NEWSLETTER
We recently learned that a Stanford University study of COVID-19 antibodies included MLB – owners, players, execs, employees, etc. – in its effort to learn more about the virus from a large, national, cross-sectional group. It’s critically important research, and I’m very glad that MLB was able to coordinate to get involvement from its teams.
Well, most of its teams. We know that three teams did not participate, and NBC Sports Chicago reports that one of the three was the Chicago Cubs:
The Cubs are one of three MLB teams that did not participate in the nation's largest coronavirus antibody study, @GDubCub reports.
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) April 17, 2020
To be sure, I know enough to know what I don’t know, which means I can’t sit here and dump on the Cubs for not participating without a whole lot of information I’m probably never going to have. There could have been perfectly good and understandable reasons. Or the sources could be mistaken altogether. I always try to measure my reactions against the things I don’t and can’t know.
I reached out to the Cubs for comment earlier this morning, and I’ll update when I hear back.
Here’s how NBC reports the Cubs’ lack of involvement and their plans for the next phase of testing: “But the sources said the Cubs, who did not resolve discussions with their medical staff over details of the testing in time to consent, expect ‘the opportunity to be included in Phase II’ of the project.”
Because of the makeup of MLB employees from all over the country, and because of the logistical ability to coordinate this kind of widespread testing for the purposes of the study (this isn’t about getting anyone treatment yet), it made sense to pair with MLB. Indeed, apparently there was a pre-existing relationship between the league and one of the researchers through the drug testing program, so I’m guessing that’s how you could pull off the study so quickly.
Yet, if the NBC report is correct, the Cubs were one of just three teams that could not make it happen for whatever reason. You want to see the teams you care about participating in any and all things that could help defeat this virus and support the people affected – indeed, the Cubs are doing a great deal with their facilities and their finances – but they weren’t involved in this study. Couldn’t really say on the outside whether that was a justifiable decision or a bad one.
In any case, here’s hoping the fruits of the study provide the researchers with information that will be key to understanding who has already had COVID-19, what antibody levels translate to immunity, what the true case and fatality rates are, etc. This is truly important work, whether it involved baseball or not.
