Getty Image / Douglas P. DeFelice
- The NYC private sector mandate has kept Nets PG Kyrie Irving from playing in home games this season
- With baseball starting soon, unvaccinated Mets and Yankees will be subject to the same restrictions
- Read more MLB news here
Point guard Kyrie Irving has been the target of New York City’s private sector mandate this season with the Brooklyn Nets.
While he’s allowed to attend games, sit on the bench with his teammates, and purchase tickets for NYC events in the Barclays Center, Irving has not been allowed to take the court.
The loss of one of their top players for the majority of the season has certainly stunted success in what was expected to be a championship campaign. Brooklyn is just 35-33 on the year, though they’re looking to make one final playoff push to end the season.
New York fans have already seen how the mandate can affect one of its teams. Now, two more teams in the Big Apple will be subject to the rule, at least until it’s lifted. And there’s been no indication that that will happen.
With the baseball lockout ending last week, the season is set to begin in early April. Both the Mets and Yankees will have to abide by the private sector mandate, meaning any unvaccinated players will be banned from playing in home games.
Spoke to a City Hall spokesperson and the Yankees and Mets fall under the same private sector mandate as Kyrie Irving and the Nets. No difference because it's an outdoor sport. Spokesperson cautioned that things could change by Opening Day.
Story posted shortly
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) March 15, 2022
The fact that baseball is an outdoor sport will have no bearing on the mandate. In addition to being held out of games in New York City, those same players won’t be able to play in Toronto, either. Canada won’t allow unvaccinated players to travel across the border.
That could have a huge effect on the Yankees as the Blue Jays are a division rival.
We don’t necessarily know what this will mean for either team.
The Mets were one of the least vaccinated clubs in the MLB last year, failing to meet the 85% threshold. Infielder JD Davis and backstop James McCann, among others, could be affected.
At last count Yankees had 3 unvaccinated regular players. Mets had several unvaxxed last year and while they’ve made many alterations they still have a few. Unless something changes, greater depth is needed. https://t.co/FxQRXZ0GYf
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 15, 2022
As for the Yankees, it’s widely believed that slugger Aaron Judge is unvaxxed. He was dismissive in his response when asked about his status for upcoming home games.
"I'm so focused on spring training. We'll cross that bridge when the time comes." – Aaron Judge when asked if he was vaccinated
Currently, unvaccinated Yankees won't be able to play in home gamespic.twitter.com/ogwojaofdz
— Action Network MLB (@ActionNetMLB) March 15, 2022
When questioned about where the Yankees stand currently, manager Aaron Boone said, “We still have a few guys, at least, who are not vaccinated.”
Yankees would miss a chunk of the middle of their order if unvaccinated players can’t play in Toronto. Red Sox would be missing many more players. https://t.co/fzNtoRIdLo
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 13, 2022
The loss of Judge, and maybe more, could be a huge blow to the Yankees’ powerful lineup.
Social Media Reacts To Mets, Yankees News
With news of the possible omission of key players for the upcoming season, the MLB world is taking to social media to react.
Yankees and Mets fans when they found out unvaccinated players can’t play outdoor home games yet pic.twitter.com/P3nar6fNyN
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) March 15, 2022
Knicks fans after making Kyrie jokes all season just to see the Yankees/Mets suffer the same fate pic.twitter.com/Af0SPad43n
— Justin Thomas/JT (@J_Thomas_24) March 15, 2022
Nets fans to Yankees / Mets fans pic.twitter.com/vWY1ElfWWw
— eLone (@eLonePB) March 15, 2022
So uh, this is a pretty big deal. Rule might get changed before it really matters for the Yankees, but if it stays all year Judge can't play in more than half of the team's games between this and the rules for playing in TOR. (Assuming he's not vaxxed, which seems to be the case) https://t.co/cTq45hxpqd
— OverTheMonster (@OverTheMonster) March 15, 2022
This is why Judge can't yada-yada the vaccine question. We need to know if he's gonna be able to play. https://t.co/9g08L4L6x3
— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) March 15, 2022
This makes it interesting… https://t.co/DfdJjWN5R4
— Cody Mallory (@RealCodyMallory) March 15, 2022
Well this could get interesting. https://t.co/9B0ly19LeU
— Jake Brown (@JakeBrownRadio) March 15, 2022
Aaron judge seeing this https://t.co/vsJJ0cTpYB pic.twitter.com/ue5ejir8Wk
— the man (@noogieman42) March 15, 2022
Aaron Judge playing only on the road minus the Toronto games puts him at like 70 games played this year https://t.co/XIEGEH4UXs
— nick shlain (@electricsnuff) March 15, 2022
Cashman sneaking up on Judge about to give him the shot himself https://t.co/29LbmeqaHN pic.twitter.com/GOXt4JkWdB
— Dane Richardson (@DaneRichardso16) March 15, 2022
There are still about three weeks until Opening Day. Teams in New York hope something changes before then.