Joe West gives absurd coronavirus explanation for why he won’t sit out 2020 MLB season

Joe West could have opted out of umping this season due to the coronavirus.

Veteran Major League Baseball umpire Joe West is no stranger to offering up controversial comments. It’s why he’s not the most popular ump in the bigs, with fans and players consistently calling him out over the years.

But, what was West thinking when he dropped his latest quote? In a recent interview, West said he doesn’t believe the high number of deaths in the USA (more than 130,000 as of this writing) are due solely to the coronavirus, so he has no problem working this summer during the MLB campaign. Dude, what?

Joe West said what?

In an exclusive interview with Ken Rosenthal and The Athletic, West, 67, said he’s not scared of the coronavirus and that MLB as a whole was surprised when he said he was still planning to work this season. He could have sat out the year with full pay but said he’s in top health and is ready to grind.

“I said, ‘Look, most of these people that they’re reporting are dying are not healthy to begin with,” West told Rosenthal. “I’ve lost 25 pounds over the winter. I’m playing golf every day in the heat. I’m fine. I’m not going to back down now.’

“I don’t believe in my heart that all these deaths have been from the coronavirus. I believe it may have contributed to some of the deaths. I said, ‘I’m not going to opt out. I’m going to work. And I’m going to work until you take me off the field or I get hurt, whatever. I’m working.’”

At 67 years old, West is considered to be at high risk of not only catching the coronavirus, but getting incredibly ill from it. Despite the risk and heavy concerns surrounding the virus, West doesn’t care. He’ll be back on the field as soon as the season starts later this month.