Covid and MLB

Soxy

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NFL seems craziest to me. Biggest rosters. And every play begins and ends with people breathing directly into each other’s mouths. But hey, America.
Every time I think about the possibly of playing organized American football, all I can think of is this (though I can no longer find the actual video clip anywhere; seems like the NFL did a bang up job scrubbing its existence off of the internet):

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/06/18/sean-mcvay-i-dont-get-how-well-social-distance-and-play-football/
That was over a month ago. I'm no doctor, but I don't think the situation has gotten better. Seems like it's gotten worse.

Perhaps the bottom line here is THEY SHOULDN'T BE FUCKING PLAYING AT ALL.
Yup! I said this in the Sox Covid thread before they started playing and I'll say it again:

Seems like this is a bad idea, but that hasn't stopped us yet.
 

djbayko

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Perhaps, but they’re also a group of young millionaires who play sports. The league and its consultants and advisers and medical officials available could have come up with a better overall plan, like say, all the other major sports currently in action.
Well, that's also kind of on the players. They turned down the bubble idea. I get that it's a commitment. But it seems like the 3 sports leagues are showing us that it's either a bubble or no pay.
 

HriniakPosterChild

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There's a difference between strip clubs and "players going out, players in hotel bar, etc" unless "etc" is doing a lot more work than it's getting credit for.

In the safer new world to come, I do wonder how the "compliance officer" prevents a bunch of players from gathering together in a hotel room to drink lemonade and eat popcorn.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Exactly. The league and individual teams can do all the testing possible, and provide as safe a work environment as possible, but if the players are going to go out and engage in risky behavior away from the ballpark that exposes themselves and others to the virus, what more can the league do? That's not to say that the league is blameless with their shoddy planning, but the bigger piece of the pie belongs to the players at this point.
But they aren't and they never had a viable plan. It's really quite that simple.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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There's a difference between strip clubs and "players going out, players in hotel bar, etc" unless "etc" is doing a lot more work than it's getting credit for.

In the safer new world to come, I do wonder how the "compliance officer" prevents a bunch of players from gathering together in a hotel room to drink lemonade and eat popcorn.
Because at a strip club they just spray the crowd with disease? Or they're all infested whores so you're bound to get something going there?
 

djbayko

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There's a difference between strip clubs and "players going out, players in hotel bar, etc" unless "etc" is doing a lot more work than it's getting credit for.

In the safer new world to come, I do wonder how the "compliance officer" prevents a bunch of players from gathering together in a hotel room to drink lemonade and eat popcorn.
If strip clubs happened, I'd categorize that as "going out" and not "etc." doing heavy lifting.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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But they aren't and they never had a viable plan. It's really quite that simple.
By work environment, I was solely referring to ballparks and training facilities. Expanded dugout and bullpen spaces, expanded clubhouse spaces (e.g. the Sox putting players in luxury suites rather than cramming them all into one room), etc. Where the plan failed is not addressing the outside the ballpark behavior. Of course, MLB players are presumably all adults and should be able to handle themselves properly without hand-holding. Clearly that is naive thinking.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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By work environment, I was solely referring to ballparks and training facilities. Expanded dugout and bullpen spaces, expanded clubhouse spaces (e.g. the Sox putting players in luxury suites rather than cramming them all into one room), etc. Where the plan failed is not addressing the outside the ballpark behavior. Of course, MLB players are presumably all adults and should be able to handle themselves properly without hand-holding. Clearly that is naive thinking.
That's pretty fair, I can get on board there.

To nitpick I'd say even if they're adults that can handle themselves, can their wives, kids, parents, etc? If everyone handled themselves like adults we wouldn't be where we are and it'd go away; it can't live where it has no home; but dipshits keep it going. This was never going to work, just like NFL isn't; it's not fucking how this shot works. Epidemiology isn't witchcraft.
 

thestardawg

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I think all sports are going to be a tough nut to bubble for the entire season. THey may have to build in extended breaks into the schedule, or perhaps expand the roster so players can exit the bubbles to see family. Perhaps each player gets a two week escape from the bubble during the season and then can re-enter with proper testing. That would obviously require the expansion of rosters during this pandemic, but I don't know how any sport can ask their players to not see family for over a half year.
 

mauf

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I think all sports are going to be a tough nut to bubble for the entire season. THey may have to build in extended breaks into the schedule, or perhaps expand the roster so players can exit the bubbles to see family. Perhaps each player gets a two week escape from the bubble during the season and then can re-enter with proper testing. That would obviously require the expansion of rosters during this pandemic, but I don't know how any sport can ask their players to not see family for over a half year.
The solution is to let families join the bubble, subject to the same rules as everyone else. Players could then choose from three options: (1) don’t play; (2) go in the bubble and let your family remain outside; or (3) bring your family into the bubble.

