NEWSLETTER
The obligatory check-in on testing levels have them still up relative to last week, but they’ve mostly been around 200,000 tests daily for a week now. All experts seem to agree that substantially more availability/processing ability will be required for safe re-openings of the economy, particularly to get to the point where you can be prophylactically testing communities.
Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke with the New York Times today about sports’ return, echoing much of what we’ve heard before – fan-less games could be possible later this year, but we’re not there yet – but adding that “I can’t give you a date, but I know that tests are rapidly scaling up in numbers over the next several weeks and months.” Here’s hoping he’s right about that, because testing remains one of the most critical components to getting sports back safely.
Meanwhile, Dr. Fauci offered his opinion on just-released data that indicates, in his view, “clear-cut” evidence that the drug remdesivir has a positive impact in treating COVID-19, shortening the duration of hospitalization. It’s the first data-backed good news we’ve had on the treatment front, so even Dr. Fauci – who is normally very even-keeled – was surprisingly upbeat about the results. It will still be a while before the drug, or modified versions, will be widely available to patients, but this is a start. Something about the drug does seem to impact COVID-19, according to the studies and Dr. Fauci.
Sports Leagues Conference with the Task Force
Per ESPN, the top medical officers from the major sports leagues participated in a call with the White House’s COVID-19 task force:
The call, according to a White House official, was to go over how sports play a role in President Donald Trump’s plan for opening up America amid the coronavirus pandemic. Verma also updated league medical officials on the latest testing available and encouraged them to follow guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ….
Verma emphasized to the league officials the importance of finding innovative ways to allow sports while keeping the athletes, coaches, staff and fans safe. She also emphasized the president’s commitment to supporting the efforts to reopen in a way that is consistent with public health data.
To reiterate, the administration has a significant interest in being able to sell the public a storyline about the nation’s turnaround (particularly economic, since the medical story won’t look good either way) as part of the reelection campaign. So when you see these things, you have to remember there is an extremely strong administration interest in getting sports back at all costs *before* November.
If I’m being honest, it sounds to me like a call to (1) urge sports to find a way to return as soon as possible no matter what, and (2) provide evidentiary cover for the leagues to do that (we’re just following the data!). I say that in part because the member of the task force on the call, Seema Verma, is a health care policy administrator, not a medical or epidemiological expert.
Apparently the sports officials were told that testing availability and capability would go up dramatically in the coming months. Like I said before: here’s hoping, but we’ll see it when we see it. I’ll keep following the data.
Cost-Cutting Measures
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who currently project to have a player payroll in the $45 million range, are suspending front office retirement benefits for the time being.
“We did identify the retirement contributions at least temporarily as an area where we might find some savings without too much impact on people, in terms of their every-day lives,” Pirates GM Ben Cherington said, per ESPN. “Our full expectation is that the contribution will go back into effect as soon as possible.”
Elsewhere, the Oakland A’s, unlike 28 other teams in baseball, have not committed to paying their employees through at least May 31. Instead, sources tell The Athletic that the A’s are considering “extensive layoffs.” The Tampa Bay Rays – the other team not in the 28 – reportedly furloughed some staff and cut the pay of almost every other full-time employee. It’s no secret that each of those two clubs do not generate revenue at the level of many of their peer franchises, nor are they in advantageous stadium situations. But it still really stinks to see, and it makes you wonder what will happen in the longer-term with two notoriously cheap franchises if revenues are impacted for a long time.
Even the NFL is already being impacted at a league level by COVID-19, with significant pay cuts, benefit cuts, and furloughs hitting league employees (PFT). The decision seems at least as anticipatory in nature as reactive, which makes you wonder just how much the league is anticipating serious negative financial impact this fall (i.e., fan-free games? loss of many games? etc.).
NBA at Disney
We’ve discussed this before as something more like a hypothetical, but apparently now the NBA really is considering it:
One possible playing ground for NBA if finishing season becomes safe for league and players: Walt Disney World Resort property in Orlando, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. League has kept different scenarios in mind.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 29, 2020
Our Insider @ShamsCharania reports on the NBA considering Disney World Resort as a potential return playing site and the latest discussions around coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/BUNNSFdKmA— Stadium (@Stadium) April 29, 2020
Baseball in Asia
Things have gone well enough in Taiwan so far that fans coming to games is the next thing on the docket:
#Taiwan government reported ZERO CASES on 4/28. Thing are looking good and the league hinted that there might be a chance to open the door of the stadium. GOOD NEWS! @CPBL #ForTheFans pic.twitter.com/Sd97K7yN2J— ELEVEN SPORTS TAIWAN (@ElevenSportsTW) April 29, 2020
Hall of Fame
As expected, the induction ceremony at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York will be postponed to next year:
Our Board of Directors has voted unanimously to cancel 2020 Induction Weekend, due to health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Class of 2020 will be inducted in 2021, alongside any Class of 2021 electees, on July 25, 2021 https://t.co/iecNYeoH95 pic.twitter.com/O99EIXWpqm— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) April 29, 2020
Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons, Marvin Miller, and Hawk Harrelson are slated for induction, and will have to wait to be included with next summer’s group.
