Protocol flaws hit Yanks, too

While concerns about the health and safety issues of restarting baseball in the midst of a pandemic were growing across baseball on Monday, the Yankees were still resolved to get their focus back on the field — even if it was just for an intrasquad scrimmage with no score.

Like other teams around baseball, the Yankees had issues with testing over the holiday weekend. A source confirmed that the testers did not show up at Yankees Stadium to conduct the every-other day rolling testing on the players and staff. The Yankees had testing kits, however, and conducted the tests themselves.

Players said they were confident in how the team was handling the testing.

Giancarlo Stanton said he has been tested every two days, including on Sunday, but concern is growing about testing. Monday, the Nationals, Astros and Cardinals all canceled their workouts because they had not received results of COVID-19 testing. The A's have yet to have a fullsquad workout because of testing delays.

The Athletic reported that the Angels also did not have testers show up to do the required every-other day rolling testing.

While the efficiency of the testing was being blasted across baseball, Aaron Boone said he was confident MLB was doing the best it could.

“You know, we're confident in the protocols we have in place. I obviously know there were some issues surrounding the whole FedEx on the fourth of July weekend. We also feel like nothing's perfect, and nothing we do is perfect. But we do feel like the protocols we have in place are giving us the best chance to be safe,” Boone said. “And you know whether tests are rolling in on a daily basis or every other day. The fact of the matter is, nothing's perfect and we're at risk every single day. Even if we have all negative tests that roll in today, the reality is that test was from two days ago.

“So each day that we're here, there's risk involved in that,” Boone said. That's why as best we can, we're trying to mitigate that. I feel like we have a good system set up in place to do that. And hopefully, you know, over time it proves its mettle.”

That's an opinion that has been echoed publicly by every Yankee player asked about the process.

Playing baseball in the midst of a pandemic that has killed more than 132,000 Americans and caused unemployment numbers that rival the Great Depression is not going to be easy. MLB came out and tried to address the issues Monday.

“Our plan required extensive delivery and shipping services, including proactive special accommodations to account for the holiday weekend. The vast majority of those deliveries occurred without incident and allowed the protocols to function as planned. Unfortunately, several situations included unforeseen delays. We have addressed the delays caused by the holiday weekend and do not expect a recurrence. We commend the affected clubs that responded properly by canceling workouts,” MLB said in a statement.

Still, among players there is concern.

Already, several players like David Price, Ian Desmond and Mike Leake have opted out of playing in 2020 because of concerns about the coronavirus. Mike Trout and Buster Posey have publicly expressed their uncertainty about playing this season, though they showed up for training camp. Like Trout, Zack Wheeler is expecting his first child this summer and has made it clear that the health of his wife and child is his first priority and he may not return after the birth.

Stanton said there is uncertainty and risk, but the players know that going in. It would take something major for him to not play this season.

“I mean, something crazy would have to happen in the clubhouse and in the country,” he said.

The Yankees had two players test positive for COVID-19 before they reported to New York. DJ LeMahieu was asymptomatic and Luis Cessa had “mild symptoms,” according to Boone.

They have to be cleared to join the team before they can even begin their intake testing.

“There's a joint panel that has to sign off on things as well. There's obviously a couple negative tests that have to happen,” Boone said. “And that's got to be in conjunction with, you know, all the major-league protocols.”

The protocols were extensively worked on by the league and the union during the three-month hiatus, but clearly there are still wrinkles.