Major League Baseball will allow its teams to decide whether they’ll allow fans in the stands this season “based on local, state ordinances and procedures,” Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. Schulman expresses doubt that either the Giants or Athletics will play in front of fans in their stadiums in 2020, though.
It may be a different story for the Marlins, as Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez told Andy Slater of Fox Sports 640 that he’ll at least consider allowing spectators at their stadium. The Marlins will first have to come up with an effective social distancing plan, however, and that could be especially difficult with coronavirus cases in Florida rising at an alarming rate.
Meanwhile, speaking with Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald and other reporters Wednesday, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said “it’s a possibility” that Fenway Park will be able to host fans sometime this year. Kennedy added “there are clubs around Major League Baseball that are anticipating having fans in their ballparks,” though it remains to be seen whether that will prove to be wishful thinking.
Here’s more from the majors…
- Kennedy and Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom offered further updates on the franchise, as Mastrodonato was among those to cover on Twitter. Bloom revealed the Red Sox have had one player test positive for the coronavirus, but that individual is no longer exhibiting any symptoms. Those who do test positive are required a 14-day quarantine/monitoring period, and then they have to test negative on multiple occasions before returning, Bloom said.
- Bloom also spoke on on outfielder Alex Verdugo and right-hander Collin McHugh, two players who have dealt with injuries. A stress fracture in Verdugo’s back slowed him during the first version of spring training, but one of the key components of the Mookie Betts trade will be a full go for Boston when camp resumes in July. And McHugh, still on the mend from elbow problems that limited him in 2019, is making progress. The Red Sox are hopeful he’ll be able to pitch this season, which is his first with the club. Boston signed the ex-Astro to a one-year, incentive-heavy deal in free agency.
- Back to the Marlins, who recently had a player and a staff member test positive for the virus at their Jupiter, Fla., complex, Craig Mish of Sports Grid reports. Both people are now asymptomatic.
- The Cardinals have become the latest team to make a financial commitment to their minor leaguers until the conclusion of the campaign, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak announced Wednesday they’ll pay their minors talent $400 a week through August, the end of a season those individuals likely won’t be able to play.
I’m an A’s superfan, so get me the heck in! I’m high risk but baseball first!
I hate your team, but I like the cut of your gib.
Youre a legend.
Merriam-Webster dictionary:
gib (noun): a male cat, specifically a castrated male cat.
Try jib.
Perhaps he was complimenting the cat’s mohel.
Thank you. Didnt know the spelling of jib
I feel jyped by this conversation.
Awesome! If you can spell “mohel” correctly I know you got “jib” no prob
That’s a slur
Against the Romani people
Had no idea a cut gib put you in the high risk group. Something new every day
No fans in the stands at Oakland Coliseum? That sounds like a normal baseball season to me!
Statman still angry his team will place last again.
Baseball over….your life?
The A’s fanbase won’t miss you, idiot.
Fans in the stands will help keep the players cool on hot summer days.
Underrated comment.
Sure but what’s gonna save us from bad puns
The Punisher
I thought that Marlins fans were already practicing social distancing.
I’m a marlins fan and that still made me laugh
me to
Ow! That’s gonna leave a mark!
You beat me to the joke. My version was something along the lines of
State of Florida: “We’ll allow you to have some fans in stands, but you can’t exceed 10% of capacity.”
Marlins: “Not a problem”
I’m a Cardinals fan. Reading this article burst my bubble. It Quoted John Mozeliak. I Hadn’t heard his name mentioned lately. Usually it’s tied to a screw up trade sending future stars in exchange for old former big named players to Long term – high dollar contracts.
Meanwhile, Rays ownership holds emergency meeting to figure out promotions to increase attendance for 2020
Breaking.. the Rays ask MLB if they can bypass all this by just playing in front of fans in Montreal.
a’s fans practice social distancing as well … all of them stay at least 1 mile away from the stadium … both of them!
