Covid and MLB

canderson

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Houston was going to play a full intrasquad game today buuuuuut that's been cancelled and media availability has been pushed back hours as they await test results from at least one player.
 

jon abbey

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Houston was going to play a full intrasquad game today buuuuuut that's been cancelled and media availability has been pushed back hours as they await test results from at least one player.
This is after their entire pitching staff had to shut down yesterday because of a positive while they wait for tests.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Cubs appear to be in a similar position with folks waiting on tests, including their manager David Ross.

View: https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma/status/1282696930246701057


If they can't get the testing process streamlined, this whole experiment is doomed to fail. It might not take a widespread outbreak across a couple teams. If the testing facilities are backlogged and overwhelmed, should MLB be adding to the burden unnecessarily?
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
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Mar 24, 2008
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If the testing facilities are backlogged and overwhelmed, should MLB be adding to the burden unnecessarily?
No that shouldn't.

And spare the, "private testing facility" argument. We should be using every possible lab that can handle these tests to be doing then unless they're working on other research for the pandemic
 

Archer1979

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I'm reading this article on potential buyers and sellers at the trading deadline for 2020.

View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2899642-mlb-teams-best-positioned-to-land-a-superstar-before-the-2020-trade-deadline


Are there any teams that would seriously consider mortgaging their future to so that they could be in "Go for it now"-mode? I'm thinking with the season being so fragile that it could possibly shut down mid-September, would any team go out on that limb knowing full well that there might not be a World Series Champion in 2020?
 

jon abbey

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Are there any teams that would seriously consider mortgaging their future to so that they could be in "Go for it now"-mode? I'm thinking with the season being so fragile that it could possibly shut down mid-September, would any team go out on that limb knowing full well that there might not be a World Series Champion in 2020?
Giving up young talent isn't always mortgaging the future, you can only protect so many guys and teams like TB and SD have young talent to spare. Not saying you're wrong, but it's more complicated than '6-8 years of this 19 year old' for 'a few months of this current All-Star'. If that move allows you to then protect a player next winter who is 90 or 95 percent as promising as the guy you dealt, you're giving up a lot less in total than it seems.

That being said, guys can't be traded this year if they're not on the 60 man rosters which will make pulling off a meaningful deal even tougher than usual. But if I am Cashman, would I give up something like Thairo Estrada, Mike Ford, Luis Gil and Alexander Vizcaino for the remaining year+ of control over Francisco Lindor (through 2021)? I think I definitely would.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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More buffoonery from Joe West. I'm shocked this hasn't gotten more attention. He, like most umpires, are getting their "spring training" work by visiting camps and umpiring intrasquad games. He's doing so without wearing a mask (other than the standard umpire's mask). Apparently, it isn't a requirement by MLB for field personnel, but thus far most umpires have been working with medical masks under their umpire's mask as a precaution (including Mark Wegner, who like West is working in Rays camp) I'm sure the catchers love having him breathing all over the back of their neck.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2020/07/13/rays-workout-more-interesting-with-joe-west-behind-the-plate/
 

dirtynine

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I wrote up a few thoughts on what MLB could have done with the season. TL;DR: change the competition structure (geographic divisions, different playoff format), don’t call the champion the World Series winner, and use the season to try out new ideas.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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That was a fun read. I'd swap the Twins and Cardinals, but otherwise the divisions work well. A bit concerned about 10 teams sharing one stadium's facilities -- even in non-Covid times that would require a whole lot of temporary dressing rooms. But the overall idea of making this a one-off makes a ton of sense
 

