MLB’s 60-game season might turn out to be a battle of attrition rather than a battle of hitting and pitching.
Amid a pandemic, players can opt out on their accord, while players testing positive for COVID-19 may decide they prefer not to return at any point.
The numbers in the U.S. continue to grow, while the situation in Canada is much better.
“We’ll be safer up here if we stay in Canada,” Blue Jays infielder Travis Shaw said. “The numbers up here are way better than they are in the United States. As a team longevity if we can get through these three months of the season we should be able to stay healthier than some of these other teams. We have a competitive advantage in that mindset.”
When Shaw looks at the available options presented to the Jays, the best, by far, is to be at Rogers Centre for the regular season.
The guidelines in Canada are quite strict when compared down south.
Shaw and the rest of his teammates will play 30 road games in the U.S.
He said no discussions have been held internally about players’ behavior when venturing to the U.S., which is scheduled to begin with a pair of pre-season games in Boston beginning July 21.
“I think everyone has to be smart,” said Shaw. “I can’t sit here and say 100% everyone is going to stay in their hotel room on the road, either. I think people have to be smart about it. I do not think people will go out and be selfish and jeopardize our team, our team health and public health.
“I don’t think that’s going to be an issue at all.”
Shaw, who is on a one-year deal, doesn’t plan to opt out, at least not at this point.
He can see how players with long-term security may decide not to play.
“As it sits right now I have no plans to opt out,” he said. “I feel really good baseball-wise.”
Shaw is bent on re-establishing himself.
“I’m looking forward to getting going in a few weeks,” he said.
CHASE SHELVED
Manager Charlie Montoyo announced that Chase Anderson has an oblique strain, a setback the pitcher suffered while getting loose in the bullpen a few days ago.
“He’s day to day right now,” said Montoyo, who plans on going pitcher-heavy when the Jays open the regular season.
Anderson was pencilled in as part of Montoyo’s rotation.
The Jays have been building a bevy of starting pitchers in the event of injuries.
“It’s going to be a crazy year, as you know, and you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Montoyo. “We have many options, which is great because they will be competing for a spot if Chase isn’t ready when this season starts.”
The plan is to maintain a traditional five-man rotation.
“He (Anderson) was ready to go,” added Montoyo. “He was in great shape.”
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen on Sunday finally made it to summer camp and then let reporters know that he and his family had the coronavirus, thus his delay in joining his teammates when camp began at Dodger Stadium on July 3. Jansen said his son Kaden first contracted the illness about three weeks ago. He said he and his wife and three children have recovered and that he has kept himself in good throwing shape and will be ready for the 60-game season, which kicks off July 23 against the Giants.
The club announced its 34-man training camp roster Sunday morning ahead of Monday’s official start of training camp for the 24-team Return To Play tournament for the Stanley Cup.
Toronto, which opens a best-of-five qualifying round Aug. 2 against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scotiabank Arena, will have all hands on deck from the postponed regular season, including players such as Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen, who spent much of the four-month COVID-19 suspension of games in the United States. Matthews, who tested positive for the condition last month and others coming from outside Canada either self quarantined before or are part of the NHL bubble, arranged with the Canadian government to keep returning players within bounds of the rink and hotel during the 12-team Eastern Conference part of the tournament, in and around SBA.
As expected, the Leafs added junior draft pick sensation Nick Robertson to the roster at forward, along with AHL Marlies top scorer Kenny Agostino. On defence, youngster Mac Hollowell and prospect Teemu Kivihalme are coming, too, with rookie goalie Joseph Woll behind Andersen, Jack Campbell and Kasimir Kaskisuo.
Ilya Mikheyev, who suffered a serious wrist tendon injury in December has returned, but winger Andreas Johnsson (knee surgery) is still out. Only 31 players will be picked for the tournament.
The rest of the roster, listed here, played at some point for the Leafs prior to the stoppage in play when the COVID-19 pandemic began raging in early March. General manager Kyle Dubas was to address the media Sunday afternoon.
The MLS match between D.C. United and Toronto FC has been postponed just minutes before it was scheduled to kick off. Continue reading on Goal.com
Sunday’s MLS match between D.C. United and Toronto FC has been postponed after a player tested positive for coronavirus.
The announcement was made just minutes before it was scheduled to kick off and the league is yet to announce a new date or time for the match.
The match was called off after one D.C. United player tested positive for Covid-19, while a Toronto player’s test came back inconclusive.
The players were tested the previous day but had to be checked again on Sunday morning and in the interests of health and safety the league has decided to reschedule the match.
