The most recent wave of COVID-19 tests among the Marlins produced another positive player, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). That brings the club’s total to an incredible 16 of the 33 players who traveled to Philadelphia for this past weekend’s series (the 30 on the roster plus a three-man taxi squad). The Marlins have also had two staff members test positive. Over at their alternate camp, every player tested negative on Tuesday, Craig Mish of SportsGrid reports (Twitter link).
The full list of Marlins players to have tested positive isn’t known, although MLB Network’s Jon Heyman added this morning that right-hander Sandy Alcantara is among the list. Speaking more generally, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets that the Marlins’ pitching staff has been hit particularly hard by this outbreak. As such, it’s not surprising to see that Miami has already claimed a trio of pitchers off waivers: Mike Morin, Justin Shafer and Josh D, Smith (not to be confused with Josh A. Smith, who is also with the Marlins as a non-roster player in alternate camp). Further additions for the Marlins seem quite likely.
For now, the Marlins remain in Philadelphia and are not yet certain when they’ll travel back to Florida, Jackson tweets. The hope is that they’ll be able to do so by Friday, but that situation remains fluid. As of right now, the Marlins aren’t slated to play again until next week, when they’re scheduled to host the Phillies, of all teams.
As for the Phillies, their entire roster and staff tested negative for a second consecutive day, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan (Twitter link). In fact, Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal tweets that outside of yesterday’s Marlins positive, there wasn’t a positive test with any of the 29 other teams. That’s certainly welcome news, although the fact that new positives are still arising with the Marlins is problematic.
The Phillies, Rosenthal tweets, won’t play on Friday as had been previously expected but will instead play the Blue Jays in a Saturday doubleheader and a third game Sunday. The extra day gives the league a bit more time to take caution and hopefully ensure that none of the Phillies players or staff members were infected in last weekend’s series. It’s not known what would happen if the Phillies had a positive test (or tests) between now and Saturday, but they’ll continue to be tested daily in the interim.
Captain-Judge99
Looks like the Fish got to keep signing waived players. Their really left with no choice. Expect Folty to probably sign there or be traded there.
gbs42
They wouldn’t take on Folty’s salary.
jkoko
Marlins season should be over
BigFred
Not if they can keep signing replacement players faster than the players are catching the virus.
jkoko
Not the point. You let these players play a game knowing they tested positive on Sunday and their positive cases keep rising. They need to shut them down.
philliesphan77
They should suspend them all, especially Dr. Mattingly and Miguel Rojas M.D.
BigFred
I was joking.
dave frost nhlpa
MLB should have stepped in. Who lets a team decide to play?
the sterling don
I though your connect was quite hilarious
the sterling don
Comment* :/
gbs42
If you shut down the Marlins, you shut down MLB. How else would the schedule work?
ballcity141
Erase the 3 games with Philly from the record and just act like they never existed. Standings based on win %.
Rangers29
I want to know who made this happen. People will shoot out conspiracy theories, but in the end it was probably one guy who came in contact with a team member, and then this happened. Who knows. It could be anything. All I know is that I’d like for them all to get well, and start competing again.
radzyfsu
I don’t think any of them are even sick
John Kappel
do you think it’s fake? why would the team fake this?
Halo11Fan
John, there is “sick” and there is “sick”. Let’s hope they are showing few or no symptoms.
nats3256
I assume he is saying that they aren’t showing symptoms-not that they didnt test positive.
12isbetter
Which is not difficult for open-minded people
Halo11Fan
We already know they didn’t follow protocols on and off the field.
I would love for people to name names, but the players union will protect them.
jkoko
They should be required to name names for other players safety
philliesphan77
And so they can be disciplined by the league and possibly more
Koamalu
It has nothing to do with the MLBPA. Federal HIPAA laws make that impossible without the person’s consent.
Briffle2
I post this image link in jest and in all good fun, but I found a picture of Halofan.
google.com/search?q=name+names+seinfeld&clien…
tigerdoc616
being reported that at least one player (probably more) went out and partied in Atlanta when there for their exhibition games.
phenomenalajs
Was he with Lou Williams at the strip club?
Koamalu
It was a small group of pitchers that went out partying in Atlanta.
OhDear
Are the Marlins required to fill the entire 30/28 man roster or do the rules permit them to go with say 25 men if that’s all they can go with at the moment?
GONEcarlo
I believe 25 is the minimum, yes, but obviously they’ll try their best to go past that if possible.
OhDear
Also, there are a few independent league teams (e.g. Sugar Land Skeeters) still playing. Gotta think that league is going to have a few guys go straight to the Marlins.
Halo11Fan
There is good news here. It looks like it is not easily transferred from team to team. It looks like what happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse.