PC Drunken Friar

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More buffoonery from Joe West. I'm shocked this hasn't gotten more attention. He, like most umpires, are getting their "spring training" work by visiting camps and umpiring intrasquad games. He's doing so without wearing a mask (other than the standard umpire's mask). Apparently, it isn't a requirement by MLB for field personnel, but thus far most umpires have been working with medical masks under their umpire's mask as a precaution (including Mark Wegner, who like West is working in Rays camp) I'm sure the catchers love having him breathing all over the back of their neck.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2020/07/13/rays-workout-more-interesting-with-joe-west-behind-the-plate/
He is umpiring this year because he needs 60 more games to break the record by most games ever umpired. Do umpires get days off? Like, will he umpire in all 60 games this year?
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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He is umpiring this year because he needs 60 more games to break the record by most games ever umpired. Do umpires get days off? Like, will he umpire in all 60 games this year?
I believe normally there's something like 18-20 four man crews that rotate during the season and only a maximum of 15 games a day, so presumably that means they get days if not entire series off. With 11 umps opting out, that reduces the numbers by nearly three full crews. I have to assume they'll call up some more minor league umps to fill gaps since they're not working this year. Bottom line...no, Joe West isn't going to umpire 60 games this season unless they count post-season games. Of course, that's assuming they even get far enough to have post-season games.
 

dirtynine

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That was a fun read. I'd swap the Twins and Cardinals, but otherwise the divisions work well. A bit concerned about 10 teams sharing one stadium's facilities -- even in non-Covid times that would require a whole lot of temporary dressing rooms. But the overall idea of making this a one-off makes a ton of sense
Thanks. I thought for a while about that, ultimately wanted to keep Cubs/Cardinals in the same division. There are some slam dunk geographic divisions along the coasts, but the interior is pretty tricky.
 

Sad Sam Jones

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He is umpiring this year because he needs 60 more games to break the record by most games ever umpired. Do umpires get days off? Like, will he umpire in all 60 games this year?
So it's safe to say he already holds the record for most blown calls in history. Can't he just be happy with that title?
 

ledsox

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Nov 14, 2005
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Just thinking...Was this the year to try out the robozone for pitches and socially distance the HP ump? A missed opportunity?
I wonder if the ump would be more or less in harms way (from balls) if he was 6 feet behind the catcher.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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The Phillies Didi Gregorious is going to wear a mask during games. He has a kidney condition. I think this is the first player to come out publicly for in game mask wearing.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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The Phillies Didi Gregorious is going to wear a mask during games. He has a kidney condition. I think this is the first player to come out publicly for in game mask wearing.
I've noticed some Red Sox wearing masks during their intrasquad games. Notably Tzu-Wei Lin and Jose Peraza, though Peraza had his mask under his chin as often as it was on his face, at least from what I watched. If they're comfortable doing so, I think it's a good idea for as many players as possible to wear masks.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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21K tests = 700/team, so guys are getting tested multiple times, which we knew. Assume 100 people on each team get tested, is that fair? So 7 tests each person. Are the 93 positives also from people who have been tested 7 times? I'm thinking not, since we have seen 40 or 50 or 60 names, so hard to figure out that percentage. Heavily weighted denominator, perhaps
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Dunedin going to allow them? Makes it easier for their games with Rays, Marlins, and Braves, at least.
Given Florida's political climate, I would be surprised if Dunedin denied them. But I assume the Jays would prefer to stay out of there if they can. I'm seeing a few reporters suggesting Buffalo. Regardless of where they play, if it isn't an existing MLB park, there will need to be work done before they can host a game. Specifically upgrading lights to MLB standards and installing replay apparatus.
 

uncannymanny

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The Bisons stadium in Buffalo is the biggest in AAA at almost 17k. I haven’t been in a while but I recall it being pretty nice and it’s well located.
 

uncannymanny

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Right, I remember someone here posting about a player who mentioned improved lighting at the MLB level. I don’t think they’re going to have too many choices with MLB quality lighting unless they take over a stadium from another sport.
 

