The Official 2024-25 MLB Offseason Discussion Thread

[Chris]

Two Cardinals players test positive; game ppd.

The postponement of Friday's game allows the Cardinals enough time to do additional COVID-19 testing and conduct contact tracing prior to resuming play Saturday at Milwaukee, MLB said.

www.espn.com

 

[Doom]

The MLB is officially in jeopardy of being cancelled.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark on Friday that if the sport doesn't do a better job of managing the coronavirus, it could shut down for the season, sources familiar with the conversation told ESPN.

The league and players recognize the coming days are a critical juncture following an outbreak among the Miami Marlins in which 21 members of the organization have tested positive for COVID-19. Two positive tests by St. Louis Cardinals players on Friday exacerbated concerns inside the sport about the presence of the coronavirus and whether the jointly agreed-upon protocols are being followed properly to prevent outbreaks similar to Miami's.

Should another outbreak materialize, Manfred, who has the power to shut down the season, could move in that direction. Multiple players briefed on the call fear the season could be shut down as soon as Monday if positive tests jump or if players continue not to strictly abide by the league's protocols.

State and local governments have pressured baseball about players skirting the mandates outlined in the league's 113-page operations manual, sources told ESPN. Broadcasts that have shown players high-fiving, spitting and not wearing masks have left government officials wondering how seriously players are taking the protocols, sources said.

Further, there is concern about off-the-field choices, with one high-ranking official saying: "There are some bad decisions being made."

The Cardinals' game against the Milwaukee Brewers was postponed Friday and rescheduled to a doubleheader Sunday. Already, the Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies, who last played Miami on Sunday, were missing scheduled games, leaving 20% of the league's Friday slate empty.

Major League Baseball and the MLBPA on Friday jointly announced the results of COVID-19 testing through Thursday. Of the 11,895 samples taken over the past week, there were 29 positive tests -- 20 by players and nine by staff members.

ESPN

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Shocking, honestly.

 

[RDK]

Rob Manfred says 2020 MLB season will move forward despite COVID-19 issues: 'No reason to quit now'

Manfred also said that players 'need to be better'

www.cbssports.com

 

[Hidden Blaze]

The players need to get their shit under control.

 

[Doom]

This is scary news but the Mets organization is saying that Yoenis Cespedes didn't report for the game against the Braves. I hope nothing bad happened to him.

 

[Chris]

So apparently Cespedes has opted out of the season due to COVID concerns....which he did by no-showing this game and had his agent notify the Mets halfway through it after they had already had security bust open his hotel room to see it was empty bc they thought something happened to him

BRO

 

[Bobby Barrows]

So apparently Cespedes has opted out of the season due to COVID concerns....which he did by no-showing this game and had his agent notify the Mets halfway through it after they had already had security bust open his hotel room to see it was empty bc they thought something happened to him

BRO

That's what I call a "Pro-Buh Move".

 

[Hidden Blaze]

man actually had me a little worried about him while I was watching the game. Like if you gonna opt out, at least fucking tell the team so they aren't worried about your ass.

 

[Doom]

I've read the news after the Braves beat the Mets 4-0. I find it annoying that he didn't remind the team that he's opting out of the season before today's game started. It's selfish for him to have the team worried about him because he chose not to respond to their calls.

 

[Chris]

His contract is also up after this season so I think it's safe to say he's played his last game as a Met.

 

[Necro]

Report: Cardinals went to casino prior to team outbreak

----

Well that is smart of them to do.

 

[Chris]

Report: Cardinals went to casino prior to team outbreak

----

Well that is smart of them to do.

they don't wanna succeed do they bro

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Oh the fucking Cardinals.


Anyways, last night, the Twins came back from a 4-0 deficit to force 5 walks in one inning and tie it up 4-4, and it ended with the Pirates doing Pirate things and instead of choosing to walk Nelson Cruz (whose BA is .349 and leads the league in RBIs for 2020) and force Miguel Sano to have to hit a game winner, they just choose to pitch to Cruz anyways and pay for it dearly.

 

[Doom]

As a Braves fan, it truly sucks to see the pitching rotation suffer a major blow with Mike Soroka being out for the season with an Achilles injury. Adding salt to the wound and I didn't know until now, but Mike Foltynewicz was outrighted July 30th, making our pitching staff shorter. There's hopeful news though. The Braves called up minor league pitchers Chad Sobotka and Huascar Ynoa to fill in those missing pieces of our pitching rotation. I wish them the best.