Statman you are obsessed with the A’s. Still angry that your team is at the bottom? Give it up you come across as a childish cry baby.
I admit, that’s a great comment.
There’s one for the Rays too. If the Rays were told they can only have 5% of stadium capacity, they’ll still not fill to capacity.
And my defense of the Marlins. Knock all you want, but if they are considering letting fans in and no other teams can try it, go figure. With a 60-game season and possibly allowed to have fans in Marlins Park, the Marlins have a chance to win a championship and lead MLB in attendance. Is the world coming to an end?
“It’s gonna be a great year!” – Revenge of the Nerds
The Marlins were at about 27% capacity the last two years. How aggressive does their plan have to be besides let in anyone that wants to come?
Subsidies
Agree with those above. By the time you factor in the segment of the population that isn’t willing to go into crowds yet, the marlins will likely only sell about 15% capacity anyway
I really don’t think anyone in Florida is concerned with social distancing. Look at the numbers going up every day. They’re going to turn into New York in short order.
I’m not sure how NYC is now, but most of the state is much better than it was in March and April. And I’m amazed because people don’t follow directions (re: masks and social distancing) up here either.
I live in Orlando, and you’d be surprised how many people are complying with the mask order, and social distancing, no doubt there is a spike in the population centers, kind of weird the median age of infection in recent cases has been like 28 years old
Yeah, but that has nothing to do with the young folks who attended protest rallies, etc. :/
Actually, multiple reliable sources are reporting that the protests did not have a significant effect on the spike. As NPR puts it, “parties, not protests,” are more responsible
NPR is definitely not a reliable source.
Maybe it does but it’s also related to those true patriots at crowded beaches and bars… you know the true Americans
Yeah, how can you trust NPR with their research and ethics. They have nothing on Hannity, Carlson, Jones who tell you the unaltered truth based on their opinion.
Yet you glossed over the rioters and looters. Way to pick and choose there, whynot. With your head in the sand you were probably at the bench with those true patriots. Well done.
@sufferfortribe
NPR is one of the most reliable sources in US media. It’s fact-based reporting with little to no opinion.
Please support your claim with examples of unreliable NPR new pieces and aggregate their supposed faults against those of any other media outlet in the US. Please also provide examples of what you consider to be ‘reliable’ sources.
Until you do, you’re just spreading ill-informed propaganda.
NPR- national propaganda radio
NPR- not even close to real news……all bs all the time
It’s mind boggling that teams and cities can still be comprehending ways to have fans in the stands, when right outside their front door is an epidemic getting out of control – and the USA isn’t even in the thick of the second wave yet.
Then again, it’s pretty symbolic of how most of the country has handled the virus to this point.
So much for competitive balance. Some teams get to play in front of fans, some teams don’t.
My prediction? No team will be playing in front of fans. Not a single one. MLB is just passing the buck on that decision process.
Psst: If you go to a baseball game this year you are an absolute idiot.
Just open the stadiums. Let the blind sheep stay at home.
Or actually let a guide dog get you into the stadium.
121,000 American die in just under three months from a pandemic that we still have very little hard data about…
“We can’t live in a bubble!!!”
One nice looking blond woman gets shot on a pier by a guy with slightly more melanin…
“BUT, we can live behind a wall!!!!”
And then the cherry on top, with no irony or self awareness…
“Don’t let the media use fear to control you, Sheep!”
But, don’t worry…the stadiums will be open in the places that care more about narratives than numbers.
Your numbers are way off but go ahead and keep lying
Which number do you dispute?
Maybe fill stadiums and then quarantine everyone infected on Ellis Island like a 100 years ago…
You can reliably ignore DTD, who is a pandemic denier.
Death numbers are over 150,000. Numbers have been suppressed and that is closer to the true number. It’s been poorly documented with flawed data. And we’re still totally unprepared. Great again?
I’m more worried about rioters going downtown than I am getting COVID-19 at the ballpark.
Both are worrisome. Why compare?