A statement read: “Major League Soccer announced that today’s D.C. United vs. Toronto FC match has been postponed and will be rescheduled. MLS will announce details later today for the rescheduled match.
“Under the league’s health and safety protocols, clubs are tested the day before each match. The results of yesterday’s tests for D.C. United and Toronto FC produced an initial unconfirmed positive Covid-19 case for one player and an inconclusive test for another player.
“Because of the arrival time of the clubs in Orlando, the league’s protocol called for retesting both teams this morning and to await the results of those tests prior to playing the match.
“Major League Soccer will continue to prioritize the health and safety of all participants of the MLS is Back Tournament in making these decisions.”
Mark Abbott, the league’s deputy commissioner, explained further: ”Each team was tested the game before and two results we are re-evaluating.
“One for D.C. is a positive test, but not a final positive. With Toronto we had one that is an inconclusive test and we are re-evaluating that.”
He added: “Once we receive the results of the two tests we will be in a position to know when to re-schedule the game.”
The MLS is Back tournament being held in Florida has been hit hard by the ongoing pandemic since before it began on July 8.
SAN FRANCISCO — With exactly two weeks until the Giants are scheduled to open the 2020 season at Dodger Stadium, Buster Posey was absent for a second day and missed a practice for the third time since the club began summer workouts at Oracle Park. Manager Gabe Kapler said Posey is dealing with a personal…
matter away from the field and still weighing the option of sitting out the season due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
“He’s dealing with a personal decision and a personal issue right now and I just really want that to be his time to work on that,” Kapler said.
Kapler has reiterated the Giants are in no rush for Posey or any other players potentially considering sitting out the season to come to a final decision.
The Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA) released a statement on Thursday, addressing recent comments made about COVID-19 by umpire Joe West. The statement reads:
“Recent public comments about the current Coronavirus pandemic do not in any way reflect the position of the Major League Baseball Umpires Association.
“Our nation, and the world, has suffered greatly from this deadly virus. In the midst of continued suffering umpires are attempting to do our part to bring the great game of baseball back onto the field and into the homes of fans everywhere.
“The MLBUA fully supports the health and safety protocols agreed to by MLB and the MLBPA, and we have agreed to make dramatic changes to our usual working conditions in an effort to navigate this unprecedented season.
“The health of everyone involved in making this season happen is of utmost importance to the MLBUA — ourselves and our families, team personnel and their families, MLB office personnel and their families, as well as countless other “behind the scenes” people that truly make the game what it is. It is an awesome responsibility and one we do not take lightly.
“Regardless of any umpire’s personal views, when we report for a resumed spring training and 2020 season, we will conduct ourselves as professionals and in accordance with the health and safety protocols.
“We look forward to being back on the field soon to play our small role in providing the healing power of baseball to the fans of this wonderful game.”
West, 67, said on Tuesday that while he is someone considered “high risk” during the pandemic, he plans to go to work. He also expressed skepticism about the coronavirus data, saying, “I don’t believe in my heart that all these deaths have been from the coronavirus.”
West doubled down on Thursday, telling Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, “Those statistics aren’t accurate, I don’t care who’s counting them.” West also espoused a conspiracy theory, saying, “Our system is so messed up they have emptied hospitals because there’s no elective surgery. The government has been giving these hospitals extra money if someone dies of the coronavirus. So everybody that dies is because of coronavirus. I don’t care if you get hit by a car, it’s coronavirus.”
It’s good that the MLBUA disavowed West, even if it didn’t mention him by name. That being said, is that enough? If you’re a player, how comfortable will you be playing in a game in which West is working? Do you trust him to call out a player who licked his fingers or coughed into his hand before touching the baseball? Do you trust him not to get in your face when he feels you disrespected him by questioning a call?
In order for this whole thing to work, the players, coaches, umpires, and all other personnel need to have a certain level of trust in each other. Players who are high-risk, or who have high-risk family members, are relying on everyone else to make smart decisions. They’re trusting their teammates, et. al. to wear masks and socially distance, to not to go out to bars and restaurants, to faithfully wash their hands. All it takes is one slip-up for things to go sideways for a player and, thus, the game. This is not a simple difference of opinion; lives and livelihoods are on the line. West, with his dismissive comments, is not engendering any trust.
Nashville SC has withdrawn from Major League Soccer’s MLS is Back tournament in Florida after nine players tested positive for the coronavirus, the league announced Thursday. Nashville is the second team to withdraw from the tournament. FC Dallas had to pull out after 10 players and a coach tested positive for COVID-19. “Due to the…
Adding an electrifying receiver such as Stefon Diggs was going to significantly improve the Buffalo Bills’ chances of unseating the New England Patriots atop the NFL’s AFC East Division. But now the Bills can’t be sure when they’re going to get him. Less than three weeks before veterans are expected to report to training camps, […]
Adding an electrifying receiver such as Stefon Diggs was going to significantly improve the Buffalo Bills’ chances of unseating the New England Patriots atop the NFL’s AFC East Division.
