Washington Nationals and Houston Astros Cancel Team Workouts
The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros announced that they cancelled their team workouts for Monday. This comes after it was revealed that both teams had experienced delays with getting the results from their COVID-19 tests. Both teams underwent the testing process on Friday but are still awaiting the results. Jeff Passan of ESPN was the first with the news on the Washington Nationals.
The Washington Nationals canceled workouts today as results from their Friday coronavirus tests still have not shown up, sources tell ESPN.
Comes on the heels of the Oakland A's canceling a workout Sunday because of no results and testers not showing up to Angels camp, either.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 6, 2020
Jake Kaplan, who covers the Astros for The Athletic, was the first with that angle of the story.
Sources: The Astros canceled their workout today. They are still awaiting their results from Friday’s COVID-19 tests.
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) July 6, 2020
The fact that two teams have cancelled their workouts because of these delays is a problem. After all, players were guaranteed that they would be kept safe this season with consistent testing. If these problems continue, then it’s only going to cause players to not trust the MLB.
Additionally, if the problem continues, then it could seriously hinder the future of baseball in 2020. Teams will not want to continue putting their players at risk of catching the virus without having the safety net that the testing provides.
Washington Nationals and Houston Astros Issue Statements
Following the news, Washington Nationals General Manager and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo issued a statement. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com released the statement first.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo releases a statement regarding the club’s delayed COVID test results that caused Monday morning’s workout to be canceled: pic.twitter.com/NDu0QUxG1y
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 6, 2020
Additionally, the Houston Astros responded with a statement of their own. Chandler Rome with the Houston Chronicle had it on Twitter.
Statement from Astros general manager James Click pic.twitter.com/S2BCsdcW0m
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 6, 2020
Other Teams Face Uncertainty Regarding Testing
Besides the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros, other teams have faced uncertainty regarding COVID-19 testing as well. First of all, the Los Angeles Angels have pushed their Monday workouts back due to the delay in getting the results. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report this.
The Athletic also learned from sources that testers did not show for Angels and two other, unidentified clubs Sunday. Angels players did saliva tests on their own; team shipped tests to lab in Utah. Monday workout pushed back from 9 am PT noon to make sure testers are present. https://t.co/BGD0FQGmGr
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 6, 2020
In addition, the Oakland Athletics are yet another team in jeopardy awaiting results from last week’s round of COVID-19 tests. Athletics General Manager David Forst wrote a statement expressing his feelings to players and staff yesterday. Alex Coffey, who covers the A’s for The Athletic, wrote about that Sunday night.
The A's COVID-19 tests are still in SF, waiting to be sent to a lab in Utah. They're due to arrive at 1:30 am MT Mon. The Athletic obtained a message sent from GM David Forst to players/staff tonight.
"If possible, I'm as frustrated & pissed as you are": https://t.co/39eyyRpYCf
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) July 6, 2020
Outlook
In the end, it’s unknown whether these delays are simply because of the July Fourth holiday weekend or because this is such a new process. After all, whenever a new process is implemented, it takes time to work out all of the kinks. Having said that, this is something that must get under control sooner than later. The MLB realizes that, as do the players, and now is the time to ensure that it doesn’t happen anymore. If it continues, then baseball in 2020 may very well end before the regular season even begins.
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