Pennsylvania won’t allow Blue Jays to play in Pitt
because they were not authorized to speak TORONTO – The state publicly on the matter, said of Pennsylvania won’t allow the Blue Jays are working
on other contingencies, too. the Toronto Blue Jays
Canada has flattened the to play at PNC Park in
epidemic curve. But the Pittsburgh amid the coronavirus
number of new confirmed
cases of the coronavirus reported pandemic, daily by Allegheny health
County – which includes officials
Pittsburgh and 1.2 million announced residents – has increased Wednesday, tenfold in the last two becoming weeks, compared with the two weeks in June before the second jurisdiction to what officials there called say no to the team as the an alarming spike in cases. baseball season begins this Health officials have week. blamed the spread primarily
Canada already denied on bars and restaurants the Blue Jays’ request to that were ignoring play in Toronto because social-distancing orders, the regular-season schedule as well as residents returning would require frequent from travel to virus hot travel back and forth from spots. To clamp down on the United States, where the spread, health officials COVID-19 cases are surging. have issued a cascade of orders shutting down bars
The Blue Jays and Pirates and restaurants, curtailing had been waiting to dine-in service and recommending see if they got permission that people returning from Pennsylvania officials from certain states to proceed with the plan to self-isolate at home for 14 have PNC Park fill in for days. the Rogers Centre as the The agreement to share Blue Jays’ home stadium. the stadium with the Pirates
“In recent weeks, we was pending state have seen a significant increase approval, according to two in the number of officials familiar with the COVID-19 cases in southwestern matter who spoke to The Pennsylvania,” Dr. Associated Press on condition Rachel Levine, the state’s of anonymity earlier secretary of health, said Wednesday because they in a statement. “To add were not authorized to travelers to this region for speak ahead of the government any reason, including for decision. professional sports events, Pirates President Travis risks residents, visitors and Williams said the organization members of both teams. We worked closely with know that this virus does city officials to get a proposal not discriminate, and can ready for the state to review. even make professional The state ultimately athletes very sick. We are decided to pass. committed to protecting the “This is an unprecedented health and well-being of all situation and, therefore, Pennsylvanians.” we understand and support
A source familiar with Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision,” the matter told The Associated Williams said in a statement. Press the Blue Jays “We are in agreement are now engaged in talks that the safety and health of with the Baltimore Orioles those in our region must about playing “home remain paramount. We are games” at Oriole Park at confident that the great Camden Yards. The official people within the Blue Jays said the Orioles are trying organization, working with to help Toronto however Major League Baseball, will they can but says there are secure another option very lots of logistics to be worked soon.” through yet in terms of feasibility. Better hurry. Toronto The official, who opens the regular season on spoke on condition of anonymity Friday at Tampa Bay. The home opener is scheduled for next Wednesday against the World Series champion Washington Nationals.
“Everybody would love to have a home game, but that might not be an option,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoya said Wednesday evening. “Who knows? We could be playing games on the road the whole year. I’ve never gone through this, not with two days to go, not knowing where you’re going to play home games.”
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said this week his team had more than five contingency plans for a home stadium and was in talks with other teams. Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk said Tuesday the players were told Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore is a possibility.
Atkins said if the Blue Jays can’t find a major league park, their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, New York, would be their most likely site for home games. But based on what the players want and the collaboration they are getting from other teams and MLB, Atkins said the Blue Jays are focused on major league parks, as long as they can be safe. He said health and safety is the priority, so the ability to be socially distant without comprising other teams’ ability to maintain social distance is important.
The team had been considering playing home games at its training facility in Dunedin, Florida, but that is among the states that are virus hot spots.
If a major league stadium can’t be found, the Blue Jays could be facing a 60game road trip, playing opposing teams in their own ballparks instead of a home park.
“Of course it is difficult because there are still uncertainties. We just have to remember that we’re going to grind for two months instead of a regular, 162-game season. If we can rally together and work as a team, I think we should get by fine,” pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu said through a translator.