March 12: Major League Soccer is also suspending its season until further notice, Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated reports (via Twitter). The Association of Tennis Professionals has also announced a six-week suspension of the men’s professional tour.
Meanwhile, the NHL has canceled practice for teams and is readying a statement on the status of the current season. Gavin Lee will be tracking all of the coverage as pertains to the National Hockey League over at ProHockeyRumors.com.
March 11: In a stunning announcement that is sure to put pressure on other sports leagues, the NBA has suspended its season indefinitely after a Utah Jazz player — reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania to be center Rudy Gobert — has tested positive for the coronavirus. The NHL has also issued a statement which indicates that it is “continuing to consult with medical experts” and “evaluating the options.” A more detailed update can be expected tomorrow, per the announcement.
[Related: HoopsRumors’ coverage of the suspended NBA season]
Earlier today, MLBTR’s Jeff Todd examined the potential ways in which the coronavirus — which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic this afternoon — could impact the upcoming Major League Baseball season. The day has become increasingly surreal in the hours since that writing. Multiple Major League teams — the Athletics, Mariners and Giants — have issued statements indicating that they’ll explore alternatives to playing scheduled exhibition and regular-season games at their home stadiums. And the NCAA made the even more eye-opening announcement that this year’s March Madness tournament will be played in front of empty stadiums, with only “limited family” and “essential staff” permitted to be in attendance.
It’s not yet clear precisely how Major League Baseball will act, but it’s increasingly evident that the season won’t be played out in conventional fashion. Some have suggested relocating regular-season games to facilities that aren’t in major areas of risk, although that clearly presents its own problems; hosting regular-season games at neutral locales would only seem to encourage fans from higher-risk regions to travel to said neutral locations (thus increasing the risk of spreading the virus).
Already today, the Alameda County Department of Public Health has announced its recommendation that events or gatherings of 1,000-plus people be canceled or postponed — thus prompting the Athletics’ statement. Washington state governor Jay Inslee announced a ban on gatherings of more than 250 people in three counties, including King County, where the Mariners’ T-Mobile Park is located.
As governmental bodies continue to take action and as other major sporting leagues take or consider drastic actions in an effort to curb the spreading of the virus, pressure will surely mount on Major League Baseball and commissioner Rob Manfred to pursue similar measures. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported earlier tonight that a league-wide conference call had been scheduled for Friday, but that was prior to the NBA’s announcement and the statement from the NHL. Given the action from two in-season major sports, it seems likelier that Manfred’s office and the MLBPA will address the public sooner than later.
charles stevens
The Orioles might be good before we see baseball again.
all in the suit that you wear
doubt it
Dorn’s Contract
You realize that Camden may be one of the few places left where you can watch a game with a crowd under 1k.
charles stevens
And as someone who has visited to watch a few games there it’s a shame. Beautiful ballpark
Dorn’s Contract
I’m closer to the Nats park but good team or bad team, I love Camden Yards. So them stinking and drawing no fans makes it easy to get great seats. I took my kids to see their first game last year….so spoiled…they received free baseball cards, sat 3 rows behind 1b dugout, got a ball tossed to them and made it on the big screen. I should have brought them years ago because I never got anything like that.
scarfish
Camden is easily my favorite MLB stadium. Went and saw the Yanks steamroll the Orioles last year and feel bad for O’s fans. It was like watching them have their dog put down.
El Inmate
Have to been to a Rays or Marlins game?
astros_fan_84
It’s unlikely Manfred cancels the season, but a delayed start seems completely reasonable. The other option is to keep the teams in Florida and Arizona, shut off access and the start the seasons there. Not sure how that would work, but it would provide competitive baseball.
charles stevens
It sounds good on the surface to play without fans but what do the teams and league have to gain from it? Would be less of a financial loss to just shut it down until things calm down.
Vizionaire
tv and streaming profits are much larger than those from seat sales.
Lovinmlb
depends, rays Marlins would only lose 50 to 70 million. But Dodgers Yankees 300 to 400 million. Ticket beer food etc sales still important.
Vizionaire
but those teams have even larger income from tv and streaming.
