{"id":24683,"date":"2022-07-25T02:40:50","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T02:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/updated-cardinals-goldschmidt-arenado-wont-go-to-toronto-because-they-are-unvaccinated-st-louis-cardinals\/"},"modified":"2022-07-25T02:40:50","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T02:40:50","slug":"updated-cardinals-goldschmidt-arenado-wont-go-to-toronto-because-they-are-unvaccinated-st-louis-cardinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/updated-cardinals-goldschmidt-arenado-wont-go-to-toronto-because-they-are-unvaccinated-st-louis-cardinals\/","title":{"rendered":"Updated: Cardinals’ Goldschmidt, Arenado won’t go to Toronto because they are unvaccinated | st. Louis Cardinals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CINCINNATI \u2014 The fact that his two best players, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, won’t be available to him in Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday doesn’t upset Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol at all. At least that’s what he was saying Sunday after the announcement was made that his two stars had chosen not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and thus are ineligible to travel to Canada for the two-game series.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The country requires people to have been vaccinated in order to enter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Marmol, who also won’t have backup catcher Austin Romine for the same reason \u2014 the players will not be paid while they are away and will be on the restricted list \u2014 said he \u201ccompletely\u201d respected the players’ decision not to be vaccinated. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI’ve talked to all of them and I respect it and agree with their decision,\u201d Marmol said. “I’ve got zero issues with it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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People are also reading\u2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Goldschmidt, who homered twice and knocked in all the runs for the Cardinals in their 6-3 loss Sunday to Cincinnati said, \u201cObviously, not an easy decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOver the last year-plus, I’ve tried to talk to as many doctors and many medical professionals as I could and figured out as much as I could. I just decided the potential risks outweighed the potential benefits. It stinks that I can’t play in Toronto. I hate that part of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIt’s a very personal, private medical decision. Unfortunately, it becomes public with this. You’ve got to put your health above everything. For me, this was the best decision for my health and, unfortunately, I have to suffer these consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Marmol said he didn’t think the decision by Goldschmidt and Arenado, who both were chosen for the recent All-Star Game, would be taken ill in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI look at it the other way \u2014 the ability of that clubhouse to respect the decision of the two guys who have carried this team all year,\u201d he said. \u201cWe’re talking about a personal decision to put something in your body that you don’t agree with.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Goldschmidt said, \u201cI know there could be reactions on both sides and that’s a consequence of the decision. I just have to do what I feel is best and live with the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Across the clubhouse, Arenado said, \u201cI feel healthy. I don’t feel like I needed to get it. I’m very safe. I don’t really go out around people. But those are the rules of Canada. I can’t go.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI’m not trying to do a political stand here or be a spokesperson or this stuff. I’m choosing to do what’s best for me and my family. I mean no harm. But it’s a decision I made and I’m pretty confident about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Assistant hitting coach Turner Ward also did not go to Toronto, apparently having a medical issue whereby he can’t be vaccinated. And pitcher Johan Oviedo might not be there, either, because his Cuban passport has expired. He headed to Miami on Sunday night to try to get it reinstated Monday in hopes of being able to enter Canada. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mozeliak’s assessment<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, who made the announcement about the players not going to Canada via Zoom, said, \u201cIt’s a personal decision. The one positive here is that it’s only two games. From that standpoint, life will find a way of going on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI don’t think it’s in anybody’s best interest to try and pass judgment (or) try to make this more than it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Cardinals, Mozeliak said, had hoped that policy in Canada would change, but it didn’t. But Mozeliak added that he had hoped the Goldschmidt\/Arenado decision wouldn’t \u201cfracture\u201d the clubhouse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWe all have strong opinions on what we think the right answer should be,\u201d Mozeliak said. \u201cI think we also all understand it’s hard to convince people to do something they’re not comfortable doing. It’s not that we don’t try to promote the vaccination, but again it comes down to the individuals’ decision. We sort of talked about it but it wasn’t something (where) I thought anybody was going to change their minds.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Marmol said he was sure the clubhouse wouldn’t be fractured.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI’m 100% sure that it won’t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And Mozeliak said that Goldschmidt and Arenado “are still going to have a lot of political capital in the clubhouse and still be respected.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mikolas’ regrets<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas, who hadn’t been vaccinated until after many others, said he wished he hadn’t been.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cA lot of stuff coming about (the vaccine) is not great,\u201d he said. \u201cI’m pretty healthy. I don’t think it was 100% necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhen I got it at the time, it seemed like a good idea. But looking back on it, it’s one of those things where maybe I’d rather have not gotten it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mikolas, who has four children age 5 or under, said he got it for them. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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With the Cardinals embroiled in a division race, first, and then a potential quest for a wild-card playoff spot, one or two games at less than full strength could be critical.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI know it’s only two games but it’s an important two games we’re playing,\u201d Arenado said. \u201cIt hurts. I’m not happy about it. It just stinks. I was actually excited about going to Toronto because Toronto is a great place. I was hopeful they would get rid of that ban.