InsideTheParker

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Right, I remember someone here posting about a player who mentioned improved lighting at the MLB level. I don’t think they’re going to have too many choices with MLB quality lighting unless they take over a stadium from another sport.
That was Travis Shaw. Speaking of whom, yesterday he had to apologize for criticizing the plan for the Jays to live at the Rogers Centre and today, guess what.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
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Seems like they should just play in New York. It would minimize travel for themselves and the other New York teams. It would probably randomly minimize travel for teams that end up with back to back series in NYC.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Seems like they should just play in New York. It would minimize travel for themselves and the other New York teams. It would probably randomly minimize travel for teams that end up with back to back series in NYC.
The challenge there is the schedule is already laid out. What happens if the Jays have a home game scheduled on the same day as the Yankees and the Mets (July 29-30, August 11-12)?

It's too bad that the most recently abandoned MLB park, which presumably is still viable, is in Arlington Texas. That's not good for travel in the East divisions and Texas is no better COVID-wise than Florida. Two strikes against it, but otherwise might have been an ideal solution.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
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The challenge there is the schedule is already laid out. What happens if the Jays have a home game scheduled on the same day as the Yankees and the Mets (July 29-30, August 11-12)?

It's too bad that the most recently abandoned MLB park, which presumably is still viable, is in Arlington Texas. That's not good for travel in the East divisions and Texas is no better COVID-wise than Florida. Two strikes against it, but otherwise might have been an ideal solution.
The two minor league ballparks within city limits? Brooklyn Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees. Trenton is an easy drive as well.
 

InstaFace

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Regarding the Jays' situation, I proposed a bunch of old-timey / classic ballparks, many of them with dramatic views, as possible sites for the fan-less games this year:

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/mlb-considering-radical-ideas-to-get-season-started-update-arizona-florida-division-realignment.30155/#post-3844761
Some would seem to be suitable. Yeah, you've got minor-league stadiums around the northeast / mid-atlantic that could make sense. But you're never going to get a better opportunity to show the diversity of beautiful old ballparks than this - and improving the lighting is a well-worth-it investment. So from a "wouldn't this be a sweet place to watch a game being played?" perspective, consider:


1. Doubleday Field, Cooperstown, NY. By the shores of a big lake, in a historic place, with a field maintained very well. Dimensions are fairly small (281' - 385' - 305'), but probably not so much moreso than Yankee Stadium that it'd be embarrassing. Downside: It's friggen impossible to get to conveniently, although it does have a local airport that could land a charter.




2. McCormick Field, Asheville NC. Home of the Rockies' Single-A affiliate, the Asheville Tourists, the field was built in 1924 into the side of a hill in several directions.




3. MCU Park, Coney Island, NYC. As mentioned above. Compared to the Staten Island Yankees' field, this place feels positively big-league, and how many parks are legitimately right next to a beach?




4. Stephen King's private ballfield in his backyard, Bangor, ME. He may have since signed it over to Bangor Parks & Rec, I don't know. But it's on his property. Come play with us, Vladdy... for ever, and ever and ever...




5. Seaside Park, Marblehead, MA. Built in 1910, might be the oldest ballpark on the east coast, Babe Ruth allegedly used to play rec there just to hang out. Maybe not as MLB game-ready as some of the others, but would be a real nod to history.





One of Baseball's greatest assets is its history. Why not play that up?
 
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cannonball 1729

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The challenge there is the schedule is already laid out. What happens if the Jays have a home game scheduled on the same day as the Yankees and the Mets (July 29-30, August 11-12)?
I suspect those would just be turned into away or neutral location games. It's not a perfect solution, but I bet Jays players would take a couple extra away games over playing in a mocked-up minor league field all year.
 

bsj

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Lights. And major league clubhouse, workout, and trainer’s facilities
Wouldnt shock me to see them play all road games then. I dunno. Just dont have a lot of spare MLB stadiums lying around, especially in the northeast.

I wonder if they would consider RFK Stadium? Not sure the condition its in these days, but some folks in recent months have visited it and it still looks like its being at least somewhat maintained. Hasnt been used for baseball since 2007, but DC United was there as recently as 2 years ago
 
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