The New York Yankees tonight will have their first intrasquad game with the Yankee’s J.A. Happ facing the Bombers Clarke Schmidt in a 7 pm eastern matchup at Yankee Stadium. Some teams have not even been able to complete their first workouts.
The problem seems to center around getting results from testing and the lack of necessary health protocol supplies. With that in mind, it put the 38 or 39 players testing at positive for the coronavirus in question. With some teams not getting their tests back promptly that total is most likely much higher than the 1.2% infection rate reported by the players association.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees have reported that two of their players DJ LeMahieu and Luis Cessa have tested positive. LeMahieu is asymptomatic and Cessa only has very mild symptoms. Both of these cases were discovered with testing before they arrived at Yankee Stadium. They are self-quarantining at home. Yankee players have their temperature taken when they enter the park and are tested for the virus every two days.
The New York Yankees, although it is a challenge, have all the safety health protocols in place. The use of Masks, surgical gloves, social distancing are all being used and practiced. The media has limited access to the stadium and are not allowed in the clubhouse or on the field. The Yankees are using all areas of the Stadium, both clubhouses, even the great hall to get in all their workouts and meetings. The Yankees are using eight mounds and all areas of the field.
There have been more positive tests every day, including two for the Nationals that manager Davey Martinez disclosed during his Zoom call. The Cardinals have announced three positive cases, the White Sox two. Braves star Freddie Freeman, who initially tested negative, was among four cases in Atlanta. This has all been within five days of MLB starting back up. The New York Yankees seem to be lucky with only two players infected and they aren’t even at summer camp.
Intake tests have been sorely incomplete, which has forced several teams to change or even postpone workouts. It has been reported that some teams have not received the personal protection equipment that is required by the MLB health initiative.
There is one lab that supposedly is handling all the MLB tests. There was an original skepticism that the lab would be able to handle the volume and get the tests back in the required 24 to 48 hours. That skepticism has become a reality. On Sunday, Oakland was forced to cancel its position players’ workout because it didn’t have all its intake test results. In such a short summer camp these inequalities hardly seem fair.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Astros were not tested either Saturday or Sunday, sources tell me and @jakemkaplan . Testers also did not show Sunday for Angels and one, other unidentified clubs. Tests resume for Astros today.
Washington National’s reliever Sean Doolittle, who usually provides honest and articulate commentary said: “This has got to get fixed.” Doolittle has been tested four times, half of which have taken longer than 48 hours to get results. In order to complete the baseball season in this coronavirus environment testing as quick results will keep teams from getting to that 5% threshold that could end any teams season.
Photo:Â Yankee Gerrit Cole with Yankee mask on Twitter.