Brewers’ home opener postponed
The Milwaukee Brewers' scheduled home opener Friday afternoon at Miller Park against St. Louis has been postponed and rescheduled as a Sunday doubleheader because of two positive coronavirus tests within the Cardinals travel party.
Major League Baseball put out the following statement Friday morning confirming the postponement and reason for it:
“Today's scheduled game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park has been rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 1:10 p.m. The rescheduling is a result of two positive COVID-19 tests in the Cardinals' organization is consistent with protocols to allow enough time for additional testing and contact tracing to be conducted.
“Saturday's game between the clubs will remain as scheduled for 6:10 p.m. Major League Baseball will continue to provide updates as appropriate.”
MLB announced Thursday that all doubleheaders played this season would be of seven innings each, not the usual nine innings.
The Brewers then put out this statement from president of baseball operations David Stearns:
“We are supportive of Major League Baseball's decision to postpone today's game and look forward to playing our
home opener as soon as conditions safely allow. The health and safety of our players and employees are, and will continue to be, our top priorities.”
While obviously disappointed that his team's home opener was disappointed, Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio endorsed the move and said both he and his players were “committed” to continuing play despite early setbacks such as a major outbreak with the Miami Marlins that put their season on hold as well as Philadelphia's, their opponent at the time.
“I think it's important to have perspective,” Attanasio said. “What's important, first and foremost, is to keep everyone healthy and safe. I will tell you how safe I felt coming into the ballpark today. The Cardinals are being tested at their team hotel now.
“How we all handle the coronavirus is a challenge, not only for baseball in finishing the season, but a challenge for all of us who have changed our lives. I talked to a number of players today and we're all committed to finishing the season. The question is how best to proceed so we can see this season through.
“We've got a lot of time for reflection here. I think sports has a more measured spot in our society. I think we maybe put overarching importance at some point. With that said, it's a meaningful part of our everyday lives... As far as we can continue to provide some enjoyment for our fans, I think that's something we're all committed to do.
“What you're seeing when you cancel a game like today is a focus on trying to get through the season rather than just saying the plan was X, Y, Z, so we're going to do X, Y, Z. We have a lot of really smart people working on this and a number of committed players who want to play through this. But everyone wants to play it safely. If we're not smart and safe, then we'll fail. But we're doing everything we can not to fail.”
Jon Heyman of the MLB Network was first to report the game had been postponed because of positive tests with the Cardinals. A source confirmed that St. Louis' travel party was instructed to self-isolate in their hotel in Milwaukee.
Mark Saxon of The Athletic and Craig Mish of Sports Grid in Miami first reported that two Cardinals players tested positive for the coronavirus. The Athletic reported the two players are pitchers but did not identify them.
The Cardinals last played on Wednesday in Minnesota, finishing a two-game series against the Twins.
After three Miami players tested positive last Sunday morning in Philadelphia, the game against the Phillies was allowed to be played, and later several other players had positive tests, forcing the team to isolate in their hotel there.
Neither the Marlins nor the Phillies have been allowed to play a game since, and MLB stepped in immediately this time to call off the Brewers-Cardinals game.
A report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch indicated the Cardinals were in the process of contact tracing to determine who else might be exposed to those who tested positive. They traveled from Minneapolis to Milwaukee on Wednesday evening and were in Milwaukee on a scheduled off day Thursday but the Cleveland Indians used that visiting clubhouse at Target Field on Thursday while playing a game against the Twins.
Asked he felt comfortable with his team proceeding to play the Cardinals on Saturday and Sunday, Attanasio said, “I'm extremely comfortable that we're doing everything we can to make a smart decision. The Cardinals are being tested at their team hotel. I think we're going to do what's smart, both for the players' health and our goal is to play baseball this year, and to see this all the way through.
“I think everyone should realize decisions are made with that context. It's not necessarily a negative thing when a game is canceled.”