Covid and MLB

Captaincoop

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Jul 16, 2005
13,487
Santa Monica, CA
What's the point of testing before a game and then letting them play before you have results? Why even bother with that test?

There are tests now that generate results within a few hours. My understanding is that those tests are somewhat more likely to generate a false positive, but that seems like a better risk to take than just running guys out on the field with no test result at all?
 

OurF'ingCity

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Apr 22, 2016
8,469
New York City
This is actually one major benefit football will have, since they have a full week or more off between games, which should allow time for all tests to be processed. And the concern in the NBA and NHL are somewhat less (not non-existent, however) thanks to the “bubble” approach. But yeah, for MLB all it takes is one “superspreader” playing in a game before he gets his positive test back to wipe out most of two teams, which then would screw up the schedule for everyone else too.

Not sure what the alternative is, and thankfully from what I’ve read it seems like most transmission comes from people who are actually showing symptoms (and thus the risk of someone feeling well enough to play but still being capable of widely transmitting the virus are hopefully somewhat reduced) - but they’re clearly walking a tightrope here regardless.
 

Soxy

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Dec 1, 2008
6,095
Business as usual?
If this is the public messaging strategy, they should find a new one. If this is their actual medical approach, good luck.
View: https://twitter.com/HannahRKeyser/status/1286372318130962432

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo on Juan Soto testing positive for COVID today: "I think you have to take a business-as-usual type of approach to it, just like any other injury during the season."
Just like any other injury during the season. That's certainly an approach.

Can't wait for the first NFL injury report that says: "Out: COVID-19."
 

loshjott

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Dec 30, 2004
14,943
Silver Spring, MD
Is this season going to actually happen?

@mlbbowman

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6m

Snitker just announced both Braves catchers Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud will not be available today. They both tested negative, but have shown symptoms and are currently back in Atlanta.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
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Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
Both catchers.

I'm going to get yelled at but here goes.

Batters and catchers should be masked, and there should be a computer calling balls and strikes. Thats the worst possible spot in the game re social distancing
 

OurF'ingCity

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Apr 22, 2016
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New York City
Both catchers.

I'm going to get yelled at but here goes.

Batters and catchers should be masked, and there should be a computer calling balls and strikes. Thats the worst possible spot in the game re social distancing
Completely agree. The science is pretty clear that most transmission occurs via extended close contact, so the batter/catcher/ump dynamic is by far the most likely place for transmission to occur and is much different than two players coming into close contact momentarily when, say, applying a tag.

Of course, it seems like players are not terribly great at social distancing in off-field areas like the dugout and locker rooms anyway, so maybe it doesn’t matter that much regardless. Still, if there is one season to try out computer umps for balls and strikes, it’s this one.
 

loshjott

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Dec 30, 2004
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Silver Spring, MD
Pfft. visiting teams can't even come to Mass as of 8/1 unless each player has a negative test in the prior 72 hours
If the MLB's every 48 hrs testing regimen is working, that should be doable, with some challenges. Say somebody on the O's is in Tampa and they get a positive test, they can't travel with the team to Boston and instead have to stay in Tampa?
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
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If the MLB's every 48 hrs testing regimen is working, that should be doable, with some challenges. Say somebody on the O's is in Tampa and they get a positive test, they can't travel with the team to Boston and instead have to stay in Tampa?
Something like that. Same for New York State visitors. Which now includes Blue Jay opponents, I guess
 

JimD

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Nov 29, 2001
8,681
Great piece in The Athletic by Stark and Rosenthal today:

https://theathletic.com/1954316/2020/07/26/why-did-the-marlins-play-baseball-on-sunday/
“I think that by any definition, this is an outbreak on their team,” said Dr. John Swartzburg, a clinical professor emeritus at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, Division of Infectious Disease. “And an outbreak on a team means that the team needs to close down.”

“Earlier, in (summer camp), if you didn’t have test results, you didn’t practice,” said Dr. Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University’s Oxford College. “So to have four positive results and then play a game just seems totally unaligned with that.”
This is just the beginning - the season is doomed IMO.
 

