Owners response to Marlins coronavirus outbreak
Major League Baseball is reportedly not considering canceling its season after a coronavirus outbreak on the Miami Marlins has infected a third of the team, affected three other teams and postponed at least two games this week.
MLB owners met on a conference call Monday afternoon after the Marlins news broke, and according to Scott Miller of Bleacher Report, canceling or pausing the season wasn’t talked about. Instead, the league’s plan is to double down on its already-in-place safety protocols — including cracking down on high fives and spitting, while making masks mandatory in the clubhouse.
Am told that on owners’ call today there was no talk of canceling the season. #Marlins news is sobering for the game but plan remains to try & manage pandemic
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) July 27, 2020
Commish Office will redouble health directives, e.g. players must wear masks in clubhouses, & reinforce on-field behavior prohibitions against high-fiving, spitting.
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) July 27, 2020
This follows news that the Marlins had 11 positive tests by Monday morning between players and coaches, accounting for one-third of their traveling party. The Marlins reportedly had four positives Sunday, including their starting pitcher, and elected to play their game that day against the Phillies. By the next morning, the team had reached “outbreak” level.
MLB quickly canceled the Marlins’ Monday home opener against the Baltimore Orioles. The Marlins stayed quarantined in Philadelphia awaiting results from further tests. The Phillies, meanwhile, had their Monday game against the New York Yankees postponed while they awaited test results and had their clubhouses cleaned. The Yankees, meanwhile, were instructed to treat Monday like an off day but not leave the team hotel, according to James Wagner of the New York Times.
The league’s best-case scenario is that the healthy Marlins could go to Baltimore and play Tuesday’s game there, instead of Miami.
The #MLB hope is to regroup today as #Marlins remain quarantined in Philly &, depending on today’s test results, team would bus to Baltimore & play tomorrow’s game there instead of Miami w/others from “taxi squad” joining club there and subbing in, according to industry sources
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) July 27, 2020
Baseball’s attempt to start a 60-game season amid a pandemic wasn’t going to happen without positive tests and hiccups. Already in MLB’s young season, we’ve seen:
• Washington Nationals star Juan Soto test positive on opening day.
• Matt Davidson of the Cincinnati Reds test positive but play a game in between his test and getting his results.
• The Marlins outbreak, which had the potential to impact four teams.
The Miami Marlins reportedly have 11 positive coronavirus tests after Sunday’s game against the Phillies. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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