1738hotlinebling
Kansas City t-BONES canceled their season , they had Chris collabello, Henry Owens, Todd Cunningham , Darnell sweeneyand bunch of old players playing for them, be pretty cool to see those guy latch a major league deal again, better than nothing
heinie manush
I’m encouraged by zero positives outside the Marlins. Maybe we can get this season in after all. Seems like , done properly, the protocols are effective.
jkoko
As long as they keep letting the
Marlins play they will continue to have positive tests
Briffle2
Yes, a bunch of chicken little’s around here proclaiming the world is ending because of one outbreak on one team.
People need to take a couple of days and wait to see what happens before declaring the MLB should be over. Of course, there’s always those who never wanted it to start to begin with and just want to be proven right.
sophiethegreatdane
Possibly. It’s good news, but must be approached patiently. The latest player to test positive could have been infected on Friday or Saturday of last week. Depending on the individual, it can take that long to test positive. If we apply that same time frame to the Phillies, someone who was infected on Sunday may not show positive for several more days yet. Let’s hope the Phil’s remain uninfected!
Koamalu
It can take up to 2 weeks after you are exposed to test positive.
marlins03
Where has that been established? I know that the incubation period is 2-14 days (averages 3-6 days), but the incubation period does not determine when someone can test positive. It is the lag between initial infection and the onset of symptoms. You can test positive before then.
Gigorilla
What are the protocols for the Marlins?
–2 week quarantine? Where? Miami mayor may force the issue
–Or just the 2 negative tests in a row?
–IL for all?
John Kimble
There’s a rumor that when the Marlins were in Miami, a group of players went to a strip club. If that group came in contact with somebody who had it, it makes sense that most of that group also got it and then spread it to their teammates.
It’s leaning more in that direction because other teams that have had positives (i.e. the Reds) haven’t had spread like this.
If that’s the case the Marlins really should be punished.
sophiethegreatdane
I doubt there’s a collectively-bargained mechanism in place whereby players or teams could be punished for breaking COVID rules, especially without hard evidence of said violations.
Briffle2
I find it hard to believe, in this day and covid age, a group of professional athletes went out to a strip club and there wasn’t any pictures or posts that popped up on social media. Unless there was, anyone care to share?
scrapple22
They play for the Marlins. Do you really think anyone recognized them?
Halo11Fan
Briffle. I don’t.
Any pictures of Josh Hamilton in a strip club when he snorted coke in Texas.
I’ve never been to a strip club, but I would imagine pictures are discouraged.
Briffle2
So you literally have no evidence that any of them went out?
Halo11Fan
Briffle, If that’s in reference to me… NONE.
The only evidence I have is the commissioner’s memo where I inferred they broke protocol on and off the field.
Perksy
Was it the same strip club that NBA player left the bubble for to get chicken wings?
Koamalu
It was in Atlanta. It was pitchers.
gbs42
Evidence?
Briffle2
google.com/amp/s/sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/marlins-…
Some sports writer said he thinks a group went out, or at least one guy did, got positive and came back spreading it.
I’m not saying it didn’t happen, because I would be very surprised if players haven’t done something like this, but until I see something else besides a random sports writer “thinking” a group or one player went out, I’ll hold my judgment.
SalaryCapMyth
nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/miami-marlins-…
This is as close as I have found to evidence that the Marlins broke protocols. Obviously something happened because this outbreak didn’t materialize from nothing. Someone obviously went somewhere. You don’t need pictures to come to that conclusion.
Halo11Fan
The Commissioner’s office sent out a memo implying they broke protocols.
Koamalu
Just wait. It will be public soon.
MikeEmbletonSmellsBad
Can’t find any anything indicating that it was specifically pitchers that broke protocol but clearly someone did. Like SalaryCapMyth said, this doesn’t just happen if everyone is following protocol.
marlins03
Explain why the first positive was a catcher and why by the time the first pitcher tested positive, there were also 3 position players positive.
gbs42
“Well, I think a couple guys went out in Atlanta. That’s what happened. I don’t think it was any kind of fluke, from the bus driver or a pilot, any of that. I believe some guys got careless, at least one guy did for sure, he went out, and came back positive and spread it around.”
– Bob Nightengale.
“I think” and “I believe” aren’t much to go on. Unless he has more info, this seems pretty irresponsible of Nightengale.
Gwynning
Just for the factual record, the Lou Williams strip club in question was also in Atlanta. Carry on.
Mollysdad
They were in Atlanta, not Miami
1738hotlinebling
Also Aaron Sanchez, Danny Salazar, Addison Reed, Tim Beckham, Jacoby Ellesbury, Scooter Gennet , Melky Cabrera are all still available , time to get creative , like Major League, see if a team will pity you and trade off a Nick Dini or a Greg Bird lol
flmetfan
The Big Hurt still looks good in those vitamin commercials . Sign him too!
1738hotlinebling
time to go get Tebow for his MLB debut
5TUNT1N
If I were any of these players and the marlins came knocking, I’d be smart enough to know I was just being used in a questionable scenario and would have no problem choosing my health over losing for a club that doesn’t care about you. But I’m 39 so maybe that’s a life lesson.