You can control your own actions based off of your beliefs in reference to attending games. Rioting is something that an individual has no control over. Personally I see concerns on both ends, but I prefer to have control over my decisions.
Unfortunately with this disease, you can face little or no consequences but still being responsible for considerable ill health and death to countless others. There simply hasn’t been a comparison illness in our lifetime.
Rooting for the Red Sox used to seem like a disease. Not very infectious though.
Marlins only allowing fans cuz they know there wont be any
There will 100 percent be a point in the season where you can have fans in some limited capacity. 1 in every 4 seats is good enough to be safe and earn some revenue for the sport. The fear mongers won’t like it.
Look at FL, TX, etc. It doesn’t work without everyone doing their part. Look to Brazil for what happens when nothing is done.
no one is doing nothing though. even now in places like Florida people still are told they should wear masks and some do. this is hardly nothing that is being done here.
People can make their own choices. It doesn’t mean I have to like their choices. But it doesn’t give me the right to tear down Tony Gwynn’s statue.
Except it’s billionaires putting the Health at risk intentionally to try to make a bigger buck and praying on the naive and misinformed (you)
There is very good reason for fans to protest billionaires pushing their stadium gates open, even if you live in denial of reality. Maybe billionaires shouldn’t be greedy for once :O
Oh please you never said a word about fans always being packed into stands during flu seasons in years past. But sure now its going to be more hazardous with people distanced and actually aware of the health risks. The odds of dying in a traffic accident going to the game are higher than dying of COVID.
I don’t know what the big argument is let those who believe in covid stay home and those that don’t care go to stadiums. Since folks who generally don’t believe are conservative the situation should work itself out in say 3-4 months
Yeah, I doubt any team is going to let fans in.
Have 122,000 people died in traffic accidents in the past few months?
Lol, the risks are independent of one another.
It’s like saying, “I’m obese, so I may as well start smoking.”
You make complete sense to me but that doesn’t matter to the alarmists. I’ll just watch , not going to bother confronting those whose main source of information is the CDC or Facebook.
Mike, Matt and Dan are all really good men.
Maybe because there is a flu vaccine that people can and do get every year…*shrug*
Traffic accidents aren’t contagious. COVID is not the flu.
Your arguments are really, really sad. They’d be funny if they weren’t so dangerous.
LOL – cause having the CDC as a source of info is SO BAD and the CDC is JUST LIKE Facebook. I mean it’s the SAME THING amirite *eyeroll*
Our country’s deep-seated distrust of expertise and intellect is a major impediment to overcoming this crisis…
It doesn’t matter if they are not contagious. Its still a way you could die associated with going to a baseball game. Of course you cant spread a car accident. Its about individual risks people take on. Stop living your life in fear. I know a 68 year old who did a 2 mile hike while having covid ( he didn’t know it at the time). Its not the medieval plague you fear mongers are making it out to be.
Safer in an outdoor ballpark than in a crowded Walmart.
For 3 hours you most certainly are not. You’re why the curve isn’t flattened here, unlike every other 1st world nation. Bravo
Cmon. Go look at the pretty picture twitter.com/jonnysmit8/status/1276053907790196736?…
The curve isn’t flat because thousands of people went marching in the streets taking no precautions and got a free pass. But hey you want to see your team play in the postseason with some precautions? Nope you can’t do that since watching baseball is not woke enough.
Sorry but the marchers wore masks and had minimal impact on the spread.
That was a clown comment, Afk711
Protesting injustice > watching baseball
I suppose you think the March on Washington was unimportant, too
There have been several studies that have concluded that the protests have not contributed to the spike, or very slightly at most. Traveling, whether vacationing or otherwise, HAS been shown to be a significant factor in the recent spike. You didn’t notice that the dramatic increases are almost exclusively in states where the Governors and residents were COVID deniers and opened several weeks earlier than scientists recommended?
NFL will not allow fans in the first 8 rows to provide more distance. So I would guess MLB needs to do something similar?
