MLB and its players are reportedly focusing on a plan, supported by high-ranking United States federal public health officials, that could allow the season to begin as early as May, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The plan, according to Passan, involves all 30 teams playing games — without fans in attendance — in the greater Phoenix area. Potential sites include Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, 10 spring training facilities and other fields that are nearby.
All players, coaching staff and other personnel would be living in relative isolation away from the general population at local hotels, travelling only to games and back, Passan reported.
The plan has several potential concerns that would need to be addressed before it came to fruition, though.
Chief among those concerns is an increase in available tests for the novel coronavirus that have a quick turnaround time.
Such tests are not widely available now but, according to Passan, there are those who are familiar with MLB’s plan who believe testing at that scope and scale will be available by early May — and would allow MLB’s testing to not interfere with access to tests for the general public.
Earlier on Monday, Baxter Holmes of ESPN reported that the NBA and NBPA were also collaborating on assessing rapid-response testing devices that could, theoretically, provide quick, efficient and accurate COVID-19 test results without detracting from the public’s testing capacity.
Logistically, executing a plan like this would also be challenging. As Passan notes, the league would require buy-in from players who would be forced to separate from their families for an indefinite period of time if the COVID-19 outbreak continues in the U.S. preventing teams from playing in their home stadiums.
Ensuring that players and staff members do not contract the novel coronavirus, even while in a secured setting, and that no MLB-affiliated personnel bring the virus into an Arizona community would be another barrier. As of Tuesday evening, 2,456 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Arizona, according to a database maintained by the New York Times, and 65 people have died.
Officials do not believe that a positive test would necessarily justify quarantining an entire team or shutting down the season once more, though, according to Passan, who notes that teams may carry significantly expanded rosters to account for the possibility of players testing positive.
This version of MLB’s plan carries financial implications as well — positive and negative. Increased roster sizes could mean that more players receive major league salaries. But not having fans in attendance means teams would forgo ticket sales that account for the largest proportion of their annual revenue.
Given these myriad concerns, a June Opening Day could be more realistic, Passan reported, but both sides remain focused on finding resolutions in time to salvage a condensed or shortened MLB season.
Baseball’s season had been set to start March 26 but spring training was halted on March 12. After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for eight weeks, MLB said it would not open until mid-May at the earliest.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
