Coronavirus outbreak among Marlins players calls MLB season into question after just days
The Miami Marlins suffered an outbreak, forcing the club and the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles out of action Monday.
Bill Streicher / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters July 27, 2020, 12:18 PM PDT/UpdatedJuly 27, 2020, 8:03 PM PDT
By David K. Li
A coronavirus outbreak among players on the Miami Marlins forced the postponement of two baseball games Monday, calling into question the viability of Major League Baseball's season just one weekend into its long-delayed start.
The Marlins' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees' game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia had both been to scheduled a start a little after 7 p.m. Monday. But by late Monday morning, both contests were listed as "postponed" by MLB.
Tuesday's Orioles-Marlins game in Miami has also be postponed but MLB hopes to have both teams back on schedule Wednesday — which would be Miami starting a two-game set in Baltimore, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday night.
Baseball's chief executive revealed that four Marlins tested positive over the weekend but insisted this outbreak won't derail the 2020 season.
"I don't put this in the nightmare category," he told MLB Network. "We built the protocols to allow us to continue to play. That's why we have the expanded rosters. That's why we have the pool of additional players. And we think we can keep people safe and continue to play."
The commissioner said he would consider a full or partial shutdown of the season if infections accelerated.
"A team of losing a number of players that rendered it completely non-competitive would be an issue that we would have to address," Manfred said. "You get to a certain point leaguewide where it does become a health threat, and we certainly would shut down at that point."
Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said that his entire team underwent another round of testing Monday and that cancellation of the Orioles game was the only reasonable option.
"The health of our players and staff has been and will continue to be our primary focus," Jeter said in a statement.
MLB teams generally fly on chartered planes immediately after finishing series, but the Marlins chose to stay in Philadelphia on Sunday after completing their three-game series.
The Marlins who tested positive are in quarantine, according to manager Don Mattingly.
"We were more comfortable flying as a group later," Mattingly told reporters Sunday about his team's decision to remain in Philadelphia. "We're talking about these guys traveling back home to their families and their kids, and it's the reason we want to be safe."
The MLB season had been set to start March 26, with teams ready to play 162 games, before the coronavirus pandemic broke out. A truncated 60-game schedule, played in empty ballparks, just got underway Thursday.
"It's fair to say guys are concerned about things," Mattingly said. "They want how they're feeling about the situation to be heard. I think it's fair. We're talking about health."
A representative of the Major League Baseball Players Association declined to comment Monday.
Popular retired player Michael Morse said he wasn't sure MLB would make it to the finish line.
"Come on people," the Florida native tweeted Monday night, "did you really think this season was going to work?!"
The NBA and the NHL hope to restart action later this week with no fans in the stands.
The Minnesota Vikings disclosed Monday that their head trainer and COVID-19 point man, Eric Sugarman, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
"This weekend my family and I tested positive for COVID-19," Sugarman said in a statement. He holds multiple titles with the team, including head athletic trainer, vice president of sports medicine and infection control officer.
"We immediately quarantined and began to follow the established protocols. At this time we are all doing fine and experiencing only mild symptoms."
BREAKING NEWS! 2020 MONSTER ENERGY CUP SUPERCROSS IS OFFICIALLY CANCELED
The 2020 Monster Energy Cup Supercross, which was originally slated to occur on October 10th, has officially been canceled after FELD Entertainment concluded that it would be too difficult to secure an appropriate location to host the event this fall with the coronavirus crisis still widely affecting public events across the globe. We expected news about a cancelation or postponement to come sooner or later as the 2020 AMA Nationals are also scheduled to race on October 10th for their final round in Pala, California, at Fox Raceway. With the Nationals already adjusting their schedule to allow Supercross to finish their season (and to give themselves more time to prepare) we knew that Supercross would return the favor and reschedule the Monster Cup. However, with the difficulty of putting a major event together during these wild times, it makes sense why FELD would cancel the Monster Cup all together.
After a 9-year run in Las Vegas, Nevada’s Sam Boyd Stadium, the 2020 Monster Energy Cup was looking to kick off another chapter with the event held inside the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. However, the circumstances have changed and now the 10th running of MEC will have to wait until 2021. Still, FELD is happy to announce that digital viewership with up for the 2020 season and they are looking forward to having fans back in the stadium in 2021.
World Surfing League announces 2020 season canceled, changes for pro surfing in 2021
Laylan Connelly PUBLISHED: July 17, 2020 at 9:50 a.m. | UPDATED: July 17, 2020 at 11:38 a.m.
Local News, News
Pro surfing fans who follow the world’s best competitive surfers are in for a wave of change.