Of course the NFL saying fans need to be 8 rows away from the players to ‘protect’ the players shows they don’t really care AS MUCH about protecting the fans who pay money to come and watch since they will undoubtedly be exposed to more risk than the players because they will be closer to other fans and come into contact on way-in/way-out.
Fans can simply choose not to go to the stadium and watch the game at home. They don’t lose money and it doesn’t impact anything for the rest of their lives.in their live. I hope that mlb teams are sensible and only allow like 50% of seats to be filled per section, even in playoff games, and try to spread out traffic in choke points.
Meanwhile, players who don’t play will not only not get paid, but could also lose goodwill and might find it hard to get a contract next year because they haven’t played a game in over a year. Especially for fringe players, choosing not to play may ruin their career and/or earning potential. They are sort of forced to be there, so it stands to reason that their employer does as much as they can to protect them.
Shouldn’t be hard to separate the Marlins 5 fans from each other
It’s pretty funny when some say, ‘you safely stay inside your home for the rest of your life’, equating several months to an entire lifetime. Unless you live in a hot dungeon, several months isn’t so bad out of the course of a lifetime.
Several months in your home is actually much more dangerous because when you leave it again, your immune system will be worthless. But why use common sense?
Be careful! Common sense is more scary than the virus to those panicking. So basic. Keep some distance, wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
I run for an hour every morning outside, walk for another half hour later, again outside, water and garden outside, spend most of the rest of my time inside. I’m not missing anything at all and I’m not putting myself at risk. People are idiots, I avoid them.
As whyhayzee noted, we aren’t spending all our time inside. Our immune systems aren’t going to disappear because we practiced physical distancing
Wait wait wait… you actually think people are shut in 24/7? You also legit believe a person’s immune system will be decimated by being indoors for a few months? I wonder how the ISS and submarine crews manage to survive.
Owners want to do this because it’s all gravy for them, especially if they can get ticket-holders to agree to waive liability. The trick is going to be figuring out how much space needs to be empty, and where it needs to be empty. I’m sure there will be plenty of takers.
Ray’s fans have been social distancing for years.
Last week Governor Abbott said sports venues could seat up to 50% capacity, which for the Rangers would be about 20,000 fans. However yesterday COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Dallas have increased 80% since the first of June. More notable is that 20-25% of those hospitalized are in the 20-35 year old range. Abbott hinted that more size restrictions might be necessary.
% is up simply because people are being tested more due to easier testing access, no other reason
Testing hospitalization.
Testing isn’t hospitalization.
I wasn’t talking about positive tests. I am talking about hospilitzations.
Not knowing someone is sick does not mean they are not sick.
DTD – which part of “hospitalization rates are up 80%” wasn’t clear?
Astros owner Jim Crane also wants fans in the stands. Figures, owners in two states where case and death rates are climbing want to subject people to more unnecessary risk. Of course if we just slowed down the testing……………………
The degree that a teams ownership commit to allowing fans in the stands is a good measurement of how insane that ownership group is. Why in the world is anyone pretending this is going to happen?
Practice general hygiene. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, be self aware if elderly or have a pre existing condition, wear a mask in heavy trafficked areas, stay home if ill. These basic things coupled with some social distancing, sanitizers and we should be able to go see a game. Especially in outdoor stadiums.
I suspect the majority who would attend a game this year, aren’t the mask wearing, social distancing type.
Stadium employees will be getting punched out after asking them to put a mask on.
This comment completely reflects the gap in understanding of the whole social distancing system. All but few medical grade masks are not for protecting the wearer. They are so that the wearer, who may have Covid and likely doesn’t know is less likely to infect others. If those not wearing masks are also engaging in the riskiest behavior they are also most likely spreading the virus to more people if they have Covid. You could literally kill someone who is in a high risk group and is doing everything they can to stay safe by not wearing a mask. Masks are about protecting others, not about protecting yourself.
In the context of attending a baseball game, why would a high risk person be in attendance?