Lovinmlb
Those 2 were bad examples. What about cardinals. Prob 250 million revenue from season game sales. How much tv revenue they get? It could be more I dunno. But is it so much they can have a 170 million or whatever payroll just on tv revenue? Ticket and concession sales are not chump change.
all in the suit that you wear
Suspending or canceling the season would have to be about the worst business decision Manfred could make. Will he realize that?
bedbathandbiyombo
it’s literally a pandemic. business decisions can take a back seat for now.
bass86
so is the flu
Ejemp2006
If they reported flu numbers like they report corona, then we would have a pandemic all the time.
Hysteria? Maybe.
This is more a symptom of no one knowing who they can trust for honest news.
ldoggnation
Pandemic means it’s world wide. Let the nba make the dumb pc moves.
This virus is only potentially dangerous to the very elderly with other bad medical conditions.
Otherwise, I’ll see you guys at the Cubs / Angels game in Tempe, Saturday.
Boogaloo
It’s political hysteria, calm down. There’s nothing to worry about.
jiggywithoutit
So, if you get the virus, it will only kill the elderly people you know, or the ones your friends know.
BlueSkies_LA
So much ignorant and irresponsible talk. The healthcare system in Italy is in a state of virtual collapse. This is what happens when the number of cases needing treatment outstrips the ability of the system to treat them. The only way to prevent that outcome is to slow the rate of spread.
danpartridge
Thanks, man. Governor Inslee, when asked what the consequences for attending large events like this, said, “The consequences are you can kill you grandfather.”
Even if you’re not significantly at risk, don’t put others at risk.
xtraflamy
read the whole article:
medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-pe…
George
Give it 2-3 weeks. This thing hasn’t hit North America yet, but it will. Go to the game, but you won’t see me.
George
So go to the ball game, everyone, then go visit your mom, right?
Boogaloo
Like the flu does every year?
Vizionaire
much worse.
jleve618
As soon as one player, or players wife gets it, everyone shuts it all down, just like the NBA, just like other sports organizations have.
Royalsfan12
How about just play the game like normal. The cornavirus is just like the flu and the only people in the U.S that died from it were at least 80 years old (which means it’s not a risk for anyone in baseball).
aloop
No. It’s not like the flu. It’s expected to be 10x deadlier than the flu (and right now the mortality rate is 3.4-3.6%, though they expect it to level out over time and be around 1%) and it is much more contagious than the flu.
We don’t have antibodies built up like we do for the flu because WE’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE. We also don’t have a vaccine or any treatment for it other than supportive therapies. While their aren’t may treatments for the flu, we do have TamiFlu which she taken in the first 48 hours is extremely effective.
So, stop thinking this is like the flu, because it’s absolutely not. Just because we don’t have many deaths doesn’t mean that we won’t. We most likely will, as that is what all the models project.
aloop
*** TamiFlu which when
Mick1956
Aloop I’m sorry but I read bulletins nearly everyday and nothing in those has any of the information you’ve posted.
It is nowhere near as deadly as the flu, except for geriatric patients. Not across the board. I’m sorry but your information is wrong.
El Inmate
Try telling that to my 75 year old mother with COPD when she dies bc asshats like you want to see baseball.
floridagators
Maybe you shouldn’t take people with health risks to a baseball game or large public gatherings were they are susceptible instead.
luclusciano
Mick – you’re unfortunately incorrect or just reading incorrect bulletins. 120000 cases with 4300 deaths. Mortality rate = 3.5%. Flu in general per year is about 0.6% mortality rate. #facts this is only 2 months in.
Cubguy13
Stop with the panic. Go read the CDC and WHO. The corona virus is mild and most people will have mild symptoms and be over it within a week. News flash, the flu changes every year into strains we haven’t seen before. Coronaviruses have been around for a long time and this one has mutated like the flu does. Just stop yourself with the fear. If you are old with health problems then you should fear getting any type of infection, and this is no different.
Cubguy13
Your mother can die from the flu. Stop acting like this is different. Tell your mother with copd to stay in the house. Why should ppl who are healthy have to make concessions cuz of your mom who probably gave herself copd from smoking
Mick1956
Lusciano: where did you read that? US has 120000 cases at least, with 37 deaths! You are way off. Remember the water for your bunker!
You can’t trust these faulty numbers – LOOK AT THE CDC
Mick1956
Thank you Cubguy13. For a few minutes I thought I was the doctor who invented the damn thing.
luclusciano
Here Mick – CDC.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
120,000 confirmed in the world.
bass86
it is just like the flu… except for all the stupid people getting hysterical over it like this guy
Mick1956
Hey Lusciano
centerforhealthsecurity.org/resources/COVID-19/ind…
You don’t have to go to the bunker yet!
