Phillies, Marlins Negative Tests Shows Sports Can Survive Without Bubble

Ken Rosenthal reported this morning that the Philadelphia Phillies have zero new positive COVID tests to announce. The clearance put a green light on the Yankees series starting tonight in the Bronx, but it also proves the league should be able to cross the finish line.

Also notable to mention is that the entire Marlins organization has tested negative for COVID after its outbreak last week produced nearly 20 members with the virus.

Baseball canceled a week of Phillies games without a single positive test. That may have been an overreaction now that there is data behind it. The results now should show commissioner Manfred that postponing games over fear from the media coverage shouldn’t become the norm. 

Keeping a sports league running is going to require guts to stand up to social media pressures and instead rely on science. 

Science gave no indication the Phillies should have a week away from the game. Fear led Manfred to that decision.

The great news is that a negligent organization like the Miami Marlins can’t derail the season as easily as we previously thought. Now it feels like we’re more likely headed to the Dodgers-Yankees World Series a lot of us were hoping for. 

The Philadelphia Phillies passed rigorous COVID testing all week just in time to face the 7-1 Yankees with Gerrit Cole on the mound. Tough luck.