Following COVID-19 clusters that saw 13 Cardinalsplayers and staff and more than 20 Marlinsplayers and staff test positive for the coronavirus, MLB and the players association (MLBPA) have reportedly agreed to new safety protocols designed to reduce the risk of additional outbreaks within the game.
In a series of tweets, Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal details the new measures:
Players and staff must wear face coverings that cover the mouth and the nose at all times while at the ballpark other than while on the field of play itself. This new mandate includes the dugout and bullpen.
In order to minimize time spent together indoors, home teams must provide outdoor covered spaces for the visiting team.
Home teams must also provide appropriate spaces that allow for social distancing during rain delays.
Traveling parties must be reduced to absolutely essential personnel.
Players and team personnel must wear face coverings at all times at team hotels other than in each person's individual hotel room.
A member of a road team, whether player or staff, must inform the team compliance officer if he or she wishes to leave the team hotel for any reason.
Home team players and staff members are now prohibited from going to, in Diamond's words, "bars, lounges, malls or other places in which larger groups gather."
Diamond also tweets that MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to disciplinary measures for players and staff who violate these new guidelines. Diamond writes:
"Any covered individual found to be flagrantly violating these protocols, including refusing to wear a face covering after being reminded, can be banned from further participation in the 2020 season, following a written warning."
While the 2020 season spans just 60 regular season games, players are receiving full pro-rated salaries for those games plus additional revenues from the postseason that's been expanded from 10 to 16 teams. As such, banishment for the balance of the season would entail a significant financial hit.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cb...ule-breakers-face-season-long-suspension/amp/
In a series of tweets, Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal details the new measures:
Players and staff must wear face coverings that cover the mouth and the nose at all times while at the ballpark other than while on the field of play itself. This new mandate includes the dugout and bullpen.
In order to minimize time spent together indoors, home teams must provide outdoor covered spaces for the visiting team.
Home teams must also provide appropriate spaces that allow for social distancing during rain delays.
Traveling parties must be reduced to absolutely essential personnel.
Players and team personnel must wear face coverings at all times at team hotels other than in each person's individual hotel room.
A member of a road team, whether player or staff, must inform the team compliance officer if he or she wishes to leave the team hotel for any reason.
Home team players and staff members are now prohibited from going to, in Diamond's words, "bars, lounges, malls or other places in which larger groups gather."
Diamond also tweets that MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to disciplinary measures for players and staff who violate these new guidelines. Diamond writes:
"Any covered individual found to be flagrantly violating these protocols, including refusing to wear a face covering after being reminded, can be banned from further participation in the 2020 season, following a written warning."
While the 2020 season spans just 60 regular season games, players are receiving full pro-rated salaries for those games plus additional revenues from the postseason that's been expanded from 10 to 16 teams. As such, banishment for the balance of the season would entail a significant financial hit.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cb...ule-breakers-face-season-long-suspension/amp/