Fuck Me Bitch
By the tone of many of these comments I’m surprised that MLBTR hasn’t turned off the comments on this subject. Knowitallism is a such a human disease.
luclusciano
But it’s not. Or maybe you’re right and the WHO is wrong. Not hysterical – realistic. Minimizing it doesn’t change the seriousness of the situation.
Mick1956
I’m not minimizing friend, but we as Americans cannot be shut down in life for this! We are going crazy over this one virus known to cause mild respiratory illness. That’s with every single daycare in America.
I fought for this country to have its freedom, not so people can go inside when they hear a cold is coming.
I would understand if the descriptor said, “fatal respiratory illness”
But everyone is in a sheer panic over this. There are no cures for the common cold or the flu. We don’t shut down for this stuff. It’s embarrassing
brewcrew08
The 3.5% death rate (roughly) isn’t accurate at all. Far more people are tested/confirmed for the flu each year which drives the death rate down. Think of the thousands that are in their 20-30’s, healthy and just took carona as a common cold and didn’t get tested? All the sudden actual cases spike and that death rate goes way down.
jiggywithoutit
But “most people” will transmit the disease to vulnerable populations you know and love, someone who is older, not especially healthy.,So, if you get the virus, it will only kill the elderly people you know, or the ones your friends know with hypertension/pre-hypertension, or high blood sugar. Getting it probably won’t kill you, but if you get it there’s a decent chance it kills someone you know, are you okay with that?
Mick1956
NO. Nobody is okay with that but this does NOT prevent the disease from spreading to people you know/ love!
Why do you blame an individual for a pandemic? It’s completely irrational.
BlueSkies_LA
Only partly right. The virus might be ten times more prevalent than is currently being measured, which would mean that the mortality rate is one tenth of what is being measured. However this does not change the number of people who will die from it. The only way to do that is to slow down the rate of transmission.
Mick1956
No, the mortality rate has not kept up with the infection rate at all. And by its current rate it will be less than the flu when it is completely identified by the numbers.
We can’t extrapolate data that has been for two months and measure only the current percentage. When the first case was identified mortality was 100%.
People are on the attack because I simply said we should not shut down sports. It’s a pandemic meaning it’s already global. Operate as usual. The flu is a fatal pandemic every year.
Mick1956
Yeah my bad on this one, it is world, not US. I meant 1200 US. I think it’s just above 1300 now though. It is progressively going down, so it appears to be an indirect relationship from the initial discovery.
Baseball, please Lord, please.
Lovinmlb
MLBTR might as well shut down their website if they don’t allow people to talk about the Corona. Its what people are talking about everywhere. Its been declared a global pandemic, leagues are shutting down everywhere and they just keep posting articles about what hitters are going to have a bounce back year. None there might not be a year!
Only traffic they are going to get to their site is us die hard patrons. This NBA article is the biggest thing since the Betts trade that sent on for days.
They need to be stealing ideas from some of the commenters. Articles about what happens with contracts, arbitration, free agency, 2021 draft picks etc?
danpartridge
It’s not as deadly for people under 20. Every other demographic? 10 to above 1000 times more deadly.
BlueSkies_LA
The point that is being missed by some is that even if only one out of a hundred people get life-threatening cases of the virus, those numbers can very quickly exceed the ability of the healthcare system to treat them adequately. If that happens, many more will die then would die if they received the best possible treatment. This is what is happening in Italy right at this very moment. They don’t have enough ventilators, they are setting up ICUs in hospital hallways. Anyone who thinks that could not happen here is just kidding themselves. Our healthcare system has limits too. This is why the infectious disease experts are urging measure to be taken that can “flatten out the curve” and why the focus is on large events that make ideal vectors for spreading infections more rapidly.
brewcrew08
You realize how insane your response is right? 1000 times more deadly than the flu? According to WHO the flu kills more than 300,000 per year around the world. Even if we take your low end of 10 times more deadly you are saying 3M will die from Carona at least. Also they are saying the elderly (60 and above) are most susceptible.
danpartridge
Flu kills 0.1% of all people a year. COVID-19 kills up to 5% on average. That’s 500x. For a person 60 and older, it’s 6% to 7%, 70 and older, 9.5%, 80 and older, 15+%.
