Entire Nationals-Mets series off
A COVID-19 outbreak affecting more than a third of the Washington Nationals roster caused the postponement of the 2019 World Series champions’ season-opening three-game series against the visiting New York Mets.
Four of Washington’s players have tested positive for the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, and another five were quarantining after contact tracing determined they might have been exposed, general manager Mike Rizzo said Friday in a video call with reporters.
“We’re in crisis management mode,” Rizzo said.
His team is also in a holding pattern, uncertain when it actually will be allowed to play a game — or even hold workouts.
After games against the Mets scheduled for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at Nationals Park were scratched, the next possible contest for Washington would be at home Monday against the National League East Division champion Atlanta Braves.
“Depending on what happens in the next day or so, we’ll be in contact with MLB, and we’ll make the decision on whether we’re playing or not,” Rizzo said. “But we are, as of right now, preparing to play Monday.”
That would require calling up several players who did not make the cut at the end of spring training and are now at the Nationals’ training site in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
“Our depth is going to have to shine,” Rizzo said.
Rizzo has not identified any of the players involved in the outbreak — and said Friday he would not.
Indians
Cleveland will use a pinch drummer for their home opener.
With long-time drummer and ballpark fixture John Adams recovering from heart surgery and unable to attend his first opener in Cleveland in 48 years,
Black Keys drummer and lifelong Indians fan Patrick Carney will fill in and pound away from the left-field bleachers at Progressive Field Monday in a game against the Detroit Tigers.
“When I found out that John Adams wouldn’t be able to make Opening Day in Cleveland for the first time in almost fifty years, I reached out to the team,” Carney said. “I share John’s love of baseball and the Cleveland Indians franchise, and drumming for him during the home opener when he can’t physically be there feels like a meaningful way to show John the love and respect he deserves.
“I want to be there for John.” The Indians said Adams, who first started banging away on his drum in 1973, will bestow drumming duties and his bleacher seat for the day to Carney during an in-game video presentation.
A rocking duo from Akron, The Black Keys (Carney and lead singer Dan Auerbach) have produced plenty of their own hits, such as “Lonely Boy,” “Gold on the Ceiling,” “Little Black Submarines” and ‘Tighten Up.”
Elsewhere
More than 28% of Major League Baseball players were born outside the 50 states. That represents a drop for the fourth consecutive season, although this decrease was particularly small.
MLB said Friday there were 256 such players of the 906 on opening day rosters, injured lists, the restricted list and the paternity list.
The Dominican Republic led with 98 players, down from 110 a year ago, with the expanded roster. Venezuela was next with 64 players, followed by Cuba with 19.
Houston led with 15 players born outside the 50 states, followed by Minnesota and San Diego (14 each) and Miami (13).