No More Excuses, MLB Can Not Have Testing Delays Post-July 4

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There’s a line in Super Troopers where they’re running out of time to fend off their whole department getting cut by the state, and Captain O’Hagen tells the squad they have to shape up because “our balls are this close to the band saw.”

That’s where we’re at with MLB, which is supposed to kick off in just barely over two weeks, on July 23rd, but couldn’t work out the kinks with coronavirus testing over the July 4th weekend. On Monday, we noted that the Nationals, Astros, A’s, Angels, Blue Jays, and probably the Cardinals were having issues getting testing done in a prompt manner.

Since then, Cubs star Kris Bryant excoriated MLB, saying it was taking nine days for them to get testing results and that he didn’t feel safe. Today, we find out the Giants also are suspending workouts while they wait for test results:

There isn’t much more time to squander here. This was already going to be a condensed second version of Spring Training before a 60-game sprint of a season, and every day that teams miss because MLB fails to deliver on the testing procedures that players were promised is precarious. There is going to be a voracious appetite for baseball’s product due to pent-up demand.

We can’t give MLB a pass for failing their own protocols over July 4th weekend, but at least it’s a plausible excuse for delays. If this problem persists any longer, we are going to have to start having very serious concerns about if there will actually be a season that starts when it’s supposed to.

Written by Ryan Glasspiegel

Ryan Glasspiegel grew up in Connecticut, graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and lives in Chicago. Before OutKick, he wrote for Sports Illustrated and The Big Lead. He enjoys expensive bourbon and cheap beer.

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  1. Hey Ryan,
    Good points…makes ya wonder…testing shouldn’t be an issue by now.
    Maybe follow the money…or the lack thereof from the owners’ perspective. They can wait it out and the season will be cancelled without them being the bad guys. No worries about losing a lawsuit because it’s the testing and players safety that takes precedent. And then plenty fo time to talk about the new CBA in 2021.
    Cheers,
    Rick

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