4:55 PM ET
Jeff PassanESPN
CloseESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of one of the most Valuable Commodity in Sports”
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred informed MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark on Friday that if the sport doesnt do a better job of handling the coronavirus, it could shut down for the season, sources knowledgeable about the discussion informed ESPN.
The league and players recognize the coming days are an important point following a break out among the Miami Marlins in which 21 members of the company have actually evaluated favorable for COVID-19. 2 positive tests by St. Louis Cardinals gamers on Friday worsened concerns inside the sport about the presence of the coronavirus and whether the collectively agreed-upon protocols are being followed effectively to avoid outbreaks comparable to Miamis.
2 RelatedShould another break out materialize, Manfred, who has the power to shut down the season, might move in that instructions. Numerous gamers briefed on the call fear the season could be shut down as quickly as Monday if favorable tests jump or if gamers continue not to strictly follow the leagues procedures.
State and city governments have pressed baseball about players skirting the mandates laid out in the leagues 113-page operations manual, sources informed ESPN. Broadcasts that have shown players high-fiving, spitting and not wearing masks have actually left federal government officials wondering how seriously players are taking the protocols, sources said.
Further, there is issue about off-the-field options, with one high-ranking authorities stating: “There are some bad decisions being made.”
The Cardinals game versus the Milwaukee Brewers was delayed Friday and rescheduled to a doubleheader Sunday. Already, the Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies, who last played Miami on Sunday, were missing set up games, leaving 20% of the leagues Friday slate empty.
Major League Baseball and the MLBPA on Friday jointly revealed the results of COVID-19 screening through Thursday. Of the 11,895 samples taken over the previous week, there were 29 positive tests– 20 by players and 9 by team member.
