USA TODAY International Edition
Absences raising COVID- 19 questions
Just four days into its attempt to play 66 games over 60 days, there might be cracks in the construct of MLB’s pandemic plan.
While specifics remain scarce due to privacy concerns, four Marlins vanished from the lineup or active roster between Friday and Sunday, with multiple reports indicating multiple positive tests for the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, one day after the Reds announced a positive COVID- 19 test for designated hitter Matt Davidson, one of his teammates, Mike Moustakas, stayed away from the ballpark Sunday after he woke up feeling ill and another, Nick Senzel, was scratched from the lineup after also reporting he did not feel well.
Now those teams will move on to play new opponents Monday.
The Marlins are apparently not taking any chances: Manager Don Mattingly said the club will spend Sunday night in Philadelphia, and while he did not offer specifics as to why they would not fly to their home city the night before the home opener, it’s not hard to deduce the reasons why.
Friday, the Marlins placed catcher Jorge Alfaro on the injured list, with no reason given. Sunday, they scratched starting pitcher Jose Urena 90 minutes before he was scheduled to start their
series finale at Philadelphia. The club did not give a reason for Urena’s removal, but MLB Network reported that Urena tested positive for COVID- 19.
Outfielder Garrett Cooper and DH Harold Ramirez are also missing.
The greater concern now is the potential that community spread among the Marlins has already occurred and that they would be wise not to board a plane without knowing test results of all of their personnel. Should any Marlins test positive, they will have to self- isolate in Philadelphia for 14 days, per MLB and the Players Association health and safety protocols.
Although players are tested at least every other day, with results typically returned within 24 hours, the vagaries of both the coronavirus and the testing does not guarantee every player carrying the virus is aware of it.
Despite losing their starting pitcher shortly before Sunday’s game, the Marlins defeated the Phillies 11- 6. Mattingly told reporters the club never considered not playing Sunday.
“We’re taking risks every day,” he said on a video call. “( GM) Michael Hill told me early on we were going to need to be adjustable, patient. We set ourselves up to deal with a lot. We’re getting tested early. Hopefully we’re not tested later.”
As part of the strategy to play while COVID- 19 pulses through the country, teams have 60- player pools to draw from. That ensures there will be enough players to take the field when the Marlins travel to Miami for their home opener against the Orioles. Mattingly also mentioned the possibility MLB might allow the Marlins to expand a taxi squad of players from three to five. Members of the taxi squad are allowed to train with the team at home sites and travel on the road.
Meanwhile, the Marlins’ home continues getting ravaged by the coronavirus. Miami- Dade County has averaged 3,000 new cases per day over the last seven days.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he talked to his team before the game Sunday in Boston about following MLB protocols and that they’d discuss it again on the plane flight to Miami.
Several Orioles have friends and family from Miami, but Hyde said he will stress discipline.
“We’re going to have another discussion about going into Miami here, just because of what’s going on down there,” Hyde said Sunday. “We have players from there, and guys from Florida, and we’ll talk about it again, but I expect guys to handle it and do the right thing and follow protocol. I don’t expect our guys to be going out.”