Major League Baseball and the NBA continue to insist that they’re coming back THIS MONTH. But every day, they seem more and more DOOMED.
At least four MLB players have opted out . . . Mike Leake of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross of the World Champion Washington Nationals, and Ian Desmond of the Colorado Rockies.
They’re all sitting out for concerns over COVID-19, whether for themselves or high-risk family members . . . but Desmond, who’s biracial, also shared his frustration with racial injustice, and wants to spend some time off working with the youth.
(His statement was made in a very powerful Instagram post.)
Several other players have tested positive for COVID-19. Last we heard, the season was supposed to start around July 23rd . . .
But there’s still no schedule, and very little information about how the league will keep COVID-19 from infiltrating traveling teams, especially as it’s running rampant across America.
MLB said that both leagues will use the DH . . . they’ll try to keep tied games from going too long by starting Extra Innings with a runner on second base . . . spitting is prohibited . . . there will be “wet rags” to keep pitchers from licking their fingers . . .
There will be expanded dugout and bullpen space . . . and the league is “encouraging” players, umpires, and other on-field personnel to practice physical distancing.
Which is great, but if someone on the field has the coronavirus, it’s hard to believe that it won’t spread . . . especially when the player is asymptomatic.
Oh, and minor league baseball has officially been canceled.
The same goes for the NBA. At least a half-dozen players are sitting out the upcoming season, including DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, and Trevor Ariza . . . and other players have tested positive.
And 79-year-old announcer Marv Albert says he’s not taking his chances.
Unlike Major League Baseball, the NBA is playing in a “bubble” in Orlando, but Florida has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot . . . and people are already questioning if the league will be able to keep its players inside the bubble.
(Here’s ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith screaming his head off about how players will probably leave the bubble to have sex.)