As we wade deeper into another week the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are becoming murkier and murkier as Major League Baseball battles through the first significant test of its restarted season.
The news coming out of the weekend was that multiple members of the Miami Marlins baseball squad, including both players and staff, tested positive for the novel coronavirus yet still took the field against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, only to have its next two games canceled.
The good news is that so far, no member of the Phillies’ club has tested positive… yet. The bad news is that there has not been a sufficient incubation period for the virus to show up for contact over the past couple of days, making the results a bit less encouraging. Additionally, four more Marlins tested positive over the past 24 hours, bringing the grand total to 17 among Miami’s baseball personnel.
The latest round of testing from the Miami Marlins found four new coronavirus positives, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. That brings the total over the last five days to 17. @Ken_Rosenthal first reported the newest COVID-19 cases.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2020
The word from the nation’s top infection disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci? This outbreak could spell doom for the MLB season, but does not necessarily mean the games must be stopped now.
“This could put it in danger. I don’t believe they need to stop, but we just need to follow this and see what happens with other teams on a day-by-day basis.”
It has not been a great first week for the league and if things don’t shape up soon, we could very well see baseball shut back down again.
Around the Swamp
- Former Florida Gator Quinton Dunbar placed NFL’s Commissioner Exempt List: With the Seattle Seahawks set to begin training camp on Tuesday, they will be without cornerback and former Gator Quinton Dunbar, as the 28-year-old former receiver was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List, an NFL spokesperson announced Monday.
- 2020 Gators Football Recruiting Profile: Avery Helm: His game relies heavily on physical man coverage, and though he has strong cover skills, he can also make open-field tackles and was a major contributor in run stopping at Fort Bend Marshall High School.
- 2021 Gators Football Recruiting Profile: Marcus Burke: Measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, the in-state prospect has displayed some versatility in his game, showing the ability to line up either in the slot or out wide.
It’s great to be a Florida Gator!
This is why we stick together. #GoGators@GatorsVB pic.twitter.com/zQtWnkRJFq
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) July 27, 2020
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