What they’re saying about MLB’s handling of the Marlins’ coronavirus outbreak
marlins #marlins
Major League Baseball is facing the first test to its delayed start to the season, with a coronavirus outbreak in the Miami Marlins organization forcing the postponement of three games, including Miami’s home opener Monday against the Orioles.
The news comes just five days into the league’s reduced 60-game schedule because of the ongoing pandemic. While commissioner Rob Manfred didn’t discuss postponing — or canceling — the season and games continued to be played Monday night, the sports world is watching to see how MLB responds to the current crisis.
Here’s what people are saying about the situation.
ESPN’s Buster Olney: “MLB and the players’ union made the mutual decision to try to play a season this year, and those two entities share the ethical responsibility of pausing, postponing or [canceling] if that’s what is in the best interests of players and staffers. The Marlins’ situation tests this.”
Dr. Zachary Binney, Epidemiologist: “Why is the @Marlins playing in BAL in 2 days insane? Fair question. You have an out of control outbreak in your traveling party. Anyone could be infected. Anyone could’ve gotten infected as late as Sunday. Today & Tuesday they could test negative but be incubating the virus.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Matt Breen: “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.”
Sports Business Group’s Eric Fisher: “Even in MLB’s attempt at controlled environment, the potential ripple effects of Marlins outbreak are massive. Hotel employees, bus drivers, clubhouse attendants, Phillies’ org, the Yankees coming into Philly, family members of all these various groups, etc. Terrible situation.”
The Athletic’s Charlie O’Connor: “The fact that the Phillies-Marlins game was still played yesterday is frankly a disgrace and a massive failure of leadership on the part of MLB. What exactly did they think was going to happen?”
Baseball America’s Joe Sheehan: “One of the dangers in starting the season is that it’s much harder to call it off after you’ve started. Much easier to never start. We’re seeing that dynamic play out today in all these ‘optimism’ and ‘protocol reinforcement’ statements. The pressure to keep going is enormous.”
The New York Post’s Joel Sherman: “Marlins test yesterday told me that the level of perfection/discipline needed to pull this off for 3-plus months might just be impossible. I agree: It might just be.”
FoxSports 640 1/4 u2032s Andy Slater: “Hopefully MLB learns from this and the season continues. A team with known exposure should not be allowed to play or be near anyone until multiple negative tests are in.”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ David Price: “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.”
NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay: “Orioles in first place of the AL East in late July.”
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