It sounds like MLB.com doesn't understand the Arizona law and isn't helping players to do so

7/13/10, "Gallardo would skip 2011 ASG over law," A. McCalvy, MLB.com

• From the MLB.com article: "the law, which goes into effect July 29 and requires police to demand proof of a person's immigration status if there is reason to suspect he is in the U.S. illegally."...

This is not correct. Is MLB.com telling players that this is what the law is? It is bad enough they put this in an article. Are they giving this inflammatory interpretation to Latin players? This interpretation doesn't mention that existing federal law is no different from the Arizona law. If players don't like existing federal law, they have the freedom to leave anytime they want, or not to have come here in the first place.

• Following is relevant wording showing that MLB's interpretation is incorrect. The request for ID can only be made if the person has been stopped for another reason:

"B. For any lawful contact stop, detention or arrest made by a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of this state or a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state

• in the enforcement of any other law or ordinance of a county, city or town or this state

where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who and is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person, except if the determination may hinder or obstruct an investigation."...Reference, KETLaw.com

• From the article, it's not clear Gallardo understands what the law is, and that it's already a federal law. It sounds like he thinks he can be randomly stopped and asked for ID (as suggested in MLB.com's interpretation in this article).

• Rhode Island already has a stricter law in place than Arizona. MLB doesn't mention that or ask any players whether they'd boycott Rhode Island as well. Or if players understand existing federal law.

MLB.com has an ominous statement from Joakim Soria (end of article) which as it stands shows he doesn't understand the law. The reader is left to believe that interpretation.

• "They could stop me and ask to see my papers," Soria said. "I have to

stand with my Latin community on this."

• This is absolutely false. They could not stop Soria or anyone else and ask to see their papers. They could only ask after and in conjunction with questioning about an illegal act or potentially illegal act (such as highway speeding).

(The 'new' Arizona law, as existing federal law, merely reminds people to carry ID as most do anyway. The Milwaukee Brewers don't consider it anything "new" for their players who've had ID cards for 3 years).

• From this article and the large photograph of Gallardo's defiant face, it seems either that MLB.com is uninformed or simply wants to operate as a political organization and make things much worse in this country. The article ignores the main point that federal laws have not been enforced,

that Arizona residents are in a constant state of terror and already have lost land permanently due to

• uncontrollable violence.

• Trash on Arizona border, Rape Tree in background,
• photo 3/16/09, Now Public

Follow up, 7/13/10, a mixed message. Selig acknowledges it's a political matter, then suggests baseball can influence decisions: "The situation "will be solved in the political process at the appropriate time," Selig said Tuesday. "We'll do things when baseball can influence decisions.""...AP, SI.com, "Bud Selig has no plans to move 2011 all star game"

Tweet Stumbleupon StumbleUpon