Commissioner says season is in jeopardy

MIAMI — With six teams idled Friday by the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told union leader Tony Clark the season could be shut down if players don’t start following the sport’s coronavirus protocols.

Manfred and Clark talked about what needs to be done to finish the season, a person familiar with the conversation said.

“Every player in this league better take a hard look at what you’re doing off the field, because what you do affects more than just you and your team,” Chicago Cubs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. tweeted hours after the St. LouisMilwaukee game was called off. “Your decisions off the field will put all of our seasons in jeopardy this year.”

The conversation between Manfred and Clark comes amid growing evidence that the spread of infection threatens to overtake efforts to play ball.

“Some things aren’t looking too good right now, but we have to play up to that point. Players are seeing what can happen,“Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “The rest now is up to us and the virus.”

Concerns have been expressed about lax behavior by players on the field — such as spitting or highfives — and off. The scrambled schedule also has heightened doubts about whether the owners’ desire to play is realistic.

“Obviously, we saw the message. They sent a memo. Just be more diligent, wear a mask in the dugout when you’re not playing, what we’ve thought to be the rules all along,“Arizona catcher Stephen Vogt said. “So it’s just like every other rule that MLB has for players — now it’s going to be enforced, so to speak. Just strongly encouraging.”

The latest game to be postponed was Milwaukee’s home opener against St. Louis, scrapped hours before the first pitch after two Cardinals players tested positive for COVID-19.

“TV Show suggestions please,” tweeted Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty, one of an increasing number of players who found themselves with unexpected free time as the postponements mounted.

The Cardinals said in a statement that they learned Thursday night about positive tests from samples collected Wednesday.

Players and staff were instructed to isolate in their hotel rooms.

“The team is currently conducting rapid testing of the entire traveling party, has implemented contact tracing, and will continue to self-isolate,” the Cardinals said.

The Cardinals and Brewers still hoped to play tonight and to make up Friday’s game with a pair of seven-inning games Sunday under a newly approved MLB plan for doubleheaders.

Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said baseball is braced for curveballs, especially this year.

“We’re all committed, I believe — and I’ve talked to a number of players today — to finishing the season,” Attanasio said. “Insofar as we can continue to provide some enjoyment for our fans, I think that’s something we’re all committed to doing. … If we’re not smart and safe, then we’ll fail. But we’re doing everything we can not to fail.”

Two weekend series — Nationals at Marlins and Blue Jays at Phillies — were called off earlier. The Marlins were hit with a virus outbreak in Philadelphia that infected at least 20 members of their traveling party, and both Miami and the Phillies are sidelined for at least a week.

The schedules of the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles also have been scrambled a week into a season that already had been delayed and curtailed because of the pandemic, and now may be in jeopardy.

Cleveland players and staff talked about postponing Friday night’s game at Minnesota. The Cardinals had played at Target Field on Wednesday, a day before the Indians arrived.

“We just visited with everybody and just asked them to kind of visit amongst themselves and we would have more information as the day progressed. We met again at 3:30, I think, and it was a go,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Teams all around the majors are keeping tabs on the daily developments.

“That’s a concern of mine,” said Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who was out with the virus earlier. “I speak for the entire Rockies team — we want to go out and play. … Anything that pops up negatively, in terms of this virus situation, could hinder that. So yeah, I’m concerned. I would rather not see any more positive cases.”