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I don't think it's a conflict of interest. A professional is a professional at any level and will do their job to the best of their ability. Both of these guys have to realize the amount of scrutiny around them could never let a "secret" deal take place.
That being said if I was MLB I wouldn't let them be in the same game at the same time. Just wouldn't look good if something did happen.
That being said if I was MLB I wouldn't let them be in the same game at the same time. Just wouldn't look good if something did happen.
Jimmy03--
Is there an umpire code of ethics that covers this? When I worked football, we had to declare which schools we attended, spouse attended, kids attended, and any others for which there would be an appearance or actual conflict of interest. And we weren't assigned to games involving those teams.
A common financial interest tied to the player's prominence would seem to fit the bill.
How do you see this as an umpire?
Is there an umpire code of ethics that covers this? When I worked football, we had to declare which schools we attended, spouse attended, kids attended, and any others for which there would be an appearance or actual conflict of interest. And we weren't assigned to games involving those teams.
A common financial interest tied to the player's prominence would seem to fit the bill.
How do you see this as an umpire?
The umpire associations I've belonged to have the same conflict of interest concerns.
In this case I believe at least the perception of a conflict of interest exists and Joyce should not work any of his games. Some could argue a conflict existed prior to the financial partnership.
It's been suggested by more than one MLB umpire that had the original incident not occurred, Joyce would have retired prior to this season and that he stayed so that it would not appear that his leaving was in reaction to the incident. If that's true, his judgment has already been affected by incident.
In this case I believe at least the perception of a conflict of interest exists and Joyce should not work any of his games. Some could argue a conflict existed prior to the financial partnership.
It's been suggested by more than one MLB umpire that had the original incident not occurred, Joyce would have retired prior to this season and that he stayed so that it would not appear that his leaving was in reaction to the incident. If that's true, his judgment has already been affected by incident.