Mooch

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Jul 15, 2005
4,494
Developing situation in Philadelphia. Miami Marlins charter home this AM has been cancelled, after it was rescheduled from yesterday due to COVID testing. #JuntosMiami


supposed to play Orioles tonight in home opener. #Marlins

Time to shut it down. This could spiral out of control quickly.
 

Mooch

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Jul 15, 2005
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With a severe outbreak on the Marlins, I'd imagine the smart thing would be to quarantine the entire team for two weeks in Philly. How in the world can they make up those games? This is a mess.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
53,840
So, how comfortable will the Yankees feel rolling into clubhouse in Philly the Marlins were just in?
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
53,840
With a severe outbreak on the Marlins, I'd imagine the smart thing would be to quarantine the entire team for two weeks in Philly. How in the world can they make up those games? This is a mess.
SCAB MARLINS?

I can play 2B, maybe hit 2nd if we're going to go small ball route.
 

Seabass

has an efficient neck
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Oct 30, 2004
5,342
Brooklyn
This is going to happen with another team, and then another team, until MLB ends the season or just blindly plows ahead.

This really should be the Rudy Gobert level event that shuts the season down. Hope everyone enjoyed baseball while we had it.
 

donutogre

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Jul 20, 2005
3,193
Philadelphia
So, how comfortable will the Yankees feel rolling into clubhouse in Philly the Marlins were just in?
I feel like it's almost less about the clubhouse and more about the fact of all these Philly players who just did a series against the Marlins. Also, let me tell you I'm real psyched to have a piece of Florida's mess in my city, which has been dealing with COVID pretty well thus far.
 

Traut

lost his degree
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Jul 20, 2005
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The Sox just need to make it until September 1.

This was not only foreseeable it was certain to happen given the out of control infection rates in this country. There's no way MLB can continue. What do you do - assign forfeits to the Marlins?
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
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The Paris of the 80s
This is going to happen with another team, and then another team, until MLB ends the season or just blindly plows ahead.

This really should be the Rudy Gobert level event that shuts the season down. Hope everyone enjoyed baseball while we had it.
They're going to blindly plow ahead. There's a ton of money to be made from whatever games actually get played.

If the league actually cared about player health they would have done an NBA style bubble where they're sealed off from the rest of the world. If the players actually cared they would have insisted on it. And if the rich veterans disagreed with what they're doing right now they would have opted out.
 

Mooch

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Jul 15, 2005
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They're going to blindly plow ahead. There's a ton of money to be made from whatever games actually get played.
How can they do that? You're going to end up with several teams not playing for days at a time while the Marlins sit idle. I mean, 12 players testing positive means that they can't possibly field a team, right? How do you reconcile that at the end of the season for possible playoffs? What a mess.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
12,958
The Paris of the 80s
How can they do that? You're going to end up with several teams not playing for days at a time while the Marlins sit idle. I mean, 12 players testing positive means that they can't possibly field a team, right? How do you reconcile that at the end of the season for possible playoffs? What a mess.
The COVID teams forfeit the games until they can field a squad. The season gets decided by whatever teams are least ravaged by COVID. TV money pours in for the teams that can play.
 

bluefenderstrat

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Dec 16, 2002
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I don't see how MLB can just declare the Marlins season over...but maybe replace those games on the fly with more in-divison opponents? This seems hopeless.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
53,840
Also, let me tell you I'm real psyched to have a piece of Florida's mess in my city, which has been dealing with COVID pretty well thus far.
I don't think the Marlins haven't been in Florida in about a week, so maybe we should wait and see what happened first.
 

Max Power

thai good. you like shirt?
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Jul 20, 2005
7,878
Boston, MA
If the Red Sox are the last team that isn't shut down for an outbreak, does that mean they win the World Series by default?
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
53,840
So, do we think the MLB had NO PLANS AT ALL for a potential outbreak on a team?