The World Surf League on Friday announced the cancellation of the 2020 competitive year due to the coronavirus pandemic and a new schedule planned for the 2021 season.
“After careful consideration and extensive discussions with key stakeholders, we have made the decision to cancel,” WSL CEO Erik Logan said in an announcement. “While we firmly believe that surfing is amongst the sports best suited for competition to be held safely during the age of unresolved COVID, we have huge respect for the ongoing concerns of many in our community as the world works to resolve this.”
The 2021 tour is actually expected to kick off this November in Maui for the women and in December in Oahu, Hawaii for the men, subject to approval by the state of Hawaii and local government agencies, as well as effective protocols that allow for safe international travel, WSL officials said.
Hawaii remains among the most strict when it comes to traveling into the islands, with quarantine requirements still in place for people coming into the country.
The final event of the season will change, instead of a world champion earning the most points throughout the season, it will instead finish with “The WSL Finals,” a new single-day world title event in September 2021.
The finals will include the top five women and top five men following the 10-event championship tour season, with a battle for the titles in a new surf-off format at one of the world’s best waves – what spot that is was not specified in the announcement.
Also new this year is an equal number of women’s and men’s competitive tour events for the first time in the sport’s history, with 10 events for each. In past years, women typically have a fewer events, but in recent years the World Surf League, which is based in Santa Monica, has attempted to create equal playing fields, including matching prize money for men and women.
The women will now join the men at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, one of the world’s most iconic locations with challenging waves known for monstrous barrels. The surf break is slotted to be the venue for the 2024 Olympics.
It’s the first time the World Tour women have competed at the same time as the men at Teahupo’o since 2006.
“I’m really excited about these new format changes,” two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright said in a statement. “As someone that has spent a lot of time out with injury and on the couch in the last few years as a professional spectator, I feel that change is good and needed.
“Having Tahiti come back on the schedule will be interesting and challenging,” Wright said. “It will take us a few years to get our feet and positioning in. However, with the next generation of strong and talented women coming through I think we’ll soon have Tahiti specialists.”
2021 Championship Tour Season, which would be subject to change depending on coronavirus conditions:
Shiseido Maui Pro presented by ROXY: Maui, Hawaii, Nov. 25-Dec. 6, 2020
Billabong Pipe Masters: Oahu, Hawaii, Dec. 8-20, 2020
MEO Pro Portugal: Peniche, Portugal, Feb. 18-28, 2021
Corona Open Gold Coast presented by Billabong: Queensland, Australia,March 18-28
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Victoria, Australia,April 1-11
Margaret River Pro: Western Australia, Australia,April 16-26
Oi Rio Pro presented by Corona: Saquarema, Brasil, May 20-29
Surf Ranch Pro: Lemoore, California,June 10-13
Quiksilver Pro G-Land: Indonesia,June 20-29
Corona Open J-Bay: South Africa, July 7-19
Outerknown Tahiti Pro: Teahupo’o, Tahiti, Aug. 26-Sept. 6
The WSL Finals:Sept. 8-16
There will also be a few specialty events starting next month called the “WSL Countdown” in order to “bring world-class competitive surfing to our fans during a time of restricted international travel.” The regional events will be more like exhibitions verses contests, featuring top surfers in the USA, Australia, France and Portugal.
One of the events will be held at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore, near Fresno. The “Rumble at the Ranch” will showcase a mixed-gender team format event in August.
Soccer Today
COVID-19 Update: Houston Dash Win NWSL Challenge Cup, LAFC, San Jose, Sporting KC, NYCFC, Orlando City, Philadelphia Advance in #MLSisBACK, No New Confirmed Cases of MLS Players
#MLSisBACK First Quarterfinal:
Don’t miss the action: The first Quarterfinal matchup of the MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage between Philadelphia Union vs Sporting Kansas City is on Thursday, July 30 at 8 p.m. ET(ESPN/ ESPN Deportes, TSN, TVA Sports 2).
The Philadelphia Union advanced out of Group A with 7 points before Jim Curtin’ssquad defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 in the Round-of-16 behind a Sergio Santos strike in the 63rdminute,with Union goalkeeper Andre Blake’s five saves preserving the shutout victory.
Sporting Kansas City won Group D with 6 points before the pressure was on in a down-to-the-wire Knockout Round match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC which was ultimately decided by a penalty kick shootout, as goalkeeper Tim Melia turned aside two attempts to send SKC through.
