What many people thought would happen to Major League Baseball already has. A large number of a single team has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Miami Marlins have 13 cases thus far in their clubhouse. This caused a couple of postponed games to the schedule.
Obviously, the Marlins’ home opener has been canceled against the Baltimore Orioles. As well as the Yankees – Phillies matchup that was supposed to take place on Monday.
The Philadelphia Phillies just got done playing a series against the Marlins, so there was a threat that many of the Philly players could have contracted the virus.
The League’s Response
Monday morning, many fans were curious. Would MLB postpone all games until further notice? How will they react to this number of positive tests?
But other than the two games being postponed, the rest of the league has rolled on.
“The members of the Marlins’ traveling party are self-quarantining in place while awaiting the outcome of those results,” MLB said in a statement. “Major League Baseball has been coordinating with the Major League Baseball Players Association; the Marlins; the Orioles; the Marlins’ weekend opponent, the Phillies; and club medical staff, and will continue to provide updates as appropriate.”
There was also a comment on behalf of the Marlins from CEO Derek Jeter.
“The health of our players and staff has been and will continue to be our primary focus as we navigate through these uncharted waters,” he said. “After a successful Spring 2.0, we have now experienced challenges once we went on the road and left Miami. Postponing tonight’s home opener was the correct decision to ensure we take a collective pause and try to properly grasp the totality of this situation.”
Changes and Worries Moving Forward
If the coaches and players were spooked at all before, they definitely are now. The situation in MLB just got a lot more serious.
Every other league that is coming back has decided to operate in a bubble. But MLB stuck with playing games in their regular stadiums. This decision might end up costing them if this situation gets any worse.
Some players and coaches are starting to become vocal about the issue.
“I’m going to be honest with you; I’m scared. I really am,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “I go from here, home, back here every day, that’s all I do. I wash my hands; I went from 47 times a day to probably 99 times a day. Wear my mask everywhere I go. But there’s always that concern, you know.”
Martinez said that players are starting to become a little more worried after the Marlins’ positive tests.
Games have been anything but normal, but it has been nice having baseball back on TV. It’s only 60 games, but MLB might be tight roping it all the way to the finish. And that’s if they’re lucky.