COVID-19 is gonna kill some people. Flattening the curve will kill less. That starts with canceling large events, where these things spread.
BlueSkies_LA
The mortality rate is little more than guesswork currently and doesn’t really tell more than part of the story in any event. I mean you can debate it endlessly and not get to the real point. All we really need to know now is if the cases that need treatment outstrip the ability of the healthcare system to provide that treatment then many will die who didn’t need to die. Slowing down the rate of spread is the only way to accomplish that right now, short of some sort of magic bullet that isn’t coming.
danpartridge
The mortality rates are considerably higher than standard rates of influenza. That’s pretty solid. Hospitals are overwhelmed when the virus gets out of control, increasing mortality.
I don’t think we need to argue the fine details of “is it 3.5% or 5% for COVID-19?” It’s undeniably higher.
BlueSkies_LA
The mortality rate question is circular because it is based only on cases that are tested and treated. The percentage of walking cases is unknown and the estimates are all over the map. So it could be the virus is ten times more prevalent than thought but one-tenth as deadly. Nobody really knows. The point I was making is it makes little difference to the appropriate response, which is to slow the spread as much as possible. That will save lives in about equal numbers, either way.
danpartridge
I’d suspect that’s true with influenza, too. In any case, Flatten the Curve.
George
What happens if you catch it and bring it home? Ever thought that deep?
George
The best advice from the WHO and CDC right now is to avoid personal contact, and wash your hands. For me, that means staying away from crowds.
George
We have no idea how it will affect North America yet, because it hasn’t really taken hold here yet. It will. Apparently obesity is a big risk factor for fatality, and a large portion of North Americans are obese.
Rather than concentrating on the death rate, i would be more interested in how many are going to be hospitalized. There is a real danger that the medical system won’t be able to cope.
Jeff Todd
I am reading through this. I certainly have my own opinions on this but (to this point of the thread) I see an exchange of views that reflect the varying information that has been presented at various points from various sources. It is hard to justify limiting that. Ongoing discussion and exchange of information on these matters is valuable. The tone may be strident but is within the bounds of our policies.
We always strive to keep the comments open when it is within our ability to do so while still enforcing our policies. We’ll attempt to do so on this subject as well.
That said, we will not hesitate to remove comments and/or ban anyone spreading clearly false information or violating our regular policies by insulting other commenters, etc.
Jeff Todd
Fact is, there is no fixed death rate. It depends upon the population effected and the standard of care.
Look at the reported numbers from Italy vs. South Korea. The death rate from the former is vastly higher. That could reflect a wider spread that wasn’t tested for, as you note, but it also surely reflects differences in their populations and the fact that the Italian health system has now become overwhelmed.
sviscusi
The event and those attending it and potentially getting it aren’t the issue. It’s the fact that they will eventually go back to their normal lives and spread it to those people all while not realizing they have it.
If this becomes wide spread it could kill millions. It’s so serious that Italy shut down, South Korea went in a enforced quarantine. Playing events without a audience is the bare minimum.;
MLBTRS
That’s pure nonsense; we HAVE “seen it before”. The reason it’s referred to as COVID 19 is because there were 18 previous strains that were similar. Also, it is NOT “much more contagious than the flu” ; it’s about the same and much lower than highly contagious diseases such as measles. Regarding vaccines, the flu vaccine has had an effective rate as low as 15% and it’s disputable as to the claims of higher rates of efficacy. Regarding your models, I can formulate one that will affect everyone on earth or no one on earth. Go crawl back under your bed.
Clayton Russell
No, the 19 refers to 2019, the year it was found. There have not been 18 other similar strains. This is something new.
Rsox
The mortality numbers are solely based on a sample size of reported cases. Since the start of this, which is likely december…not last week who knows how many 1000’s of cases have not been reported that obviously did not result in death. Eventually the numbers will be similar to that of the flu.
BlueSkies_LA
Jeff, thanks for allowing this discussion to continue, and for your active moderation. It’s also very helpful to reiterate the moderation policies from time to time so that folks will know what kind of behavior will result in their posts being deleted.
