then coronavirus happened, 2020 baseball

i mean, half these dudes are pointing up at god after hitting a home run. magical thinking is the default

white sox are calling up 2B nick madrigal, who in 163 minor league games/705 plate appearances has hit .309 while striking out 21 times

he perhaps lacks the sheer charisma of Our Willians, but remains intersting

https://freshcomics.s3.amazonaws.com/issue_covers/AUG161700.jpg

half these dudes are pointing up at god after hitting a home run

Brandon Nimmo does this after he gets hit by a pitch

seven-inning doubleheaders are now official; looking forward to everyone losing their shit when there's a no-hitter

wow, 14 innings instead of 18. that's almost 23% safer!!!

how many players need to be sick before a game is cancelled? well, it depends. if it's just one or two, you can play in two days. if it's 17, though, you're gonna have to wait a week. socially distant shade areas have also been constructed up and down the first and third base lines in the stands, so that we can imagine what it would look if players utilized them instead of sweating on each other in the dugout. the level of caution: abundant

and now for the hyundai coronavirus death update, we go to jimmy the cat hayes, stationed in a room without windows in an disclosed complex with 2009-era wi-fi

*puts on very online voice*

If I wuz a player i'd be sitting in the stands

'we'

The conversation between Manfred and Clark was not a threat but a reality check that was relayed to players -- and has spread quickly among them: We -- all of us -- need to clean this up, because if we don't, Major League Baseball in 2020 is going to be over.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2020

It's fair for Manfred to raise the specter of the season being called off. In doing so, he underlines that the risks and responsibilities of avoiding the virus are borne not by the owners, but by the players. The ones who accepted one pay cut and were browbeaten about another.

— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) July 31, 2020

the players are just a fraction of the people involved

each team has what, 60-70 personnel, flying all over the place? it's not the players' fault. what you're trying to do is inherently risky.

that entire crane interview is absolutely depraved

yeah. i don't think manfred actually has the authority to do anything to jim crane, but i'm sure it was made clear that it's in everyone's best interests that he simply shut the fuck up for the foreseeable future. billionaires, what can you do

also brandon taubman is in his mid 30s

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDT_i43BZ0k/?igshid=h9cw3b1yk3k6

From today's piece...teams that don't hit a home run are 19-41. Take out the games where both teams don't, and teams that don't hit a homer when their opponent does are 11-33. 43% of runs have scored on homers. Highest K rate ever, lowest BABIP in 30 years. Only one way to win.

— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) August 1, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjkuJPvMrI8

Between four and six additional Cardinals have tested positive, a source tells The Athletic. Another postponement tonight would appear likely. On it: @CraigMish.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2020

Of the four new positives on the #Cardinals that I can confirm, three are staff. One is a player.

— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) August 1, 2020

wait, is this thing spreading now!?

Phillies, with doubleheaders likely when they resume, might not want to risk health of certain pitchers. Yet, none can go on COVID IL because they have no cases among players. So to bring up pitchers from alternate site, they would need to risk losing some currently on roster. https://t.co/rXLyEDXuEo

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2020

xp

It’s like the virus just ignores MLB’s memo. Rude.

— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) August 1, 2020

Lorenzo Cain opting out of the season. Good for him.

Is Nick Markakis still opting in? Very bizarre timing.

I just don't think there is anywhere enough discipline or luck in the MLB for this setup to complete this truncated season.

Red Sox and Yanks game was brutally slow last night (more than usual), especially when flipping back and forth with the track meet basketball games happening in the Biodome.

Someone, maybe on the EW podcast, suggested they might shut down and reopen with a single-site tournament.

Is Nick Markakis still opting in? Very bizarre timing.

― brooklyn suicide cult (Dr Morbius), Saturday, August 1, 2020 12:06 PM

Seems very in-character for him, insufferably macho and stoic.

https://i.imgur.com/IQGe8Ay.png

it's not the players' fault, of course, not by themselves. but look at this shit. wish we could rename this thread "an overabundance of caution"

Someone, maybe on the EW podcast, suggested they might shut down and reopen with a single-site tournament.

i can’t imagine this being logistically possible any time soon. maybe for next season

Eduardo Rodriguez (heart issue related to Covid) will not return this year. The Red Sox do say they expect him to make a full recovery, and hopefully that’s the case.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 1, 2020

tis

“We”? https://t.co/fcujIXN0vS

— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) August 1, 2020

Flipped on the Yankees Red Sox, first 4 things on the chyron were:

18 players on the Marlins infected
4 more positives on the Cardinals
Rodriguez- heart damage
Lorenzo Cain opts out of season

I was pretty pessimistic to begin with but holy shit heck of a Week 1

If the season ended today — and in 2020, that’s not just a trite turn of phrase — the Orioles would be In the playoffs.

— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) August 2, 2020

The exact number of positive tests is not yet known. The first to report considerable concern in latest round of tests: @JonHeyman. https://t.co/Cwnkux0Ei3

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) August 2, 2020

btw Reds and Tigers are tied in the 6th in a shortened doubleheader opener. Do they use the phantom runner in the 8th?

UPDATE: Yoenis Céspedes has decided not to play the remainder of the season for COVID-19 related reasons.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 2, 2020

David Stearns says Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy is currently resting comfortably in the hospital, should be released in a couple of days after suffering a heart attack Saturday during the Brewers workout. Prognosis for a recovery is good, Stearns said.

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) August 3, 2020

In MLB’s view, Phillies’ lack of positive COVID-19 tests demonstrates two things: 1. Club-to-club transmission will not be that high given limited amount of interaction between opponents on field. 2. Phillies have been diligent following health and safety protocols.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 3, 2020

1. depends on 2.

cardinal covid count increases to 13 (including 7 players)

as best i can tell, heyman is claiming this based on something jerry hairston jr said 'he was hearing' two days ago. fuckin journalism

At least a couple Cardinals did go to a Casino, as @TheRealJHair 1st suggested. MLB has since tightened its rule on leaving the team hotel from very strongly discouraged to not allowed. Cards Covid count going into today: 3 players, 4 staff

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 3, 2020

If the season ended today — and in 2020, that’s not just a trite turn of phrase — the Orioles would be In the playoffs.

Third-best record in the AL, that's what's up!

Jeff Passan advocating for a single-site postseason bubble. Surely that's theoretically doable?

it would seem possible for a small set of teams, but if they're still thinking of 16 teams participating...maybe not?

i think MLB teams typically have around 60 people in their traveling party, so that's 960 people in the bubble. not sure how that compares to NBA/NHL

Lol Manfred and MLB so hapless.

FA cup just came to a conclusion over here in England and it's remarkable how... non-fraught it all was. They seem to have worked out how to do it.

We are aware that Yadier Molina, Paul DeJong, Junior Fernández, Rangel Ravelo, Edmundo Sosa and Kodi Whitley have tested positive for COVID-19.

All six individuals made the decision to grant permission in order to release this information. pic.twitter.com/tqjcG6SNx0

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 4, 2020

i’m sure they could do a playoff bubble in arizona. 16 teams is a little awkward but it’s cut in half in a matter of days

apparently we just decided that there will be 28-man rosters *in the playoffs*

maybe the mets can trade billy hamilton for a starter at the deadline

Bieber looking mortal.
Castellanos on the other hand, must have made some insane swing-tweaks in the offseason.