck."
MLB is reportedly discussing a plan to move the postseason into two separate bubbles, with the National League playing in Southern California and the American League playing in Texas. However, nothing has been finalized.
The regular season ends Sept. 27.