MLBTRS
My point was that there is a strain each and every year, and yes, there have been at least ten strains in the decade ending in 2019. Actually, there is a strain of that virus every single year of varying degrees of virulence, and yes, the reason they named it so is to not confuse the current virus with previous strains, which number in the hundreds or even thousands, as it’s probably been around for centuries. So in that sense, it’s NOT something new.
wordonthestreet
They were not at least 80
Vizionaire
why don’t you try it yourself?
Mick1956
Going to a game? Okay
xtraflamy
read the whole article:
medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-pe…
Confortoismyspiritanimal
GTF outta here. You are the problem. You are spreading the virus. You are infecting the vulnerable.
We, AS A SOCIETY, have to protect the most vulnerable.
Stop being so damn selfish and care about the people around you.
MLBTRS
We are ALL “vulnerable”, so lets force everyone to wear helmets when driving or riding in a vehicle. Actually, anyone could fall and get a concussion, so we should wear it whenever we walk. How do you determine who is MOST vulnerable?
jonesadoug
Cheaters
Cincyfan85
Maybe they can begin the regular season in Florida and Arizona. That would limit the need for traveling and you could also restrict the amount of fans in attendance. I just hope they play the season!
Matt Galvin
A Team can play in Orlando.
brewcrew08
Well WrestleMania is in Orlando and that’s about to get canceled and it’s 4/5 this year. Doubt the city will let teams play if they cancel that event and the millions they lose from hosting it.
bballblk
How would service time/free agency potentially work if the season ended up being canceled?
Lovinmlb
Service time is service time. No service then no time? Free agency though might be different. So diamond backs and rangers could have now traded for 1 year of marte kluber instead of 2? Bryant Lindor Betts will be another year older when hitting free agency?
wordonthestreet
No season. No service time
Lovinmlb
So to quote Riddick “shoulda taken the money Mookie”
Now we know why Yelich signed that extension.
geotheo
Interesting point when you consider some of the players who haven’t been optioned yet. For instance, Ryan Mountcastle was sure to be optioned by the Orioles before the end of camp to save service time. Since eventually they will start the year with a shortened schedule, he would probably get credit for the games not played. He could always be sent down once play started.
jyosuckas
Just cancel the NBA permanently, would anyone even care?
jdgoat
It’s more popular than MLB…
Royalsfan12
Only to ESPN
JohhnyBets67
The MLB pulls in about twice as much revenue as the NBA
jdgoat
Maybe revenue, but that’s due to the season being twice as long. Basketball is much more popular across North America than baseball is.
Rsox
The NBA has become nothing more than “Project Runway” with a ball, only the goal is to see who can create the ugliest uniforms in which to play in. I don’t recognize half the teams on tv till they put a score up and you see which teams are playing since they use a different uniform every game.
Kayrall
I agree. One sports entertainment federation (WWE) is more than enough.
Lovinmlb
I wouldn’t. I am down to MLB. And playoff only hockey maybe. Used to love football but the things for player safety although good and needed ruined it for me. also the touchdown, we have to review the play so commercial, kick extra point that is almost quarenteed go to commercial, kickoff that is sure to be a touchback commercial, run a play, holding penalty, run 2 more, punt fair catch no return, commercial.
ChiSox_Fan
Why is that even posted here in MLB rumor section?!
Lovinmlb
Same reason there is a article about the NBA on MLBtraderumors.
wordonthestreet
Boy I was wondering who would make that comment. Figures it is ChiSox.
wordonthestreet
No. No one would
sufferforsnakes
I sure wouldn’t care.
Ancient Pistol
All you need is one player infected and the season will be suspended which is a possibility since the players have been meeting many different people before last week.
Halo11Fan
Three times more contagious than the flu. No inoculations to slow the contagion. Ten to twenty times more likely to cause hospitalization. Ten to thirty times more likely to kill.
This is bad. I’m glad people are talking it seriously. Don’t panic, but it’s not business as usual.
WillieMaysHayes24
Source?
mcdusty49
FanGraphs
Lovinmlb
Fangraphs. Great reply lol. Only thing better might have been @kenrosenthal
pc01
Fangraphs… That comment is the winner!
californiaangels
these are world class atheletes, they aren’t going to the hospital for a dang flu lol.