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Arenado sat out a game at the end of the first part of the season and didn’t play in the All-Star Game because of a sore lower back, and he isn’t fond of Toronto’s turf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIf there’s one positive to this, it’s not playing on that,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously, that’s not why I’m not going.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Marmol: No issue<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou obviously want your best players every game,\u201d said Marmol, who cited the loss of several other key players for various portions of time this season. \u201cBut I have a very strong opinion \u2014 which I’ll keep very mild here \u2014 that I do not at all see this as an issue. I respect their decision to not be in Toronto.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Goldschmidt and Arenado flew back to St. Louis Sunday night and will work out this week at Busch Stadium. Arenado said he would not watch the games on television.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cMakes me a little nervous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Marmol continued to support the players.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThey’re not just in the lineup,\u201d he said. \u201cI don’t mind it. We’ll figure out a way to win without them for those two days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cBut, obviously, it has to be the topic of conversation today. You’re talking about two guys that completely shape the culture daily in that clubhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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If Goldschmidt and Arenado weren’t on this team at all, there wouldn’t have been much need for Sunday’s interrogation. The Cardinals would not be contenders anyway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Keep up with the latest Cardinals coverage from our award-winning team of reporters and columnists.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CINCINNATI \u2014 The fact that his two best players, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, won’t be available to him in Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday doesn’t upset Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol at all. At least that’s what he was saying Sunday after the announcement was made that his two stars had chosen not to be …<\/p>\n

Updated: Cardinals’ Goldschmidt, Arenado won’t go to Toronto because they are unvaccinated | st. Louis Cardinals<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[2503,2674,2676,7999,2501,2504,2502],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24391,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/cardinals-goldschmidt-arenado-wont-go-to-toronto-because-they-are-unvaccinated-st-louis-cardinals\/","url_meta":{"origin":24683,"position":0},"title":"Cardinals’ Goldschmidt, Arenado won’t go to Toronto because they are unvaccinated | st. Louis Cardinals","date":"July 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"CINCINNATI \u2014 The Cardinals will go into Toronto for a two-game, interleague series beginning on Tuesday without, inarguably, their best two players.Corner All-Stars Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, the Gold Glove first baseman and third baseman, respectively, and the meal ticket 3-4 hitters in the lineup, will not be allowed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"First Pitch: Mikolas takes mound in rubber match, Cardinals go for series win in Queen City","src":"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAQAAAAe\/WZNAAAAEElEQVR42mM8U88ABowYDABAxQPltt5zqAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24273,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/st-louis-cardinals-all-stars-nolan-arenado-paul-goldschmidt-cant-play-in-toronto-series-due-to-covid-19-vaccination-status\/","url_meta":{"origin":24683,"position":1},"title":"st. Louis Cardinals All-Stars Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt can’t play in Toronto series due to COVID-19 vaccination status","date":"July 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The St. Louis Cardinals will be without All-Star infielders Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt for their two-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto this week because of Canada's COVID-19 vaccination rules, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters Sunday.Catcher Austin Romine also will miss the series because he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24927,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/nolan-arenado-paul-goldschmidt-on-vaccine-status-toronto-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":24683,"position":2},"title":"Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt on vaccine status, Toronto series","date":"July 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"CINCINNATI -- Before explaining his reasoning for not getting vaccinated and ultimately costing himself two upcoming games with the Cardinals, All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado wanted to make one thing clear: \u201cIt's just a personal choice, and I'm not trying to do a political stand here or be a spokesperson\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24473,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/cardinals-to-place-goldschmidt-arenado-romine-on-restricted-list-matz-placed-on-15-day-injured-list\/","url_meta":{"origin":24683,"position":3},"title":"Cardinals To Place Goldschmidt, Arenado, Romine On Restricted List; Matz Placed On 15-Day Injured List","date":"July 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"3:56PM: Matz has a torn MCL in his left knee, MLB.com's John Denton reports (via Twitter). Based on similar injuries to other players, this will likely mean at least a 4-6 week absence for Matz, though it isn't yet known if he'll require surgery. 3:38PM: The Cardinals announced some roster\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25997,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/undermanned-cardinals-could-use-a-shot-in-the-arm-against-al-east-teams-st-louis-cardinals\/","url_meta":{"origin":24683,"position":4},"title":"Undermanned Cardinals could use a shot in the arm against AL East teams | st. Louis Cardinals","date":"July 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The cards already are stacked against the St. Louis nine with unvaccinated sluggers Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado absent from the two-game series beginning Tuesday night in Toronto.Added to this fact is that only a few Cardinals on the trip have played in Rogers Centre. That basically covers Adam Wainwright,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"Goold: There is a way for the Cardinals to keep all their top prospects","src":"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAQAAAAe\/WZNAAAAEElEQVR42mM8U88ABowYDABAxQPltt5zqAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/stltoday.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/8\/ca\/8ca122db-2ae2-53af-85e6-52a5436fcfec\/62cf777cd575a.image.jpg?crop=1772,930,0,119&resize=1200,630&order=crop,resize","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24683"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24683\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}