Astros superstar Alex Bregman had to sit out Wednesday’s practice because the results of his latest coronavirus test did not arrive on time, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle relays. “I look forward to having the issue resolved as soon as possible to rejoin my teammates tomorrow,” Bregman stated. Meanwhile, teammate and outfielder Michael Brantley expressed frustration with the league’s testing problems, saying “[players] kind of want answers.” He added, “I’d love to hear from Rob (Manfred) and some clarity on how we’re going to get this done because that’s very important.” Houston’s among a few teams slowed early in Summer Camp by testing delays, further calling into question whether MLB is capable of pulling off this season.
- Like Brantley, Athletics reliever Jake Diekman is unhappy with how the league has handled the testing process. There’s plenty at stake for Diekman – the 33-year-old has battled ulcerative colitis for most of his life and underwent surgery to remove his colon in 2017, putting him in greater danger of contracting the virus. Diekman told Alex Coffey of The Athletic: “I’m high-risk, so I have to speak out for everyone. I don’t want to get sick.” He went on to question MLB’s estimate of how many players have tested positive, opining that it must “be getting close to 100.” And while Diekman doesn’t want to opt out of the season, he’s skeptical that one will even happen. “Once the regular season hits, there’s no way I’m opting out,” he said. “But if they don’t get the testing figured out, this whole thing will get shut down. That’s my personal opinion.” Coffey’s piece is worth a full read, as there’s plenty more on the concerns Diekman and his wife, Amanda, have in regards to a potential season.
- The Angels placed right-hander Julio Teheran on the 10-day injured list earlier this week, but even manager Joe Maddon was uncertain of the reason. It turns out that Teheran’s still in Atlanta – where he pitched previously – because he and his family have shown symptoms consistent with COVID-19, he told Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes (Spanish-language link). Teheran revealed he “was not feeling well,” but he’s hopeful of joining his team in Los Angeles this weekend if he gets the go-ahead. Regardless, with the campaign just two weeks away, Maddon’s not sure if Teheran will be available from the jump (via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com), as the skipper observed that “it would probably be a rush” to place him in the Angels’ season-opening rotation.
- Indians outfielder Delino DeShields tested positive for the coronavirus last week, but it looks as if he’s on the road to recovery. DeShields’ most recent test came back negative, and he’s on his way to Cleveland as a result, Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com reports. If he tests negative again there, he’ll be able to join his teammates for Summer Camp. [JULY 11 UPDATE: DeShields indeed tested negative for the second time, and rejoined the Tribe’s camp.] More good news: Slugger Franmil Reyes returned to practice Wednesday after testing negative. The Indians held Reyes out of camp for two days amid worries that he contracted the illness at a July 4 party.
Wow, that’s one of the most pessimistic outlooks about the 2020 season I’ve heard a player express.
He’s going to get a call from Manfred like Mike Rizzo got.
I think Diekman has a lot more to be worried about health wise than being savaged by the dead sheep that is Man Fred – slave and apostle to the owners….
In a lean Owners / lean Players world I typically lean Owners, but as it relates to player safety MLB is stinking up the joint with testing.
I understand they want to send everything to one place so teams can’t bring bias into the testing, but why can’t MLB institute a regional model with labs within the Eastern, Central and Western regions. Then you have MLB assigned personnel onsite at all times to witness the process to ensure fairness and accuracy. They do this with having MLB personnel at every game to ensure rules are followed and a non-bias person is available for decision making. Not sure why hiring a few extra bodies is that big of a deal.
I want to see a season played, but not at the expense of player (and players families) safety.
MLB’s plan is far too fragile and Manfred’s leadership is completely questionable. I miss the old days of obsessing over the Astros’ cheating ways. Such simple times. Full respect to players like Jake Diekman for speaking up – integrity.
People love to blame people. If there is a problem getting tests, it’s probably not caused by the people trying to obtain the tests.
It’s a complicated process. This entire situation is a complicated process, but people love to blame people.
The holier-than-thou approach – nice touch from an Angels fan. You say blame, I say accountability. Your point is that return to play is “complicated” – profound.
Franmil Reyes went to a 4th of July party? How smart is that?
LOL
Clearly he isn’t
Correction he was looking to change his name as well
Pretty smart considering he has the freedom to do as he pleases
He has the freedom to smash his own hand with a hammer, too. Doesn’t mean he’d be smart to do so.
True, and in that case he’d only be hurting himself, not others, as hitting your hand with a hammer isn’t contagious.
That was less than a smart reply.
How many of the commenters on this site went to a 4th of July event?
I still don’t understand how MLB, with all the money it has, can’t lock down testing capacity. This seems basic.
The logistics around managing the testing of that many people (it’s not just the players) at so many locations has to be extremely complex. A small misunderstanding, unexpected change or oversight (like not fully accounting for a holiday) will have consequences that are only magnified by the nature of the business. I am not saying they cannot or should not do better, but people have to understand what they are tasked to do is extremely difficult.
Not to mention, we don’t have a surplus of test kits just waiting to be used.
Test take natural resources to create, and guess where we get some of those resources…. China.