Lovinmlb
Michael Jordan flu game vs jazz
Vizionaire
rudy gobert of jazz has corona virus.
brewcrew08
Where did you pull those numbers from Halo11? Lol. Those aren’t close. 10-30% more likely to kill? You do realize even with the underreported cases of carona (people who think it’s a cold and don’t go to the doctor don’t count toward the confirmed cases) the death rate is 3.5%. Is it more serious than the flu? Possibly we don’t know yet. However to say the death rate could be 30% higher than the flu is just outrageously wrong.
brewcrew08
Flu death rate is roughly 1%. 3.5% (with under reporting) is only 3.5 times higher.
danpartridge
Flu death are 0.1%. Coronavirus deaths are above 3%. That makes 30x,
MLBTRS
PLEASE: you’re using world-wide stats that have little bearing on U.S.
xtraflamy
read the whole article:
medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-pe…
MLBTRS
…and you’re 1,000 times more likely to be a moron.
ellisburks
Teams should consult with The Marlins and Rays on how to play in stadiums without fans before they cancel.
Lovinmlb
This site better leave the comment sections open because it’s looking most likely the corona virus is going to be the only thing to talk about. Ban the people with the stupid political talk. They will have to create new accounts, which will bring more web traffic, aka more revenue. Maybe start a new site coronavirisrumors.
I am a dinosaur and still have cable. Anyone else have cable? Is it worth having if MLB season is cancelled? I only watch sports and news. Never a tv show or the same movies that are always on.
Mick1956
Sir, do you need help?! Sir! You there?
charles stevens
I live in the sticks. My options are satellite or paying attention to my family. Satellite still seems like a deal.
Lovinmlb
haha
hiflew
OK, you win.
bringbackthebluee
People are already making the Coronavirus political. Yes. I’m in my 20s and have cable. The day that Hulu or Netlix acquire sports is the day I drive to Atnt and throw my cable bill in those thieves faces.
AngelDiceClay
Its okay you can say AT&T
hiflew
I think everyone is going to have to get cable. Pretty soon that and the internet will be the only contact with other humans that be allowed.
Lovinmlb
Does everybody get sick and die or is this y2k? Depends who you ask I guess.
Mick1956
Lovin, I think many missed this comment but it is so on point and analogous to this discussion. Good job, sir
JohhnyBets67
You think everyone is going to have to get cable? As in everyone is going to have to have to use a TV service provider….Is what I’m sure you mean. The Dish and streaming will be A-okay. Streaming is where the money is going to go—it doesn’t require a cable man to set up!
snotrocket
If you are trying to stay away from large crowds the Oakland Coliseum during an A’s game is a pretty good bet.
louwhitakerisahofer
Hasn’t the upper deck been closed for years??? LOL
jleve618
Oh man, I got drunk and went to the wrong trade rumors site again. I wanted baseball news.
Daynlokki
Did you read the part where they might suspend the beginning of the season?
OIC2021
The Indians don’t have a game to start the season south of Cleveland untiL the 3rd week of April
Hey Manfred, postpone all of April.
SDHotDawg
Based on available data — THIS IS A GROSS OVER REACTION!!!
Good grief, people!
xtraflamy
read the whole article:
medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-pe…
sufferforsnakes
Stay in Arizona and Florida. Play there. No travel necessary, and in the case of many teams, no games postponed due to snow.
Maybe the Indians can actually get off to a good start this way, instead of taking until June to warm up, as is their usual way.
TrumpCard
They are no longer serving buffet at the casinos out here in Vegas
bigwestbaseball
Manfred is too much of a dunce to do the right thing and cancel the first half of the MLB season.
ericl
The NBA has had a player test positive. They have to suspend the season until they can determine how many other players, personnel, etc. have been affected, MLB, the NHL & other sports don’t have that currently. That is a big difference. That being said, I do expect other professional sports leagues to take measures. I see the NHL going to games without fans. I think MLB may just delay the start of the season. That gives them more time to analyze everything. China has had more cases of Coronavirus than anywhere & they have gotten the situation there under control. The Chinese basketball league is going to start up again soon. So, delay the start of the season. Contain the virus and then start the season later. You can make adjustments as needed
Vizionaire
the only problem is u.s. don’t have enough test kits or treatment know-how. this is the time all the nations in the world to share information.
Vizionaire
here is the corona virus infection map of u.s.
nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cas…
SDHotDawg
And here are the REAL numbers in the US from ABC News (using CDC data), as of 3/11/20, 7:50pm PDT:
Total Cases in US: 1270
Total deaths: 37 (30 in WA!)
