CALIF. TO ALLOW FANS AT BALLPARKS
California officials will allow limited fans to attend MLB games and other sporting events starting April 1. The rules only apply to people living in California. Baseball teams are not allowed to sell tickets to anyone living out of state as public health officials try to limit mixing while continuing to roll out coronavirus vaccinations.
The Padres, Angels and Athletics all have home games scheduled for April 1. The White Sox face the Angels that day.
Friday’s announcement only pertains to outdoor activities. Attendance for indoor events, including NBA games, are still prohibited.
The state is acting now because the rates of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are declining while the number of people receiving the vaccine is increasing.
The Astros are without eight pitchers (Cristian Javier, Pedro Baez, Francis Martes, Enoli Paredes, Hector Velazquez, Bryan Abreu, Ronel Blanco and Luis Garcia) after they were sent home because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
It was not known whether the eight pitchers had tested positive for the virus or had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive. They must quarantine for at least a week under MLB’s health and safety protocols.
MLB suspended free-agent reliever Sam Dyson for the entire 2021 season, the longest penalty under the league’s domestic violence policy. The 32-year-old free agent last played in 2019 for the Giants and Twins.
The league began its investigation of Dyson in November 2019, when his former girlfriend, Alexis Blackburn, alleged to Jupiter, Florida police that Dyson had been abusive.