Merely within days of starting off a drastically shortened season, Major League Baseball (MLB) has once again grind to a halt after more than a dozen staff and players from the Miami Marlins tested positive for Covid-19.
It is the worst-case scenario that everyone feared as the US continues its uphill fight against the global pandemic. As it gathers to find the right way forward, the MLB has decided to postpone two games before they come up with a solution to this difficult situation.
MLB announced that it will postpone the Marlins home game against the Baltimore Orioles along with the match between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. At the same time, they said they will test additional individuals to ensure there are no more patients.
Meanwhile, Marlins CEO and Hall-Of-Famer Derek Jeter explained that his team is staying in Philadelphia as it conducts Covid-19 testing. The team was supposed to have its opening game against the Orioles after playing the Phillies in an away game.
In an official statement that was released by the team, Jeter said he believed postponing the home game was the right call. He added that both his team and the league needs some time to understand the full extent of what they are facing.
The postponement comes after the teams played only their first 3-game series, illustrating the difficulties and unique challenges of trying to run a baseball season in the midst of a pandemic. For public safety purposes, no crowds were allowed to enter the stadiums.
Furthermore, the league forbid players from engaging in routine activities such as high-fiving each other or spitting on the ground. However, the outbreak of cases within the Marlins may be the last nail on the coffin for fans who anticipated a new baseball season.
The prospects of something even barely resembles a regular season have become even dimmer for the US. While sports leagues have resumed in Asia and Europe, America has still not managed to put the situation under control.
In particular, the state of Florida has emerged as the new epicenter in what many interpret as the second wave of infections. As the cases accelerate, Florida has surpassed New York in terms of Covid-19 cases.
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Replaced!