But now the Bills can’t be sure when they’re going to get him.
Less than three weeks before veterans are expected to report to training camps, the NFL and NFLPA are reportedly discussing ‘opt-out’ possibilities for players uncomfortable about returning to the game during the coronavirus pandemic.
Based on his Twitter feed, one of those players is Diggs, who in March was acquired from the Minnesota Vikings by Bills general manager Brandon Beane (along with a seventh-round pick) in a mammoth deal for a first-round pick, a fifth, a sixth and a 2021 fourth-rounder.
“I miss football,” Diggs wrote in a series of posts on Tuesday night. “I love football … with all of me. But there’s so many unanswered questions with this upcoming season, I’d be lying if I said I was comfortable in starting back up.
Appearing on NFL NOW on Wednesday, plugged-in NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero said the league and union anticipate that opt-outs would be available for players “who either have a pre-existing condition, family (members) with pre-existing conditions (or) just general concerns over COVID-19 (that) would not want to play this season.”
He added that GMs have been told a specific date would be set for opt-outs, but it has yet to be determined.
A handful of MLB and NBA players have already decided the money and their job isn’t worth risking their health and, in turn, the well-being of loved ones.
Diggs is not the only NFLer to express his concerns over playing through the pandemic, but at this point he may be the most prolific.
It’s certainly not an ideal situation, but right now sports-starved fans will take a watered-down product rather than no product at all. Even, quite likely, the desperate-for-success Bills Mafia.
SECOND AND LONG
By the time you read this, veteran Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson might already be suspended. Enough influential media members are calling for it after social-media posts by Jackson, including one anti-Semitic message that he attributed to Adolf Hitler, were called “offensive, harmful and absolutely appalling,” by the Eagles themselves. Jackson later issued two separate statements of apology with “a promise to do better.” Don’t bet on them saving him … Instead of waiting for a final determination from medical experts, the government and the league, teams have started to make their own plans for hosting games this season. The Baltimore Ravens announced on Wednesday that, based on the current social distancing guidelines and fan safety protocols, their capacity at M&T Bank Stadium will be fewer than 14,000 seats per game — if fans are allowed to attend at all. The stadium’s capacity is 71,008 … The defending- champion Kansas City Chiefs also announced they will kick off the 2020 season and open defence of their title against the Houston Texans on Sept. 10 by moving forward with a reduced capacity plan, without revealing the number they have in mind.
DOWN THE SIDELINES
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has just one week to sign a long-term contract, or he’ll play on the franchise tag ($31.4 million US) this season and the sides can’t discuss a long-term deal again until 2021. Complicating matters could be the 10-year extension Patrick Mahomes signed with K.C., earlier this week that will earn him in the neighbourhood of a half billion dollars. Prescott has previously stated his desire to be the highest paid QB in the league. Unless they’re having clandestine meetings, it sounds like the Cowboys and Prescott’s reps haven’t had serious discussions since March … If the Cowboys wind up using the tag on Prescott in 2021, it would cost them around $38 million, a 120% increase on his 2020 salary. If they use it a third year, Prescott’s ticket would jump to more than $54 million … Who says you can’t put a price on sentiment? Not Josh Gordon, the career leader in suspensions for violations of the league’s substance abuse policies. The 29-year old receiver is selling the ring he was presented for his contributions in 11 games with the New England Patriots championship team in 2018. (But not the Super Bowl, because he was suspended.) Gordon, who is currently applying for reinstatement, has placed the ring with Heritage Auctions for its memorabilia auction next month. The precious bauble has an estimated value of $100,000.
SAM’S THE MAN
Players always say their priority is winning, but few mean it. More important to them is grabbing as much money as they can get. And then there’s Sammy Watkins. After earning $52.5 million over six NFL seasons, Watkins accepted a pay cut of $4.75 million from the Chiefs to a $9-million salary (that, with incentives, could push the number to $16 million) in order to have another shot at a championship in K.C.
He could have sought a bigger payday based on his 2019 post-season alone. In three games, he had 14 catches for 288 yards an a touchdown, including a Super Bowl performance that saw him pull in five passes for 98 yards — including a big catch to set up a score in the comeback against San Francisco.