Maybe players will get their shit together and these extreme measures don’t be necessary — it does seem that MLB’s outbreak is confined to a few teams, one of which appears to have behaved irresponsibly. But I think you’ll see everyone get behind some kind of bubble rather than simply fold up shop.
 

mauf

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Because at a strip club they just spray the crowd with disease? Or they're all infested whores so you're bound to get something going there?
Here in Massachusetts, we had an outbreak at a Springfield hospital that was traced to employees eating together in the break room without masks. The people in that break room were probably brighter on average than your typical professional ball player, and because of where they live and work, they were exposed to much better public health messaging. So I think people rightly have some sympathy for players who don’t grasp the danger of sitting around a table and enjoying dinner or drinks, particularly if they’re in a state with few restrictions on such things. The risk of going to a strip club probably isn’t much greater, but it’s the sort of thing that even a moron should realize is a bad idea during a pandemic, so I’d expect players who did that to be judged more harshly.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Here in Massachusetts, we had an outbreak at a Springfield hospital that was traced to employees eating together in the break room without masks. The people in that break room were probably brighter on average than your typical professional ball player, and because of where they live and work, they were exposed to much better public health messaging. So I think people rightly have some sympathy for players who don’t grasp the danger of sitting around a table and enjoying dinner or drinks, particularly if they’re in a state with few restrictions on such things. The risk of going to a strip club probably isn’t much greater, but it’s the sort of thing that even a moron should realize is a bad idea during a pandemic, so I’d expect players who did that to be judged more harshly.
Not to be argumentative but I’d actually flip that. The educated people should know better than to expose themselves in a far more confined space as a break room in, essentially, a hot zone. Why exactly should a player be judged more harshly than someone more educated on it?
Which was my point; a strip club isn’t a disease ridden cesspool. It’s no higher risk than a supermarket. It just has a societal taint on it. Watching a woman take her clothes off on a stage is far less dangerous that passing someone in a grocery store aisle. Who gives a shit if someone wasn’t masking you if you’re at a club or at a restaurant? Wear a fucking mask.its that simple.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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I have a hard time the season is ever shutting down. Money talks, BS walks in this country so MLB is going to just keep making up rules as they go along, like 7 inning double headers, to make sure the show goes on.
 

staz

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Here in Massachusetts, we had an outbreak at a Springfield hospital that was traced to employees eating together in the break room without masks. The people in that break room were probably brighter on average than your typical professional ball player, and because of where they live and work, they were exposed to much better public health messaging. So I think people rightly have some sympathy for players who don’t grasp the danger of sitting around a table and enjoying dinner or drinks, particularly if they’re in a state with few restrictions on such things. The risk of going to a strip club probably isn’t much greater, but it’s the sort of thing that even a moron should realize is a bad idea during a pandemic, so I’d expect players who did that to be judged more harshly.
Bolded is really tough for me. Indoors, less than 6 feet distance, no masks, more than 15 minutes... Christ, it's probably covered on page 1 of the protocol.
 

MuzzyField

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I have a hard time the season is ever shutting down. Money talks, BS walks in this country so MLB is going to just keep making up rules as they go along, like 7 inning double headers, to make sure the show goes on.
The MLBPA negotiated for and wanted this.

The players pushed for this less than ideal arrangement and got the win, or did they?

In reality, management (much deeper pockets) gave the players a bunch of rope and here we are.

I now has nothing to do with this season and the players are fully responsible for what is about to happen. New reality... almost all the players taking this seriously can quickly turn into all the players are self-screwed in the non-bubble they demanded.

It's a virus MLBPA... how about reading about them and using that knowledge to protect your ability to earn. It only takes one to ruin it for everyone.

The Blue Jay's fiasco was so foretelling... players demanding MLB level "accommodations" ... they won't be paid less to play in Buffalo, probably save on taxes, even in NY, and get to play and get paid.

Tony Clark in on the clock and I can't wait for his swing and miss response.
 

Awesome Fossum

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Watching a woman take her clothes off on a stage is far less dangerous that passing someone in a grocery store aisle
I'm not up on the covid rules for Georgia strip clubs, but even if it's supposed to just be stage dancing (as opposed to lap dances, private dances, etc), I'd be willing to wager that the strip club is in fact a more dangerous place than the grocery store aisle.
 

