11:25 am: Another positive test at the Astros’ alternate site has again forced the organization to shut the complex down, reports Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
9:30 am: Today’s Athletics-Astros game in Houston has been postponed following a positive COVID-19 test in the Oakland organization, the A’s announced. The club is conducting contact tracing and will isolate in Houston pending further testing. An Oakland player tested positive for the virus, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link).
Hopefully, the immediate postponement of games and isolation can prevent a clubhouse outbreak akin to the ones that affected the Marlins and Cardinals earlier this season. More recently, positive tests within the Reds’ and Mets’ organizations have been successfully contained with rapid postponements and isolation. Even in those situations, the affected teams were held out of action for at least four days pending contact tracing and additional testing. It seems likely that Oakland’s upcoming series against the Mariners, scheduled for next Tuesday through Thursday in Seattle, is also in jeopardy (although MLB has not yet addressed those games).
This is the first COVID-related postponement of games in the Western divisions. The Astros’ alternate training site was shut down by a positive test last weekend but was reopened three days later.
DarkSide830
rough blow for the “best” team in baseball
rubixcube200
Lol
antibelt
Why is that an lol?
Tom E. Snyder
Yep, the Astros don’t get to play today.
arc89
now that is funny! Astros best team in baseball at cheating.
Valkyrie
Wow. Still clinging to that huh?
puhl
A’s are lucky. Another L was coming their way.
arc89
seriously you talk smack when your team is looking up at the A’s after getting swept last week and cheated to their only world series trophy. You must have poor self esteem living your life through one day in baseball.
MWeller77
-1 for pro-Astros comment; +1 for Terry Puhl-inspired handle. Your comment’s plus and minus cancel each other out
Valkyrie
Do you post about anything else or are you just a disgruntled Yankee fan? Dude, they’re NEVER going to get that trophy.
bigdaddyt
Are you Dallas Braden in disguise
sacball
bang bang!
astrosfansince1974
I wish the boards allowed profanity. Very old and tired take. You’re not funny anymore.
arc89
Funny is Astro fans pretending that cheating didn’t help their team for the last 3 years. It is what it is get used to knowing that you had to cheat for a world series. Altuve looks like a average player not knowing what is coming.
jonnyzuck
speak for yourself astrosfan, many of us still find bang jokes quite humorous
Just John
Profanity would help express feelings indeed. Those takes were never funny. Can’t ever remember a time I laughed about all that cheating. I would still be very profane about it if the site allowed. Barf.
puhl
Yes, they cheated in 2017 and briefly in 2018. I’m sorry you can’t get past that, but if being angry about that helps you feel better about your team, then ok.
puhl
I’m an Astros fan and I find them hilarious! I also laugh at all 29 other teams and their fans who wish they had that ring!!! Bang! Bang!
arc89
If it means you must cheat to get a ring the other 29 teams says you won nothing but known as cheaters rest of your life. probably be on ebay for $100 in ten years.
MWeller77
I think trash can jokes will be funny for at least another 10 years or so tbh
MWeller77
Lol…most of the “29 other teams” have multiple titles, but you go ahead and laugh about your tainted 2017 crown, boss
puhl
Don’t worry, I am, and I’m LOVING it bothers you so!
Valkyrie
Not sure what that says about you. Well, yes I am. But I am too much the gentleman to post it to your face.
NickTheDev
Hope it wasn’t Tommy La Stella – Since you know they SKIPPED HIS INTAKE TESTING AND HAD HIM JOIN THE TEAM IMMEDIATELY, *sigh*
Shaun owens
Now I wonder if that was the case ..
DarkSide830
he would have also been tested in prior days when with the Angels, so unless he got it on the way it probably wasnt him.
NickTheDev
I mean so would the existing Oakland players by that measure… it still looks stupid that they have this issue a day after they announce skipping intake testing on an acquisition, that was more my point.
arc89
Could be Pinder who just got back from maternity leave. All those relatives want to see the baby.
