07/06/20 10:13:00
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07/06 22:11 CDT Nationals, Astros cancel workouts over virus testing delays
Nationals, Astros cancel workouts over virus testing delays
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) --- Baseball's two World Series teams canceled workouts Monday
because of coronavirus testing delays that one executive worried could endanger
the season.
The defending champion Washington Nationals and reigning American League
champion Houston Astros each called off training camp practices after not
receiving test results from Friday. The cancellations come amid delays around
Major League Baseball, with some players opting out, and in the aftermath of
Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle criticizing slow test results and a lack of
some personal protective equipment.
"Without accurate and timely testing, it is simply not safe for us to continue
with summer camp," Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. "Major League
Baseball needs to work quickly to resolve issues with their process and their
lab. Otherwise, summer camp and the 2020 season are at risk."
Astros general manager James Click said the delay in testing results and the
contagious nature of the coronavirus led to the decision to cancel a full day
of workouts.
"Despite these delays over the holiday weekend, we're optimistic that this
process will be ironed out and we'll be back on the field and ready to compete
for a championship soon," Click said.
Hours later, the Astros said they had received the delayed test results and
would work out Tuesday.
MLB said in a statement that 95% of its intake testing had been completed and
the Utah laboratory it's using had reported 98% of results, a majority of those
a day after samples were collected. MLB said it addressed delays caused by the
holiday weekend, doesn't expect them to continue and commended teams for
canceling workouts.
But frustration is building around the majors over testing delays.
The Los Angeles Angels were forced to collect their own saliva samples Sunday
when testers didn't show up at their training complexes in Anaheim or Long
Beach. They also delayed their workouts Monday to accommodate the testers,
eventually turning their usual morning drills into an optional afternoon
session.
Angels manager Joe Maddon believes "this will be a short-lived situation" and
pinned the problem on the holiday weekend.
"I want to believe everything will get straightened out relatively soon,"
Maddon said. "I think it's just one of those moments that was hard to foresee
coming into it, but I've got a lot of confidence that it's going to be fixed."
The Oakland Athletics finally got on the field for their first full-squad
workout Monday night after awaiting test results for position players and
canceling Sunday's planned session. The start of Monday's workout at the
Coliseum was delayed by more than 90 minutes.
"We are here, everybody who went through the intake process has had their
results sent to us and I'm looking down at the field at a bunch of position
players. We made it to this point," said A's general manager David Forst, who
was frustrated by the process.
"I expect it to get better. ... I think Major League Baseball understands that
the number of teams that had issues this weekend, that everybody expects it to
return to a normal schedule going forward."
The Arizona Diamondbacks pushed back Monday's workout a few hours, hoping to
get additional results from tests taken on Friday.
"I think if we really want this to succeed, we're going to have to figure that
out," said Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who voiced concern that some
teammates haven't been tested in a week. "If you can't really nail the easy
part, which is right now ... we've got a big hill to climb."
Meanwhile, players continue to test positive or opt out of playing.
Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo was isolating at his Dallas
apartment Monday after two positive test results sandwiched around a negative.
General manager Jon Daniels said Gallo was asymptomatic.
"You had to have the mindset that there were going to be some kinks to be
worked out," Daniels said. "It's just not realistic to roll out an operation of
this scale on as quick a timeline as we've had and not deal with some
challenges."
Diamondbacks outfielder Kole Calhoun also tested positive but is asymptomatic
and feels good, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis became the latest high-profile player
to choose not to play this season. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price,
Colorado Rockies infielder Ian Desmond, Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman
and Braves pitcher Flix Hernndez are among those who have opted out.
Multiple Blue Jays players didn't make the trip to Toronto for training camp
after one player tested positive for the coronavirus, according to an official
familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were
not authorized to speak publicly about it. Players who were in contact with the
unnamed player will remain in Florida for further testing and take a charter
later in the week if cleared.
Two Nationals players were among the 31 to test positive during intake
screening last week. Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday some of the 60 Nationals
players tested were still awaiting results.
"We've hit some bumpy roads," Martinez said. "But they're doing the best they
can. I know they are. They're working on cleaning everything up. We're in a
very, very different situation. No one's ever done this before. So I know
they're working out all the bugs."
Doolittle, who is still on the fence about playing this season, said he still
hadn't gotten his Friday results back before being tested again Sunday.
"That's one thing that makes me a little nervous," Doolittle said. "We're not
getting tests back in time. They still haven't sent us the PPE. We're supposed
to have N95 masks, stuff like that, gowns, gloves. We're supposed to have that
stuff, we don't have that stuff. Those are the things it's going to take for
people to stay safe enough for us to continue this season."
Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said things are going smoothly with
his club.
"There's a lot of hard work that goes into the logistics of setting this up,"
Counsell said. "There's going to be snags in this. I think we all know that.
But I'm pleased with how it's gone so far."
Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly said players and staff were tested again
Monday because of testing issues and they'd consider canceling workouts if the
problem persisted.
The Cleveland Indians have not had any issues related to testing, but All-Star
shortstop Francisco Lindor said it's vital that teams get equal practice time
before the season starts.
"We've got to make sure the testing is 99.9% accurate," Lindor said. "We have
to do a better job as players, the union, drug testing people, everybody. If
we're going to make this work, we have to do a better job. There's no way you
can suspend practices. That's not a fair advantage for anybody. We all signed
up to have a 21-day spring training, that's how we should do it. Everybody
should have the same amount of days."
___
AP Sports Writers Greg Beacham in Anaheim, California; Janie McCauley in
Oakland, California; Andrew Seligman in Chicago; Stephen Hawkins in Arlington,
Texas; Steve Megargee in Milwaukee; Rob Gillies in Toronto; Charles Odum in
Atlanta; Steven Wine in Miami; David Brandt in Phoenix and Tom Withers in
Cleveland contributed.
___
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