MLB Notebook: Bob Boone resigns over Nationals' vaccine policy
Former Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) leans on the batting cage while talking to Bob Boone during batting practice. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire)
September 2nd, 2021
The calendar has turned to September, and we’ve got plenty of news to discuss on and off the diamond in this week’s MLB Notebook. Here we go!
Vaccines in the News
Vaccine mandates are a hot topic everywhere, so it stands to reason that would apply in Major League Baseball as well. Indeed, Washington Nationals vice president Bob Boone resigned from his post Wednesday rather than comply with a team rule requiring non-uniformed employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Washington Nationals VP Bob Boone is resigning instead of complying with the team's vaccine mandate, per @washingtonpost.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 2, 2021
Boone has been with the organization since 2005.
The Nationals were one of the first MLB teams to require vaccines for full-time staff, coaches, and execs. pic.twitter.com/dvqN5viLN9
Additionally, analysts Al Leiter and John Smoltz will not be seen in-studio for MLB Network after deciding against getting the vaccine. They’ll do remote hits for shows on the network.
Mets GM Arrested For Drunk Driving
This one’s pretty painful to write about, and it’s the latest in a series of negative off-field stories about the New York Mets. Acting GM Zack Scott, who took over after previous GM Jared Porter was fired for sexual harassment prior to the season, was arrested at 4:15 am Tuesday morning and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Mets GM Zack Scott busted for drunk driving in White Plains https://t.co/IcojKgziWu pic.twitter.com/tSLJoya86I
— New York Post (@nypost) September 1, 2021
Scott will not travel with the team on its upcoming eight-game road trip, which will see the Mets go to Washington and Miami.
New Leaders Out West
The LA Dodgers have won three in a row as of this writing, all while the San Francisco Giants have dropped four in a row. As a result, the reigning World Series champions have taken over the lead in the NL West, albeit by a slim, half-game margin.
Up next for the two rivals is a colossal three-game series in Chavez Ravine this weekend.
Snell Pulled Early... again
San Diego Padres hurler Blake Snell got plenty of attention when he was pulled early from a World Series game last year. Tuesday night, he was also yanked before he could finish what he started, but the situation wound up far better for both the pitcher and the club.
Blake Snell was asked how aware he was that he was pitching a no-hitter and where a no-hitter falls on his bucket list: pic.twitter.com/Sjuo3qpZyE
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) September 1, 2021
Snell threw seven no-hit innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but threw 108 pitches and didn’t go out for the eighth inning. Arizona broke up the no-hitter, but the Padres prevailed, 3-0.
ADVERTISEMENT