Orel Saxhiser
Great trade for Oakland. La Stella has played in just one game and has already made a major impact on the team.
DVail1979
Correct me if I’m wrong but if they skipped LaStella’s intake testing (meaning he didn’t actually take a test) then it’s probably not LaStella who came up positive … I’m not condoning skipping intake testing … I actually think its stupid to skip it at all … I’m just saying if LaStella didn’t take a test for the Oakland organization then he isn’t the positive test
NickTheDev
I’m sure he still had to take the test, just they didnt make him wait the standard period for 2 days worth of tests.
agentx
More likely that Barreto’s pre-trade physical and/or a connection to someone else in the A’s organization is what prompted the Angels to IL Barreto a few days and the A’s to take these precautions.
NickTheDev
The A’s took no precautions. The Angels did, just as almost everyone has when acquiring players. You do full intake testing and keep them away from the team until you have 2 separate negative tests more than 24 hours apart. Oakland didn’t do that and now whether it is La Stella or not, they have a problem… which certainly looks sloppy.
Allen Adams
Heck of a way to avoid a sweep…
To keep their best record intact.
Senioreditor
Best record? I suggest you look at the Dodgers.
Orel Saxhiser
They don’t even have the best record in the American League.
arc89
Sweep? I guess when you are the Astros you must find something to brag about since the world series is a brag about cheating your way to it.
Valkyrie
LOL. Cry Rinse Repeat eh yankee boy?
Shaun owens
More covid in baseball .. there’s no covid in baseball ..I guess that line don’t work .
I bet there is crying now in baseball by fans that just want to watch the games.
Got to feel bad about the a’s the are the Ultimate underdogs
Orel Saxhiser
I can’t wait until the 2021 Topps set. Limited edition COVID cards with bits of game-used face masks. Great for trading with your enemies.
MWeller77
This is really really gross but I have to grudgingly give you some gallows humor points lol
Birdieman2
I see the assholes have decided to cancel another game. Piss poor planning. This was the whole idea behind the alternate sites with extra players. Manfred has got to go. Noplan in place for inevitable cancellations.
ScottCFA
I’m not a Manfred fan at all, but you’re way over the top, my friend.
astrosfansince1974
+1
bostonred14
Did you have tickets to the game?
Orel Saxhiser
There have been zero cancellations, only postponements. Please know the difference so as not to make a fool of yourself.
Birdieman2
No cancellations, only postponements? You really think the Cardinals are going to get To the same number of total games as the other teams?
erauber
They postpone to see if this is more widespread. If they don’t, and continue, you may have another Marlins situation
erauber
Could this derail any trades the A’s are working on?
DR J
Stupid
davengmusic
A lot was being made of Marcus Semien not playing that 2nd game, had a 250+ game streak snapped, etc. Could it have been him if it weren’t LaStella?
Briffle2
He had an MRI for an injury so probably not related.
faithoverfear
You can see on all the player’s face’s how COVID-19 has affected their athletic abilities to play ball. You can see how hard it is for the players to hold back their adrenaline and enthusiasm when giving a “Fist Bump” or a no contact “High Five” after hitting a home run or making it a great play.
spareman7 2
Maybe the President could learn a lesson here. The Cards and Marlins shut down quickly and stopped it. Let’s all learn a lesson from that.
Ancient Pistol
The president doesn’t have the lawful authority to shutdown activity within a state that is not related to the federal government. Governors do. The president has some authority, however, to halt international or interstate travel.
jjd002
Don’t give him any facts. Orange man is bad.
MWeller77
I agree with you, spareman7, but please don’t feed the COVID-denying trolls
Netflix&RichHill
Hope it wasn’t La Stella after the A’s opted not to test him
agentx
I’d say it’s more likely the A’s concerns stem from whatever information prompted the Angels to IL Barreto upon his acquisition.
jhiphop
How do you get a positive test when you aren’t tested?