As American professional sports leagues were trending toward playing games without fans in attendance, matters took a dramatic turn when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
The NBA immediately suspended their season, and MLB and the NHL followed suit the next day. All remaining Spring Training games were cancelled, World Baseball Classic qualifier games have been postponed, and the earliest the 2020 season will begin is April 9.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are keeping Camelback Ranch open for players to participate in voluntary workouts over the next two weeks. Though, manager Dave Roberts is mindful of striking a balance of keeping players active without overburdening them in anticipation of a deep postseason run, and MLB has since advised players leave Spring Training.
Roberts also noted the two-week delay MLB has imposed is a best-case scenario, and current plans may very well need to be altered. That would appear to be likely, as the general consensus is the 2020 season will not begin until some time in May, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan:
“From everybody that I speak to: players, executives, officials, people at the union, the answer is no. If there is baseball on April 9, something went really, really well across the country. The expectation at this point, among almost everybody, is that we’re not going to see baseball until May.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has publicly stated his league will be shut down for at least 30 days. In reality, the NBA and MLB are facing hiatus that will extend beyond their initial timetables.
In the statement announcing their response to the coronavirus pandemic, MLB said it “will continue to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the start of the season,” and the league and its teams “have been preparing a variety of contingency plans regarding the 2020 regular season schedule.”
The Dodgers later released a statement that read, “These are unprecedented times, and the health and safety of our community is of the utmost importance to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Today, Major League Baseball announced the suspension of all Spring Training games and the delay of the start of the regular season by at least two weeks due to the impact of the coronavirus. In coordination with MLB, we will provide more information about our plans, including our ticket policy for impacted games, as soon as it is available.
“We appreciate your patience as we work with MLB and local health and government agencies towards a resolution that is best for the continued safety of the entire extended Dodger Family.”
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