The Yankees were trapped in Philadelphia Monday, day and night, because they were trapped in limbo.
His Monday night game against the Phillies was suspended because the COVID-19-affected Miami Marlins used the visiting club’s headquarters at Citizens Bank Park last weekend.
Now what?
This is what we know and don’t know:
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
The Yankees are supposed to play the Phillies four times this week, twice in Philadelphia and then twice at Yankee Stadium.
Depending on how the Phillies fare in their latest coronavirus tests, the Yankees may play a game or two on Tuesday night in Philadelphia or New York … or they could be postponed again.
Another postponement could lead to consecutive double games at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday nights, because the Yankees have only seven days off in their 60-game season.
“I hope we have an initial set of test results late (Monday) night and I think they will have an update (Tuesday) on how we hope to proceed,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred during an MLB Network interview.
WHAT WE KNOW
Manfred and the owners did not consider canceling or pausing the season just started due to the Marlins’ ordeal.
“No,” said Manfred. “We talk about the situation. I think most homeowners realize that we create protocols anticipating that we would have positive tests sometime during the season. Protocols were created to allow us to keep playing through those positives.
“And I think there was support for the idea that we believe protocols are adequate to keep our players safe.”
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
Are Yankees players and coaches crazed for using the visiting clubhouse in Philadelphia after 11 Marlins players and two coaches who were there last weekend tested positive in recent days?
Perhaps.
Will they feel safe if MLB orders them to play in Philadelphia on Tuesday?
Maybe not.
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Before Monday’s postponement, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night. Even with Citizens Bank Park fumigated on Monday, Cole would ask to stay out of the stadium this week and launch Wednesday in New York to add a degree of safety to his health and thus possibly keep his wife and one-month-old son safe. ? Could anyone blame him for playing in the safe?
WHAT WE KNOW
Dodgers pitcher David Price, who has chosen not to participate, says Manfred and the owners are no longer concerned with the safety of players despite all the protocols that have been implemented.
Responding to the Marlins outbreak, Price tweeted: “Now we can REALLY see if MLB will put players’ health first. Remember when Manfred said the players’ health was PARAMOUNT? Part of the reason I’m at home right now is because the health of the players didn’t come first. I can see that that has not changed.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
No Yankees player or coach has chosen to exit the season, but perhaps one or more will take it more seriously now.
It wouldn’t be surprising if multiple players had these conversations with family members on Monday … and it wouldn’t be surprising if some finally decide to give up their reduced 2020 salary to return home to their families.
Other clubs have lost star players for not participating: Giants catcher Buster Posey, Braves outfielder Nick Markakis, Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and Price, and it could also happen to the Yankees.
WHAT WE KNOW
While worried, Manfred is not seeing the Marlins’ situation as a nightmare test.
“Obviously we don’t want any player to be exposed,” he said. “It is not a positive thing. But I don’t see this as a nightmare. We create the protocols to allow us to continue playing. That is why we have expanded lists. That is why we have the group of additional players. And we believe that we can keep people safe and keep playing.
“We hoped to have positive results at some point. I remain optimistic that protocols are strong enough to allow us to keep playing, even through an outbreak like this and complete our season. “
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