MLB all baseball and all of the sports face a crisis today as the coronavirus has reared it’s ugly head. As I reported earlier this morning, 12 Miami Marlins players and two crew have tested positive for the coronavirus. The results of those tests have prevented the Marlins from having their Opening Day game at Marlins Park against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Marlins last played yesterday at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Because these positive tests showed up there, there is a possibility that some of the Phillies players or staff may have been exposed to the virus. The MLB and the New York Yankees in an abundance of caution have also postponed tonight’s Yankee/Phillies game.
Ex- Yankee Derek Jeter, part-owner of the Miami Marlins, made the following statement on the situation facing the Marlins:
Jeter indicated that all of the Marlin’s team would remain in Philadelphia to await results of their tests as well as Phillie’s tests that should be available this evening, before going forward.
All of this morning’s news has set the internet and Twitter ablaze with comments ranging from “it’s time to shut down the season” to “why not avoid all of this and just bring the Los Angeles Dodgers to Yankee Stadium and have the World Series right now.” Statements like these and everything in between has shaken up the baseball world.
Other sports like the NFL, NBA, and the NHL are observing this situation as they too make plans to have their seasons. The COVID-19 virus is spiraling out of control in states that either isn’t wholly following the CDC protocols or have opened up their state’s economy too soon or have not followed the guidelines.
Where the Marlins are located at Marlins Park in Miami/Dade county is the epicenter county in the epicenter of the virus, which is now Florida. Texas and California also have massive outbreaks of the virus. The next few days may determine how the rest of the baseball season will be conducted or if it will have to be canceled altogether.