Great Example of Youth Soccer Returning To Play: US Youth Soccer’s New Jersey Youth Soccer
Read: JAMES GALANIS ON NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER’S ODP
New Jersey Youth Socceris one of the largest US Youth Soccer state associations with over 100,000 youth soccer players. Now, youth soccer is thriving once again in New Jersey after a successful stay at home shut down due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and youth soccer players are enjoying playing again. Competitive games are being played and preparations for the fall soccer season are underway.
No Games For Youth Soccer in Many Areas of USA and US Youth Soccer Extends Age To U19/20 for National Competitions
The coronavirus COVID-19 continues to impact soccer around the world and in America in unexpected ways, and simultaneously prove America’s commitment to the game.
Read: PLAYING YOUTH SOCCER CAN KEEP KIDS SAFER IN THE PANDEMIC US Youth Soccer’s Arizona State Association’s CEO Rick Kelsey speaks out.
How are youth soccer players supposed to compete across state borders if there are travel advisory requiring individuals to quarantine for 14 days … while it is important to keep travel to a minimum, some clubs are used to crossing state lines. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have a quarantine to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average. This applies to many states including California, Kansas, Florida, Alaska, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Virginia, and Washington. For more info visit NY GOV.
MLS Quote of the Week
Undefeated in five games, Columbus Crew is the only MLS team in #MLSisBACK to earn 9 points advancing into the knockout stage.“We are really proud of that. Our #1 priority is to win the MLS Cup,” saidCaleb Porter, Head CoachColumbus Crew SC
“AFTER FOUR MONTH, TO GET ALL NINE POINTS SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TEAM’S HUNGER.”
Caleb Porter, Head Coach Columbus Crew SC
No New MLS Players Test Positive
The news continues to be positive. Update Major League Soccer COVID-19 Testing as of July 26: 978 tests administered to 884 individuals from July 24-25 at the host hotel in Florida with zero positive cases reported.
Report from July 24: A total of 1,057 individuals — players, coaches, and staff from the 24 participatingclubs, along with referees, league staff and other members of the MLS delegation staying at the host hotel in Florida — were tested for COVID-19 and zero individuals were newly confirmed positive for COVID-19.
• Tests:1,114tests administered to 1,057individuals (July 22-23)
• 24 participating clubs:0 newly confirmed positive individuals from 24 clubs/staff (July 22-23)
• 2 non-participating clubs:Noindividuals fromnon-participating clubs remainingat the host hotel
This is the fifth consecutive series of tests that have confirmed no new cases of Coronavirus COVID-19.
MLS’ COVID-19 testing update from July 22th:
• Tests:1,254tests administered to 1,103individuals (July 20-21)
• 24 participating clubs:0 newly confirmed positive individuals from 24 clubs/staff (July 20-21)
• 2 non-participating clubs:0newly confirmed positive individuals (July 20-21)
(Tests on July 24, 22, 20, 18, and July 16 all had zero confirmed new positive cases. The last newly confirmed case was a player from a non-participating club who tested positive on July 14.)
Beginning June 30, MLS isproviding regular testing updates with aggregated COVID-19 testing results forall members of the MLS is Back Tournament delegation staying at the host hotel in Florida.
USA Passes the 4.3 Million Mark as the World Passes 16 Million Milestone of Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus COVID-19
Just a month ago, in June, it was hard to comprehend the prediction by theUniversity of Washington of 145,000 deaths in the USA from the Coronavirus COVID-19 by August. Now, as scientists expect the number of deaths to rise above 150,000 before the end of the month, theCDChas increased theforecastto between 160,000 and 175,000 total reportedCOVID-19deathsbyAugust15th.
US NEWS & WORLD REPORTreports a new estimate from theInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluationnowprojects201,129 deaths from the coronavirus by Oct. 1, up 31,239 from a projection the organization made less than a week ago. The new forecast of a higher U.S. death toll from the coronavirus darkens the horizon of Return To Play plans across the country where COVID-19 cases are spiking.
On the bright side – New Jersey is an example of youth soccer returning to play with summer youth soccer leagues underway and preparations for fall 2020 in full gear. After a serious shutdown and sheltering in place mandate, this state is proof that life can return to a better new normal that includes youth soccer.
To understand the massive economic impact and the unprecedented disruption around the world in soccer, we must look at the numbers.SoccerToday has been reporting daily on these numbers since there were 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Now — months later — the pandemic still threatens the beautiful game as states pause re-opening, players test positive and clubs are forced to make tough decisions.
With all the confusing information, we wanted to provide reliable and trustworthy data, so here is information from Johns Hopkins University as of 7/28/20 at 10:15 AM (PST)