MuzzyField

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Not to be argumentative but I’d actually flip that. The educated people should know better than to expose themselves in a far more confined space as a break room in, essentially, a hot zone. Why exactly should a player be judged more harshly than someone more educated on it?
Which was my point; a strip club isn’t a disease ridden cesspool. It’s no higher risk than a supermarket. It just has a societal taint on it. Watching a woman take her clothes off on a stage is far less dangerous that passing someone in a grocery store aisle. Who gives a shit if someone wasn’t masking you if you’re at a club or at a restaurant? Wear a fucking mask.its that simple.
Hey professional non-scientific risk evaluator, when is the last time you did the aisle dance at the grocery store?
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I'm not up on the covid rules for Georgia strip clubs, but even if it's supposed to just be stage dancing (as opposed to lap dances, private dances, etc), I'd be willing to wager that the strip club is in fact a more dangerous place than the grocery store aisle.
Do we know if any of these people did that, sans mask? The point is it’s immediately assumed that ‘strip club’ means ‘breeding ground’. I’d be far more concerned with the fact that it was in Georgia. If there was any conceivable way to prove it I’d take that wager as I assume there’s done level of regulation as opposed to the typical ass hat I pass in the store.
 

DeadlySplitter

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My guess is the Phillies could still mass test positive here, and they're prepared to pull the plug if that happens.
 

MuzzyField

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My guess is the Phillies could still mass test positive here, and they're prepared to pull the plug if that happens.
Even if they don't mass test positive, where did the Phillies players and staff go after every game? HOME... and that is how this becomes a real cluster fuck. The players signed up and agreed to the risk and need to contain that risk better than they have to this point.
 

dynomite

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My guess is the Phillies could still mass test positive here, and they're prepared to pull the plug if that happens.
Not just the Phillies — if those 2 players on the Cardinals turn into 6 or 8, I think they might pull the plug. All it takes is one of these players or coaches to get seriously ill and the entire thing falls apart.

Frankly it seems like a matter of time at this point.
 

Ale Xander

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Which was my point; a strip club isn’t a disease ridden cesspool. It’s no higher risk than a supermarket. It just has a societal taint on it. Watching a woman take her clothes off on a stage is far less dangerous that passing someone in a grocery store aisle. Who gives a shit if someone wasn’t masking you if you’re at a club or at a restaurant? Wear a fucking mask.its that simple.
I don't think you've ever been in a real strip club then. "No higher risk than a supermarket?" You must be kidding. "Watching a woman take her clothes off on a stage" is not a full representation of Atlanta strip clubs. Maybe it's a close representation for Northern New England. But not for Atlanta, not for East St. Louis, not for Texas, not for Providence . . .
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I don't think you've ever been in a real strip club then. "No higher risk than a supermarket?" You must be kidding. "Watching a woman take her clothes off on a stage" is not a full representation of Atlanta strip clubs. Maybe it's a close representation for Northern New England. But not for Atlanta, not for East St. Louis, not for Texas, not for Providence . . .
Lol, don’t assume you know where I’ve been champ. I’ve been in strip clubs in:
Salisbury mass
Saugus
Boston (proper)
NYC
NJ burbs
Philly
DC
VA burbs
Charkotte
Myrtle
Charleston
Atlanta
Miami
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
St Louis (not east)
Denver
Seattle
Vegas
And multiple cities in California. LA, SD, SF, Sacramento.
Oh, I flew a prop plane from Seattle to Spokane and we went to one.
Of those I’d put Miami and Myrtle as the only places I could catch a virus and it’s cause I got a lap dance. Maybe I should have paid more.
 
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SemperFidelisSox

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Manfred is bluffing...for now. I’m sure he wants to wait a few weeks to see if the Compliance Officers have any effect. If the players ignore them too, and more players test positive after more reckless behavior, then he probably shuts it down sometime in mid to late August.
 

MuzzyField

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Lol, don’t assume you know where I’ve been champ. I’ve been in strip clubs in:
Salisbury mass
Saugus
Boston (proper)
NYC
NJ burbs
Philly
DC
VA burbs
Charkotte
Myrtle
Charleston
Atlanta
Miami
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
St Louis (not east)
Denver
Seattle
Vegas
And multiple cities in California. LA, SD, SF, Sacramento.
Oh, I flew a prop plane from Seattle to Spokane and we went to one.
Of those I’d put Miami and Myrtle as the only places I could catch a virus. Maybe I should have paid more.
And those visits were recently?
 

MuzzyField

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Manfred is bluffing...for now. I’m sure he wants to wait a few weeks to see if the Compliance Officers thing works. If the players ignore them, and more players test positive after more reckless behavior, then he probably shuts it down sometime in mid to late August.
He's not... and it won't be more players testing positive it will be a mom, dad, wife or kid. AKA the giant hole in the bubble.