So much of this narrative makes no sense. Those at risk are encouraged to take extra precautions.
Those not at risk should not fear getting infected. For most, it is not even a bad cold. Then, they have some level of immunity, which is a good thing.
Swing and a miss.
Without even knowing they have the virus, low risk people can spread it to high risk people – that is the issue here.
Thank you MWeller. Maybe if Joe stops inhaling, he’ll understand.
Totally agree with you ohyeadam.
Good luck getting enough people on board with that plan.. People are actually arguing that wearing a mask is a danger to their health. If that’s the case, then they have breathing issues which make them high risk, and should be staying away from crowds anyway.
Not all “breathing issues” are high risk. Technically, I have a “breathing issue” due to bad sinuses and seasonal allergies.
But I’m not at risk. And I wear a mask where I must, and choose not to when the choice is mine.
Free will…. try it!
It is a risk. Your body needs fresh 02, not CO2. Also, those masks are harbingers of bacteria after about 1 he and begin to break down. Go learn things and stop listening to people who don’t give 2 squirts about your well-being.
Did Hannity or Alex jones tell you that?
here i thought McHugh was expected to be a key contributor. didnt realize he might not even pitch.
If some teams can sell tickets to some fans, will that affect the deal with MLBPA?
To which deal with the MLBPA are you referring? To my knowledge, attendance does not effect any deal.
If NASCAR can have fans right now then why cant baseball?
That was Nascar’s choice, whether the correct one or not. Is it working out ok? I don’t think we know.
I wonder when people are going to realize the three things right in front of our faces.
1. Reopening = more corona cases
2. Rioting = more corona cases
3. 98% survival rate for those who get it and don’t have an underlying health issue
I think 3 is wrong. More like 99.85.
I read that half of the people who have died where 85 or older.
I read that something like 80% of people who have died had a life expectancy of less than 3 months.
I’m not saying it makes the deaths any less tragic or sad because they are old people, but information like this should inform future actions.
Smokin Joe: “I’m not saying I FAVOR old people dying, but I don’t really CARE if they die. I mean, they’re gonna die anyway, so why should I let them get in the way of watching a baseball game, amirite?”
Also, PEOPLE DIE IN ISOLATION with COVID. An elderly person dying of other causes generally can have their loved ones next to the bed; that doesn’t happen with COVID.
You are heartless and revolting. Delete your account.
hey mweller, I’m here, and a bully like you isn’t going to chase me away.
And, if you carefully read what I wrote, I did not say those deaths were not tragic or sad. They are. And it should be criminal that government officials willingly introduced adeadly virus into long-term health facilities and nursing homes.
You completely read past my point. I’m not going to simplify my point for you.
You’re almost correct. You’re survival rate is way too low.
So the 2% who die in your analysis are just out of luck? With the contagiousness of COVID, even with less than a 1% mortality rate, we’re looking at tens of thousands of people dying, but go ahead with your “98% sUrViVe So ItS oK.”
What a clown comment
Why do I keep seeing the black lives matter protests referred to as “rioting” when the rioting and looting comprised about 0.00001% of the protesters in a few of the dozens of cities where the protests occurred on one or two nights? Most of the other minor conflicts occurred when the militarized police started with tear gas and rubber bullets, barricades, etc. When the police were withdrawn there were no issues.
It makes the MAGA crowd feel better about themselves to refer to them as such, that’s about it
I don’t like it. I think they should play a tenth inning, and if still no score, call it a draw.
This will be the one season in history the Marlins will pace the MLB in attendance. Because they will be the only ones allowing fans in stands. Lol.
So many uneducated and willfully ignorant people on here who slurp up everything the media tells them without doing a bit of research…very sad and disheartening how lazy and weak people are
I’m glad you are so self aware
I guess I struck a nerve
Which is your favorite right wing talk show?
So you’re saying I have to be right wing to think for myself? Interesting and true. I don’t listen to any talk shows though. That makes you 0-3.
