:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67115155/usa_today_14579282.0.jpg)
The baseball season began this past weekend and it appeared to be going smoothly. While no fans were able to attend, the games could still be seen on television. Some teams even had clever ideas to make the games seem as “normal” as possible.
Adam Duvall just blasted a dog in the face with a homer @MansplainBBpod pic.twitter.com/wXidgfx4j6
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) July 25, 2020
Sorry I took your head off shoot me a dm and I’ll hook it up for you
— Will Smith (@will_smith30) July 26, 2020
Completely normal stuff here.
Despite and maybe a little bit due to the weirdness, Opening Weekend appeared to be a huge success. Players and umpires appeared to not have any problem with the new rules and it was baseball as usual.
Mike Shildt is currently modeling the level of face covering I need from my students when we go back face to face.
— Laura (@hildymac) July 25, 2020
Or during a normal flu season. pic.twitter.com/pHoYoeVJwh
Mask looks cool as hell during a trot pic.twitter.com/2E2b2c7Mhp
— Arkansas Fred (@ArkansasFred) July 25, 2020
Fredbird relaxing #STLCards pic.twitter.com/ConwubUgHC
— Ben Boyd (@BenBoydKMOX) July 25, 2020
For a weekend, people were almost able to forget the looming issue that has plagued the world since late 2019. It remained in the back of everyone’s mind, though along with a pretty big question:
What does the league do when players start testing positive now?
Unfortunately, we are going to find out very soon. Here is the play-by-play, via Twitter:
With caution and restrictions on names and testing, the best I can do is tell you the Marlins will likely be without at least three of their position players and one of their pitchers in the coming days. At the same time. Not sure how any team is supposed to overcome this.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 26, 2020
As we await the official lab test results this morning from the Marlins, there is real concern many more players have tested positive for COVID-19. This will be the day we find out if MLB can continue to play amidst one team being hit so hard with the virus.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 27, 2020
Based on the potential numbers I am hearing it could be difficult for the club to play tonight. We would be looking at the majority of their camp in Jupiter having to drive South to Miami and take the field. Ongoing discussions about this. Nothing confirmed yet.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 27, 2020
Eight more players and two coaches with the Miami Marlins have tested positive for COVID-19, as an outbreak has spread throughout their clubhouse and brought the total of cases in recent days to at least 14, sources familiar with the situation tell me and @JesseRogersESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 27, 2020
Source: Marlins’ game tonight against Orioles in Miami has been cancelled. Team still in Philadelphia.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2020
The Marlins learned before Sunday’s game that three players had tested positive for COVID-19. So they held a player’s meeting to decide if they should play against the Phillies. Can’t find that protocol in MLB’s 101-page manual.
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) July 27, 2020
Both infectious-disease experts were adamant yesterday that the #Marlins should not have been allowed to play.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 27, 2020
And that was after 4 players testing positive. https://t.co/bEbWcQ4Cgu
Phillies visiting clubhouse is being fumigated “50 different ways” with Marlins there all weekend as a Yankees prepare to go in there. Phils-Yanks hasn’t been canceled yet but it’s a possibility.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 27, 2020
Tonight’s Yankees-Phillies game is cancelled, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2020
BREAKING: Major League Baseball to hold an emergency meeting today after 14 Miami Marlins have tested positive for COVID-19 following their weekend series with the Philadelphia Phillies.
— Eric Jackson (@ericjackson) July 27, 2020
As the Marlins and the Phillies await covid test results, MLB has no plans to cancel or suspend the season because of the Marlins' outbreak.
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) July 27, 2020
This became a mess rather quickly. It appears the season will continue, but a team outbreak just four days into the season does not seem like a very good sign of things to come.
what else is going on in baseball...
Now we REALLY get to see if MLB is going to put players health first. Remember when Manfred said players health was PARAMOUNT?! Part of the reason I’m at home right now is because players health wasn’t being put first. I can see that hasn’t changed.
— David Price (@DAVIDprice24) July 27, 2020
.@DustyBaker70 says @JustinVerlander has a forearm strain: “He’s being seen by the doctors. So he’ll probably be shut down for a couple of weeks.” pic.twitter.com/GOOpTuvqGH
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 26, 2020
The best baseball fan cutouts | MLB.com
No MLB teams open 2020 season 3-0 | MLB.com
Clayton Kershaw’s Back Keeps Him From Coming Back | FanGraphs Baseball
I Really Hope This All Works | FanGraphs Baseball
Expanded Playoffs Always Made Sense for 2020 | FanGraphs Baseball
Minority Report: I’m Good With Expanded Playoffs This Year | FanGraphs Baseball
12 Hours in the Life of Major League Baseball | FanGraphs Baseball
MLB 2020 Season: Shut it down | Over the Monster
what the cardinals are up to...
Yes. 3/9
— Did Marp Go Full? (@DidMarpGoFull) July 26, 2020
Carlos Martinez to make 2020 debut start | St. Louis Cardinals
KNOW THINE ENEMY...
the nl central
The Cubs blow a rundown that turned out so crazy that Lorenzo Cain, the lead runner, wound up back at second base, and the hitter, Ben Gamel, ran from home plate to second and then back to first base. As @Kurkjian_ESPN says: You'll see something you've never seen in every game.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 25, 2020