NEWSLETTER
Better late than never. In a very fluid, challenging, novel situation, I can understand MLB not jumping to the most extreme measures immediately, but they will absolutely have to be very quick – and correct – if this season is going to survive.
To that end, I was hoping something like this would come down yesterday (and maybe be more broad than just Miami), but since games were already postponed, I suppose this is just as effective today: after suffering a massive COVID-19 outbreak – upwards of 15 players so far – the Miami Marlins’ season has been paused at least until next week.
The Miami Marlins 2020 season at least temporarily, has been paused. This will allow the team to continue to monitor health and safety of players.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 28, 2020
This will answer the Nationals’ players concerns about being expected to go play in Miami this weekend. That will not happen now. The hope, obviously, is that between now and Monday, the Marlins have no more positive tests, figure out how to fill out a roster, and everyone is … comfortable that this was the extent of the outbreak? I really don’t know if you can conclude that yet.
But what happens to the Marlins’ schedule? And their opponents’ schedules? And the Phillies’ schedule, since they have had to shut down, too? And the Yankees, who were supposed to play the Phillies? And the Orioles, who were supposed to play the Marlins? It’s madness, and this is a reminder that just one team suffering an outbreak can muck up the whole thing.
Among the latest bits on how MLB is going to try to navigate the madness:
#Phillies also may be stopped from playing for a few days but not as long as the #Marlins. Plan would be then for the #Yankees, who were supposed to play at home v. #Phllies Wed/Thurs, to instead play at #Orioles, who were supposed to play Marlins
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2020
Phillies under this plan would return to play Friday against the Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park – as the visiting team (under a previous plan due to Jays’ inability to play in Canada). Team would be isolated until then, not technically quarantined. https://t.co/Np6OcS3o6h
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2020
Heard MLB would like to get 60-game season in for all teams, but not wedded to it. If some teams play 58, 56, 55, etc, winning pct would determine playoff spots.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2020
I’ll try to keep folks as updated as I can, but I think this is all gonna fly around rapidly for the next couple days, and that’s even WITHOUT other teams suffering a rash of positive tests – which, hey, remember that? It’s possible at any time.
Right now, because of the geographic schedules, only the NL and AL East are lined up to be impacted by these rapid, on-the-fly changes to the schedule, though teams records (for Wild Card purposes) could wind up impacting all teams. Get used to this kind of thing. The 2020 season was already unusual in the extreme, and it’s going to get even more absurd if it can get to a completion. Only way to do it.
UPDATE: Some official announcements:
MLB Announces Schedule Changes for This Week, and No New Positives (Yet) Around the League https://t.co/bcdyFLqSkd pic.twitter.com/1lNwGkmVWs
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 28, 2020