“I’m at the stage of my life now where, at first, I was like: ‘Man, I want to get paid big money again.’ But then I realized: How much money do I need?” Watkins told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “My family is taken care of well. Do I want to go to a team and lose, get 1,000 yards (and) go to a team that’s sorry, whatever the case may be?
“Or do I want to come back with one of the best coaches, the best quarterbacks, the best organizations, the best team, the best wideout group, arguably, and come try to fight for another championship?
“I sat my agent down (when) he was trying to shoot for these big (contract) numbers, and I’m like: ‘Man, let’s just take heed of winning. I know how it felt to win.”
EXTRA POINTS
A report on CNBC.com on Wednesday afternoon said Amazon has notified sellers that they have 48 hours to remove items relating to Washington Redskins merchandise. Fanatics, which administers NFLShop.com, will continue to be a place to purchase Redskins stuff … After a breakout season in 2019 and “unproductive” negotiations on a new deal, the agent for 49ers running back Raheem Mostert said on Twitter that his client is now requesting a trade.
The National Hockey League is gearing up for a return. On Monday, the league and its players’ union announced an agreement to finish the 2019–20 season with a 24-team postseason tournament starting Aug. 1. The plan hinges on strict health and safety protocols, including daily COVID-19 testing for players and staff, but, as of now, the NHL is set to resume action for the first time since March 12.
The decision isn’t without controversy. The novel coronavirus pandemic is still raging across the U.S., leading the NHL to reportedly center the remaining games in two Canadian hub cities, Toronto and Edmonton. A week before the restart was agreed upon, Sportsnet reporter Eric Engels, quoting players anonymously, said, “One player said a majority of the players do not want to return to play this summer. Estimated 75%.”
Engels quoted another saying: “Calls with the NHL [Players’ Association] have been ‘a joke’” and that they merely revolved around the financial incentives. This speaks to the point that while the spirit of competition and a sense of closure is important to some, there are financial stakes hinging on the season’s completion, as well.
The NHL would stand to lose out on roughly $1 billion if the season was not completed, according to projections from the Associated Press and other outlets. As of now, total revenues for the 2019–20 season sit at $3.9 billion, the Los Angeles Times reported. The season before, the NHL brought in just over $5 billion.
A big part of that revenue comes from a hefty television deal with NBC. The NHL signed a 10-year national deal with NBC in 2011 that nets the league $200 million annually in the U.S. alone. The NHL also has a national TV deal with Canada’s Rogers Communications worth $4.9 billion over 12 years, beginning in 2013. These totals don’t count various deals signed with local broadcasters, as well. Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, completing the playoff tournament could net the NHL roughly $500 million altogether in TV revenue.
There are stakes beyond this season when it comes to TV revenue. The NBC deal is set to expire in 2021, and the NHL will be looking for the best possible leverage when it comes to negotiating a new contract.
For now, it looks like the NHL will get some of that leverage back with plans to finish the season in place. Players are set to return to training camp on July 13, and there will be a chance to see how fans respond to watching empty-arena games for the remainder of the season.
The NHL is not the only league looking to finish what was started: NBA players have reported to Disney World in Orlando to compete in a similar style tournament, and MLB recently announced a schedule for a shortened season. Meanwhile, major soccer league competition in Europe has been underway for several weeks now, albeit in empty stadiums, to finish the teams’ respective seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO — When Hunter Pence is at his best, his energy feeds crowds, his words inspire teammates and his at-bats become lively examples of what makes baseball so fun and compelling. For much of his career, Pence has been a clubhouse’s resident optimist, but even one of the sport’s most positive presences chose sobering…
West, who is 67 years-old, has a history of high blood pressure, and who is overweight, tells Rosenthal that Major League Baseball expected him to opt-out and was “taken aback” and “shocked” when he told them that he would not do so.
Partially it’s because he wants to set the all-time record for games worked. He’s 65 games of Bill Klem’s record and, if he works 2020, he can set the record early next year. Partially it’s because he’s not concerned about his health, telling Rosenthal, “If this game hasn’t gotten me by now, no virus is going to get me.” He says that he’s lost some weight and that his doctor says his heart is “as healthy as a horse’s.”
It’s also, it seems, because West is something of a COVID-19 skeptic:
“I said, ‘Look, most of these people that they’re reporting are dying are not healthy to begin with. I’ve lost 25 pounds over the winter. I’m playing golf every day in the heat. I’m fine. I’m not going to back down now.’
“I don’t believe in my heart that all these deaths have been from the coronavirus. I believe it may have contributed to some of the deaths. I said, ‘I’m not going to opt out. I’m going to work. And I’m going to work until you take me off the field or I get hurt, whatever. I’m working.’”
The view from left field 