Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has denied that the season is in trouble despite more than a dozen Marlins players and staff testing positive for the coronavirus, prompting the club to close in Philadelphia They have now been postponed three games due to the outbreak in the Marlins’ locker room.
“I don’t see it as a nightmare,” Manfred told the MLB Network on Monday night. “We created the protocols to allow us to continue playing. That’s why we have expanded rosters, that’s why we have additional player pool. And we believe we can keep people safe and keep playing. “
Manfred said the earliest the Marlins can resume their schedule is Wednesday, when they are ready to play in Baltimore.
“I’m still optimistic, the protocols are strong enough to allow us to continue playing even in an outbreak like this and complete our season,” Manfred said.
The Yankees and Phillies also postponed their game on Monday after the Marlins played in Philadelphia over the weekend. Starting Monday night, the teams planned to start their series on Tuesday.
Manfred was asked what would have to happen for the league to close. “A team that loses a number of players, making it completely uncompetitive, would be something that we would have to tackle and think about making a change,” he said. “Our first concern is the health of the players and their families. And making sure we do everything possible to minimize the spread of the virus to our employees. “
The news of multiple positive tests between players on the Marlins and Reds rosters rocked many throughout the game.
“I’m going to be honest with you: I’m scared,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez.
Experts also expressed concern about the outbreak.
“This could put you in danger,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease expert during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America. “I don’t think they should stop, but we just have to follow this and see what happens to other teams day by day.”
Fauci, who threw the first pitch in the season opener between the Nationals and the Yankees, said he regretted seeing the problems experienced by the league.
“The Major League Baseball – the players, the owners, the managers – have put a lot of effort into coming together and putting protocols that we think would work,” Fauci said. “What happened with Miami is very unfortunate [Marlins]. “
Dr. Andrew Morris, professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto, was even more cautious than Fauci. “Baseball is in big trouble,” he said. “It makes me wonder if they are listening to expert advice or if their experts are giving them good advice. This was not a plan that anyone who knew what he was talking about would have devised. It is developing as it was supposed to. “
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