Dude based on your comments, it is clear you do not think very much. You are just regurgitating right wing none sense. You are the same person that posted in this thread that staying indoors for a few months would destroy a persons immune system. That demonstrates an inability to think things through
DTD is delusional
What did I say that was delusional?
shouldnt be hard to physical distance in miami, especially with low attendance
If fans want to take the risk that should be up to them.
Nope, they are not just putting themselves at risk. You have to take into consideration everyone else they are potentially placing at risk by their actions.
Especially the at risk family members that aren’t even going to game.
If you ever want to know how stupid the average liberal is, log on here… you have no clue how most of the country is absolutely laughing at you… if coronavirus was as bad as you think it is, Miami, Chicago, New York and California would be decimated, unfortunately, it isn’t and all you liberals get to keep spewing your wonderful brand of stupidity… I have a son that works at walmart and comes in contact with thousands a day and yet, he isstill alive… I go out to dinner 5 times a week, play golf 4 times a week where we still shake hands and don’t own a mask and have done this since before it started and eating out up to the day I couldn’t and the very day it opened up… if whynot thinks this is putting others in harms way, HEY IDIOT, THEY HAVE TO BE OUT THERE SO THEY ARE CHOOSING THE RISK. NOBODY IS BREAKING INTO SOMEBODY’S HOUSE TO COUGH ON THEM… you really would think having your head shoved so far up your butt would be way worse than a nasty flu…
.0003 death rate for the US as of now… 330,000,000 people divided by 100,000+ deaths of which many would have died from catching the flu…
Mehbah…. Awww seems I hit a sore spot, I even got a bit of an all caps rant. Have fun rage spreading your ignorance.
When the post starts with “lIbErAlS r StOOpId,” you can reliably skip the rest lol
At this point I don’t even care if no fans are allowed, baseball itself is enough for me to be satisfied tbh
Life will never be normal. People are too stupid and easily manipulated by propaganda.
Exactly.
Pro sports actually are one of the things America has to move on from. Pro sports are pretty worthless other than to make billionaires richer. Do away with all of them. Make the players create their own leagues where every player co-owns the league if you must.
Oh look its Strike Four trying to create his new world order. Actually pro sports have a big place in our history. No one is going to quit the Yankees to go play in the player socialist league LOL. Pro sports bring joy to the millions of people who are fans of teams and gives them something to look forward to follow. Yeah it benefits billionaires so Karl Marx wants his followers like you to hate it. And it distracts from forming your new world order so all in all sports must have you pretty triggered.
Yea Im sure Kyries league would just be a swimming utopia !!!!!
WaDafuk you talking Bout?
Marlins fans already social distance. They averaged around 10k a game.
If rioting is okay, fans in the stands is okay too.
Besides media, liberal politicians, BLM and Antifa, who says rioting is okay? I’m pretty confident that the other 96% of Americans abhor the rioting and idiocy of tearing down statues of abolitionists. Unfortunately, many of the remaining 4% post on Twitter and here. I guess the rest are figuring out how to make a living and educate their kids since so many states and abdicating their educational responsibilities.
With the possible exception of some in Antifa, none of those groups advocate rioting. The same cannot be said for the white supremacists who showed up at some of the protests to provoke or incite violence. The leadership of the BLM movement was loud and outspoken in it’s condemnation of rioting….Hey I wonder if they’ll be able to force DOJ to release the FBI report on how the white supremacists are employed in large numbers in police departments large and small.
I’m more worried about leprechauns than getting COVID at a damn ballgame. Wear a mask, don’t touch crap and live your life. Stop living in fear. If you die you die. Some days you’re the dog, some days you’re the hydrant.
If you guarantee it would only affect you, that way of thinking is fine, but you don’t live in a bubble. People have to think of how many others along the way, who do not share their way of thinking may end up inadvertently exposed to them virus. Can you live with the knowledge that your desire to go a baseball game, may have resulted in someone else getting ill and in an extreme case losing their life?