They’re working off the CDC-recommended timeline with this statement:
Eight weeks would take us to May 11th, which was a Phillies off day preceding a six-game home stand against the Dodgers and Cardinals. That wouldn’t be a bad way to open the campaign, if we’re back to normal by then, though I have a feeling that that’s optimistic.
Who the hell knows.
Can’t wait to see what Kenney’s definition of essential is. Would hate to own a soda fountain right now.
This weekend Governor Tom Wolf ordered the closure of restaurants and bars in all of Philly’s surrounding PA suburbs– a wise and necessary move in the face of a global pandemic that will be amplified by idiots going to bars and bro-hugging each other to (their Nonna’s) death.
Curiously absent was Philly itself.
At that moment, we learned who was on top:
Asked Gov @TomWolfPA’s office why #Philly was not included in the list:
“We’re working with the Kenney Administration on the city's mitigation efforts.” @CBSPhilly https://t.co/dVsDLbCMDm
— Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) March 16, 2020
What’s the hold up? Well, Mayor Kenney explained on Saturday:
“I would recommend you wash your hands, you stay out from within three feet of people, and go out and have dinner — and tip your waitstaff because they’re struggling right now,” Kenney said at a news conference Saturday. “We have to figure out a way that we can continue moving forward without panicking to the point that everything shuts down. We may be healthier but the economy will be in the tank, and we can’t have that.”
Kenney later clarified that comment, emphasizing the importance of social distancing while in public spaces. But many Philadelphia bars and restaurants were crowded Saturday night, a potentially critical moment in the local spread of the virus.
No doubt that closing bars, restaurants and small businesses inflicts a world of pain on citizens and the economy. But if it’s not done now, it will happen eventually anyway. And the alternative will not only hurt workers, but it will also make many of them sick. This is where the federal government needs to step in and make whole hourly and part-time workers, and small business owners impacted by any of this. There are two options, both bad, but only one right decision.
I’ll try to be succinct and without hyperbole here: If Mayor Kenney doesn’t shut down restaurants and bars and keeps this stance up, he is going to kill thousands of people.
And yes, there is a Change.org petition for this.
Lock it down.
We’re going nowhere and doing nothing for the foreseeable future. No sports, no school, no concerts, but a lot of free time around the house and in our neighborhoods, so long as we practice appropriate social distancing and wash our hands.
If you’re at a loss and wondering what to do with your free time, I’ve compiled a list of 50 ideas that can hopefully help:
Here’s the official word from Rob Manfred and company:
Statement from Major League Baseball: pic.twitter.com/0bWS5VTRPu
— MLB (@MLB) March 12, 2020
The Phillies’ opener was scheduled for March 26th, so two weeks would push us back to April 9th, when they’re slated to start a four game road series in Cincinnati. We’ll see if they move the entire slate or simply just pick up with the schedule from that point. Baseball doesn’t have as much flex as other sports since the schedule is so crammed (unless they wanted to load us up with doubleheaders).
Everybody saw this coming from a mile away:
After a conference call among owners this afternoon, Major League Baseball is expected to suspend spring training. The league likely will delay the beginning of the regular season as well. At this point, it's a formality that ownership-level sources expect to happen.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 12, 2020
Announcement expected shortly that MLB will be suspending operations. More details to come.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 12, 2020
At least this gives Seranthony Dominguez and Andrew McCutchen more recovery time. That’s literally the only positive I can come up with right now.
This sucks.
Anybody else panic when Aaron Nola was scratched from his spring training start on Wednesday due to illness?
The baseball beats are down in Florida with the team right now, and Scott Lauber at the Inquirer has an update:
Aaron Nola threw bullpen session today. Stomach bug (not flu; Nola said he never ran a fever)will essentially cause him to make one fewer spring start than planned, but he doubts it’ll impact his readiness for opening day … assuming, you know, that opening day is still a thing.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) March 12, 2020
Nothing official from MLB yet on the start of their season. The Phillies open two weeks from today, March 26th, in Miami. Every team will play on that same day, so Major League Baseball really only has 14 days of wiggle room here. Maybe they shouldn’t even be playing these spring training games. You’ll probably see an official statement today or tomorrow.
No sports?
What the hell are we supposed to talk about?
I saw some people grouse about this last night after the NBA season was suspended. We all need material to work with, whether we’re sports writers, radio hosts, podcasters, or lazy bloggers. A lack of action means the well is going to dry up, right? We’re screwed!
“Not so fast my friends,” as Lee Corso would say. I’m here to assist my colleagues with 25 recommendations to get us through this difficult time.
We can discuss:
21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler
Crossing Broad is owned and operated by CB Sports LLC