4 in CA, 2 in FL, 1 in NJ
From Surgeon General on 3/10/20: Average age of those who have died = 80.
All who have died had chronic pre-existing health issues and weakened immune systems.
Death toll from the flu so far in 2020: app 20,000.
So yeah, OVER REACTION.
BlueSkies_LA
Read up on what is happening right now in Italy. The healthcare system is in a state of virtual collapse. This is what happens when too many cases that require treatment come all at once. This could happen here if the rate of spread is not slowed down. So stop thinking about just yourself for a moment and listen to what the infectious disease experts are saying.
BlueSkies_LA
Of course we can be compared to Italy. What is happening there right now is exactly what the people who understand infectious disease warn can happen here if we don’t take measures to slow down the rate of spread. I suggest before you post again that you first read up on what is happening there and elsewhere in the world. I can hardly imagine why you would perceive saying you need to be aware of the facts as an attack, but if you do, it’s your issue not mine.
Mick1956
I wasn’t referring to what you said, I was talking about the thread. Nonetheless, I do read worldwide events. Italy is not comparable to the American healthcare system. I don’t understand how canceling baseball prevents what happened in Italy. I agree, be prepared, vigilant, and more cautious; but don’t stop American life.
Read what the disease actually is… any of a number of diseases, including the flu, can cause similar or worse symptoms. I read, a lot, but thank you for the presumptuous comment. I actually go there, so just stop with the end-of-world scenario.
It’s silly to cancel the whole season. Not necessary and this is causing mass panic when it’s not what it is being made out to be. I’ve read numerous sources on this topic. Go to Johns Hopkins and read their pages related to strain 19 of this same virus that Lysol kills.
BlueSkies_LA
You keep saying that the healthcare system in Italy isn’t comparable to the U.S. but completely without evidence. I don’t know what you are reading but if you aren’t finding infectious disease experts expressing great concerns about the ability of our healthcare system to handle a rapid spike of cases requiring treatment then you can’t be reading very deeply because this is pretty much the main issue they are talking about right now.
I haven’t heard any suggestions that the baseball season should be or will be canceled. So if you’re going to resort to such obvious hyperbole then maybe you should think twice about accusing anyone else of exaggerating.
Mick1956
I did not suggest baseball is doing that and you came into the discussion in the middle. My assertion was a response to others demanding the season be indefinitely suspended. You are taking what I said out of context. If you want an honest conversation start from the beginning to put everything I said in context.
And there is discussion about the season being postponed on this very site.
Yes, the hospitals will be overtaxed if everyone goes there but that is not how our system works, typically. We have other avenues of treatment people frequently use and how does baseball or any other sport prevent this? It doesn’t and you have no data supporting your theory that it does.
Anyone, anywhere can infect anyone anywhere. Large gatherings of people will take place regardless. I’m not saying not to be responsible and you are intentionally picking pieces of statements out of context to support your opinion.
Go in the basement, I don’t care. But my response that it is unreasonable for sports to cancel seasons remains.
BlueSkies_LA
Large gatherings create much larger spread vectors than small gatherings. This is precisely the concern that has resulted in the cancelation of large events all around the world. This is such a simple concept of arithmetic I wonder why it even has to be explained. Again, you are ignoring what the infectious disease are saying because it means you might just have to miss a few baseball games. And you continue to use hyperbole to justify yourself. Not good all around.
danpartridge
Northern Italy, one of the richest regions on earth, is now triaging patients based on age and pre-existing conditions. Hospitals in a very wealthy area with high access to medicine and technology have to ignore patients based on age, leaving them untreated, to die:
ft.com/content/34f25036-62f4-11ea-a6cd-df28cc3c6a6…
sviscusi
You do realize that the U.S. is still in it’s first stages of dealing with the disease right?
We know how this is going to go if we do nothing or too little because we’re seeing it in other countries. This is not as bad as it gets. There’s a reason why every single expert is saying that this is a big deal. Stop thinking your internet math proves anything other than your ignorance on the matter.
Judge44
I’ve read through many and don’t see ignorance, rather different opinions. I don’t think insulting Mick’s opinion makes yours more valuable. People differ on the response, but it doesn’t make yours right.
I’m conflicted on this issue as I really want this to be contained, but it seems as though many reports believe it is already not contained, hence the event cancellation.
