Photo Credit: Christopher Pasatieri/US Presswire
This has to be the most ridiculous story in recent baseball history. The New York Mets have not been relevant for their on the field play in quite some time. However, they have made headlines for Ponzi schemes and mishandling of key players. None of that compares to their most recent scandal involving second baseman Daniel Murphy doing something almost all men hope to experience. On Opening Day Murphy’s new wife went into labor and he decided to stay with her and watch the birth of the couple’s first child.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, players are given up to three days for paternity leave, meaning Murphy did not violate any rules. Does not mean he did not anger a select group of insensitive radio host. On hi show Boomer & Carter, Boomer Esiason said the second baseman should have insisted on his wife having a C-section before the seasons started so he did not have to miss any games. Since when is wanting to see your child be born a bad thing? They are making it sound like he wanted to commit a vicious crime.
People forget that these players are humans and just like other jobs, should be given days off for major life events. I would like to see him tell a pregnant woman what she should do with her body and see how it goes! WFAN personality Mike Francesca said there is no reason for a father to be with the child’s mother at the hospital for longer than a day. Not only is this line of thinking stupid, but it is just plain wrong. How can we tell a father how long he can spend with his new born baby? The birth of a child should be full of joy and as long as his job allows him the time off, who is he hurting?
It is disgusting to see players be treated like robots who should devote their lives to the sport they play. Nobody should criticize a father’s decision to be there to support his wife. The team has come out to support their player and his decision. Murphy has returned to the team and will return to the lineup today. Congrats to the couple on the birth of their son Noah!
Absolutely stunned by the reaction, and criticism, of a father taking time to be at the birth of his child. Moreover, it was only a short break. It is amazing how much the media and fans think they own players.
It is really sad how the media criticizes every decision athletes make. Who is anyone to say that a player can’t be with his wife to witness the beautiful moment of his first child being born?