I've seen less than impressive ratings data for MLB nationally... how are the RSN numbers, for NESN and the rest, looking so far?
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Do we know if any of these people did that, sans mask? The point is it’s immediately assumed that ‘strip club’ means ‘breeding ground’. I’d be far more concerned with the fact that it was in Georgia. If there was any conceivable way to prove it I’d take that wager as I assume there’s done level of regulation as opposed to the typical ass hat I pass in the store.
The point you are wildly missing is that on the spectrum of places that are likely to promote transmission of CV, bars in general are on the high side, indoor bars are about as high as there is, and grocery stores are on the lower side.

hopefully you'll agree that strip clubs are way more like bars than grocery stores.
 

MuzzyField

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No, but I’m not sure your point. If you say ‘going to.a strip club is bad’ don’t assign extra scorn because naked women = disease.
My point is you are referencing a different dimension in terms of "safety" in travels to such establishments and it has nothing to do with the performers.

How many people did the "attendee" interact with to get there and return? How about the other safety conscious patrons... order food? Yum! Wings lead to thighs.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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The MLBPA negotiated for and wanted this.

The players pushed for this less than ideal arrangement and got the win, or did they?

In reality, management (much deeper pockets) gave the players a bunch of rope and here we are.

I now has nothing to do with this season and the players are fully responsible for what is about to happen. New reality... almost all the players taking this seriously can quickly turn into all the players are self-screwed in the non-bubble they demanded.

It's a virus MLBPA... how about reading about them and using that knowledge to protect your ability to earn. It only takes one to ruin it for everyone.

The Blue Jay's fiasco was so foretelling... players demanding MLB level "accommodations" ... they won't be paid less to play in Buffalo, probably save on taxes, even in NY, and get to play and get paid.

Tony Clark in on the clock and I can't wait for his swing and miss response.
I can only imagine what baseball would be like with 116 game season.

it really amazed me that MLBPA was more worried about what % of salaries would be paid rather than health protocols. If it's me, I'm trying to figure out the safest way to play first before I worry about $.

One thing I hope the difference between MLB and NBA shows is that while the virus makes the rules, there are rules that work. yes, people can stop transmission by ensuring that you don't have it and limiting contacts to people who don't have it.

but the more contacts people have - particularly in unsafe places like indoor bars/strip clubs/parties, the more transmission there will be.
 

joe dokes

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I’ll cheat and nominate college football since those poor kids aren’t even paid and they’ll have the same travel/roster size issue as the NFL. It’s not even a discussion that they’re going to attempt it though, everyone involved in those leagues at the leadership levels truly doesn’t give a shit.
And those college football players live in the non-bubblest place of all....college campuses.
 

djbayko

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I'm not up on the covid rules for Georgia strip clubs, but even if it's supposed to just be stage dancing (as opposed to lap dances, private dances, etc), I'd be willing to wager that the strip club is in fact a more dangerous place than the grocery store aisle.
I think anywhere alcohol is served is going to be riskier because people are prone to making bad decisions. And people are just generally sloppier when they're drinking. As for strip clubs, they're notorious for having a culture where everyone is trying to bend the rules a little, whether it be for pleasure or for pay.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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I think anywhere alcohol is served is going to be riskier because people are prone to making bad decisions. And people are just generally sloppier when they're drinking. As for strip clubs, they're notorious for having a culture where everyone is trying to bend the rules a little, whether it be for pleasure or for pay.
Alcohol or just any reason for larger groups to congregate in relatively close quarters in inside spaces for extended periods of time. And I doubt many of the patrons are willing to sit much further away in the interest of social distancing at a bar where there is visual entertainment of any kind going on.
 

jon abbey

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College football is the one that is really unthinkable for me, the athletes get badly exploited in normal years. I really hope that stops before it starts, as much as I like watching a SEC game or two each week.

The professional sports I think are all trying their best, all face different issues. MLB can be criticized for an endless number of things, but attempted bubbles in Arizona and/or Florida seem like they would have likely been even more disastrous.
 

Bread of Yaz

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Mar 12, 2019
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Lol, don’t assume you know where I’ve been champ. I’ve been in strip clubs in:
Salisbury mass
Saugus
Boston (proper)
NYC
NJ burbs
Philly
DC
VA burbs
Charkotte
Myrtle
Charleston
Atlanta
Miami
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
St Louis (not east)
Denver
Seattle
Vegas
And multiple cities in California. LA, SD, SF, Sacramento.
Oh, I flew a prop plane from Seattle to Spokane and we went to one.
Of those I’d put Miami and Myrtle as the only places I could catch a virus and it’s cause I got a lap dance. Maybe I should have paid more.
Until you’ve been to Mons Venus, you haven’t lived :redwine:
 

jon abbey

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Phillies still all negative, no additional Marlins tested positive. St. Louis is the one we're all waiting on...