My opinion may be right, or wrong, only time will tell. But to pretend your opinion is expert, when even they cannot agree isn’t helping the exchange of ideas.
Troy mcclure
Please don’t stop baseball come on all winter waiting for this
Finlander
Mick and other like-mindeds: The data isn’t from National Enquirer, but from World Health Organization officials AND our own Surgeon General, among others. Mortality rate for seasonal flu is about 0.1%, while the mortality rate for COVID-19 is settling somewhere between 1-3%, which IS 10-30 times that of the flu. Delaying its spread would not only better utilize what little personnel and facility capacity we have medically to treat it, it would maybe buy a little more time for development of a vaccine or effective treatment, which could save many lives. This isn’t something to throw insults at.
Regarding the potential cancellation of games: read the article. There are decisions being made by city, county and state officials prohibiting large crowd gatherings. Stadium sporting events are included. This isn’t Manfred’s doing. I hate that this is happening, but this is no time to become an ostrich. Hopefully solutions are developed to allow the season to proceed as intact as possible.
AngelDiceClay
Knick fans are thinking “Where was this Corona Virus back in October”
User 355748524
“Comments Are Closed”
frankiegxiii
If only that were true…
IronBallsMcGinty
Everyone please do your part. Wash your hands, sanitize and cover your mouth. Stay clean and stay safe.
Thanks and keep it Brockmire.
xtraflamy
Please, read the whole article and look at the math. It is a 20+ minutes read (or more, depending on your attention span). It is critically important to act now. The longer the delay, the more the impact. We all have a responsibility to more than ourselves, especially when it comes to public health and safety.
medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-pe…
desertbull
Ridiculous
Android Dawesome
I just want to find a store that has toilet paper on the shelf.
sviscusi
Go to a dollar store of some kind. If no toilet paper then grab baby wipes which would probably last you longer that toilet paper anyway.
Cincyfan85
My wife and I found tons at Home Depot about 20 miles north of Cincinnati.
Vizionaire
order from costco or amazon. there are plenty.
MLBTRS
Incredibly stupid decision. It’s a much safer and orderly world when people are left to their own decisions after calculating risk, whether it’s driving, flying, biking or even walking – there is a risk for literally every action in life, but when any authority pre-empts that decision, the Law of Unintended Consequences will ALWAYS rear it’s ugly head: far more people will perish from a world-wide recession or depression resulting from this sort of over-reaction than any modern epidemic or pandemic. Please everyone, crawl out from under your beds and get back to life.
mdecav
People don’t know if they’re infected or not.
BlueSkies_LA
Human beings are very bad at calculating risk and responding appropriately. But the largest flaw in your reasoning is in thinking that someone taking what they believe is a calculated risk are taking that chance only for themselves. In the case of an infectious disease it is certainly not true, they are also accepting the risk for people who have chosen not to take it. An analogy is someone who believes they can drive safely with a few beers in them. The risk they are taking is not just for themselves, but to everybody else on the road.
MLBTRS
That’s a horrible analogy. Alcohol consumption while driving is nowhere comparable to freedom of movement. Applying your logic, all vehicles should be outlawed, as the risk is not just yours but the potential victims if you have an accident. Taking a risk also assumes the possibility of contracting an illness, so they have the option to stay home.
MLBTRS
So, you have no problem with “humans” in authority (who by their human nature are “bad at calculating risk”) calculating our risks for us? Your “logic” (such as it is) is convoluted.
lowtalker1
I honestly didn’t know atp was a thing until now.
Clayton Russell
Since a number of my comments seem to have been deleted, I’ll reiterate my point here. MLB needs to do something. How do you expect the many season ticket holders who are in the higher risk age range to feel about having to decide between counting this as a sunk cost or risking their health? If they continue games as scheduled, they need to at least offer refunds (or partial refunds) for people who want them. I’m hoping they postpone the season and maybe it can start in May or June if everything goes right. I don’t think a suggestion like this is panicking–if you use an umbrella when it’s raining it isn’t out of panic, it’s just a common-sense precaution.
30 Parks
I’m an obsessed baseball fan, but baseball is secondary to safety. MLB should take steps to promote public safety and awareness. Delaying the season is an appropriate measure at this time.
MLBTRS
Yes, when games resume, every fan in attendance should wear a helmet.