1738hotlinebling
so what? if they came knocking on my door I’d go play, who cares
SalaryCapMyth
5TUN I don’t think it’s the Marlins front office who is responsible for this. Don Mattingly and the players decided to take the field with positive Covid tests.
Koamalu
That is a decision the front office had to make.
SalaryCapMyth
So far all that is reported was Mattingly and the players. No point in making assumptions beyond what is reported.
Koamalu
The manager would not and could not make this decision without the approval of the front office.
Koamalu
A small group of Marlins pitchers went out partying in Atlanta. It has bitten them in the behind. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Briffle2
Any evidence of this? Not saying I don’t believe you, just want some info. Like I said in another post, I find it hard to believe that a group of professional athletes went out partying and to a strip club and nothing popped up on social media right after.
Koamalu
It will be public soon enough.
SalaryCapMyth
nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/miami-marlins-…
This is the closest thing to evidence. If they were at a strip club, there wouldn’t be flash photography allowed inside. As for outside, it’s still believable as they would attempt to be discreet. Also, it’s questionable just how famous their faces would be. Even well know baseball players are frequently only noticable by home town fans.
But really, is your only complain that it’s a strip club that can’t be proved? I mean it’s obvious someone went somewhere.
Briffle2
You’re really naive if you think pictures aren’t taken at strip clubs lol. Wasn’t Lou Williams just photographed in a strip club?
I’m just saying, I’d like to see some more clear evidence then some reporter saying he “thinks” a group or some guy went out. Nothing wrong with wanting more evidence before forming an opinion.
So yea, I guess my complaint is that the evidence someone went somewhere is that a reporter thinks they did. Excuse me for wanting more evidence.
marlins03
Bob Nightengale’s quote:
“I think a couple of guys went out in Atlanta,” Nightengale said. “So, that’s what happened. I don’t think it was any kind of fluke from the bus driver, pilot or something like that. I believe some guys got careless… at least one guy did, for sure. He went out, and I think he came back positive, spread it around.”
Based on this comment he is not confident enough to say it without prefacing it with the words “I think.” Also, the fact that he goes from “a couple of guys” to “at least one guy” tells me that he does not have any hard evidence. Why should we trust the word of Nightengale ,who previously erroneously reported that Jeff Conine was going to be the next Marlins manager after the firing of Mike Redmond, without any hard evidence?
Furthermore, his reporting does not make sense in the time line. Alfaro’s positive was reported on Friday. There was not enough time for the virus to multiply enough to the point that that he was so infectious that he could infect 18 other people. It is much more likely that he was infected at the same time as the others. The virus does not progress at the same rate in everyone and when you look at all of the cases it makes a pretty good Gaussian distribution of positive cases, which one would expect given a large subset of positives. If 19 people including 2 coaches went to a strip club, I think we would have more evidence than thus far unsubstantiated rumors from an unreliable source like Nightengale.
5TUNT1N
Just speaking for a friend who had there test at a prison 2 weeks ago and just got confirmed a positive after waiting that long. I don’t think MLB would have this lag time but look at the back and forth with Soto it’s possible they thought they were good when in fact they were not.
driftcat28 2
Gotta pick up Folty ASAP
DarkSide830
i think the biggest issue with fielding a replacement team (which we assume will include some alternate site guys, some wiaver guys, and some free agents) is the SP. cant just plug in a FA SP right away, so getting a guy like Folty will go a long way to getting the Marlins back to action.
Gwynning
The only problem I can foresee is the Fish may not want to assume the rest of Folty’s contract… but otherwise yes, it makes a lot of sense.
Gigorilla
What are the protocols for the Marlins?
–2 week quarantine? Where? Miami mayor may force the issue per a news story in USAT.
–Or just the 2 negative tests in a row?
–IL for all?
Does anyone here have any info on this?
echozulu88
I think the 2 negative test might be from after a week or so or exposure. I was exposed and was told by my work to quarantine. I asked if I could return if I tested negative but my doctor said, I might not have any symptoms or have a high enough viral load to come up positive on a test yet but could still have it. Luckily I didn’t but that’s probably the reasoning behind the Phillies being delayed as well
gwell55
Here is the real problem “The word is that several players were bringing a rotating cast of “female entertainers” into their quarantine bubble.”
That plus the Atlanta parties that have been confirmed by Nightengale … It seems like that no other tests have come back positive except the marlins since the opening does bode well for MLB as a whole (also by Bob).
Ducky Buckin Fent
(reads comments)
Oh.
We’re doing this again.
Later, fellas.
😉
Gwynning
Best post I will read all day! Cheers
Tmandolfan
Imagine being in their reserve pool, you get called up to the big leagues during a pandemic after half the team tests positive. Wouldn’t blame a kid who says, “nah, I’m good”