If we have learned anything, it is we have to be much less reliant on China.
It doesn’t seem like labs are the major issue, it’s the test kits.
Amen to that Halo. Seems like we rely on Others so much when we could use all them factories that are wasting away. Look at Parts of Michigan, Ohio, And even my hometown Baltimore. There are huge empty factories rotting away. We should re tool them and put Americans back to work, and make our own products again to be less reliant.
I know they will cost more, but the cost of doing nothing in the long run will be much greater. All ships rise with a rising tide….. or something like that lol.
Would be interesting to see a compiled list of all the players that had their names released in connection with the virus.
These COVID-19 test results can be done on site and results verified in an hour… This isn’t that technical and every MLB stadium has a medical room for protocol handling of the tests… It’s crazy every team is sending results to a lab in Utah and then waiting..
They most be sending them to a centralized location to ensure they maintain consistency in the testing protocols. Obviously that was something both parties agreed to be the best approach prior to starting up again.
Just because you think something should be quick and easy it does not mean it is.
Skullbreathe — Does every MLB stadium have a molecular RNA extraction machine? NO. Which is why “on-site” testing does not exist. Don’t talk about things you know nothing about..
Don’t talk about things you know nothing about.
Then no one would talk about anything.
It’s easy to blame someone when you don’t even know what is causing the problem. And does anyone really know what is causing the problem?
Terrible technology. What is this, the Middle Ages? They’re doing the tests all the way in Utah?
Jesus Christ people, get with the times. Do the tests on site. Then, use modern technology to convey the results: one trashcan bang for positive, two for negative. Problem solved.
I don’t want to “get political” here, but the way MLB is run is similar to how both political party “establishment” members run elections and speak about the country.
They’re out of touch and will continue to further alienate its base/market. In MLB’s case, people don’t NEED the sport. There’s enough older fans to support the game for several years, but when the 20-year-olds are 40-year-olds in two decades, you’ll see the effect of the damages done today if they stay on this course of ineptitude spearheaded by Manfred.
If the nurse taking your blood looks like Alex Cora, you might have a point there…..
Stansfield123 The only on site testing is at facilities that have RNA extraction machines and staff to process the polymearase chain reaction (PCR). The idea that every MLB stadium could do on site test processing is ignorant of the facts of the process. Most hospitals don’t even have this equipment.
@stansfield …. keep Jesus out of this
@stansfield
Jesus is not here.
You will need to look elsewhere.
I wonder how many people keep commenting about the Red Sox doing almost the exact same things that the Astros did. The only difference is the investigation started with Houston before they figured out that Boston was also cheating. But because the whole thing started with the Astros they’re the only ones anyone ever talks about in regards to the scandal.
Thanks MLBTR for allowing comments on Covid again.
What I would find interesting to know, is if the players for each team are housed in a central location, or allowed home with family, and if so, what policies/procedures are in place during this second spring training at the home parks, and then how it is handled during the season., including travel, coaches, and staff.
Are all the P&Ps MLB mandated, or can each team add their own protocols. All this (so far?) missing information may prove to be the key to a successful 2020 season.
Any input appreciated.
You guys have made this sort of mistake on a few posts.
Diekman’s condition doesn’t put him “at greater risk of contracting the virus.” It puts him at greater risk of a bad outcome if he does contract the virus.
And that’s exactly why the mods shouldn’t be the ones making decisions on what kind of comment should and shouldn’t be allowed.
They should be. It’s their home and you are just a guest.
If this board becomes an inhospitable environment, they lose money.
And it doesn’t take too many trolls to make that a reality.
Halo11Fan – Very simply and accurately stated. I agree 100%.
AHH…………………
I’m wondering what part of Diekman’s statement “I’m high-risk, so I have to speak out for everyone. I don’t want to get sick.” lead you to that conclusion?
Having battled ulcerative colitis for many years he may have already had an abnormal immune system. Now he is without a colon which compromises his immune system, so yes, he is a greater risk. 80% of our immune system resides in our gut. Being without a colon (or still having one that is not connected to the ileum like me) does compromise the immune system.
Granted, it’s not the same for everyone, I know some people who are sans colon and rarely catch cold or the flu but I am just the opposite and judging by Jake’s statement I would say he and I are similar.
“[players] kind of want answers.” [Brantley] added, “I’d love to hear from Rob (Manfred) and some clarity on how we’re going to get this done because that’s very important.”
I know he wasn’t on the 2017 or 2018 teams, but that cracked me up coming from an Astros player.
That was my first thought after I scoffed.
…and just testing negative means nothing, as we have all learned by now.
In Reyes’ case, if he’s not quarantined for at least 7 days and retested, the Indians are taking a big gamble. Honestly, any player or team personnel who knowingly has had contact with Covid should go through a 7 day quarantine testing day 1 and again on day 7 before joining.
Imagine the Marlins caravan flying into Philly, testing clean and playing that series, flying to NY, testing clean and playing and flying to Washington then testing positive? Now what? Quarantine all the Marlins, all the Phillies and all the Mets plus the teams they last played because it’s been shown that someone can infect prior to testing positive themselves?
It’s insane.