Mets Coronavirus

New York Mets: Tuesday Pinpointed as Return Date

by
New York Mets, Michael Wacha

The New York Mets have contained their COVID-19 problem to keep it within the one player and staff member who contracted it. With their entire traveling party testing negative now, the Mets have to figure out when to return to action for the second half of the season.

Ideally, they can attempt to squeeze in a doubleheader on Monday with the New York Yankees. Returning to action on Monday is unlikely due to taking extreme caution with a potential outbreak. Tuesday marks the start of a series with the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. The Mets have not held any workouts since their last game, which could give them Monday as a day to get the team back on the field.

Negative Tests

The people who returned to New York received tests on Thursday and Friday with no positive results. MLB has not released Saturday and Sunday’s tests, and the Mets have not commented at any point about the entire matter. After the outbreaks to occur with the Marlins and Cardinals, the Mets handling of the situation is very encouraging to MLB.

While we do not know who the player that tested positive is yet, we will likely know when said player is not with the Mets when they resume play. Luckily no matter who it is, the Mets’ playoff aspirations are still very much alive. The NL East is full of underachieving teams who are dealing with personnel issues. The division is as wide open as any in all of baseball.

The assumption would be that Jacob deGrom restarts the Mets season on Tuesday. With the starting rotation in shambles, deGrom would technically start back-to-back games if he earned Tuesday’s start.

New York Mets: How the Positive COVID-19 Tests Effects the Future

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yankees, New York Mets, Luis Rojas

The cancellation of this weekend’s Subway Series marks at least four consecutive games that the New York Mets will miss and have to make up. The details of who and how the virus was contracted are still unknown to the public. Due to league rules, they cannot say who tested positive. Once someone lands on the Injured List without a specific injury, we will know the player. This was the situation with Brad Brach and Jared Hughes, but with the time off the Mets might not need to put anyone on the IL.

Limit the Spread

At the moment, their handling of each player has allowed them to contain the virus to only one player and one staff member. If all goes well with no other positive tests, the Mets could return within a week as the Cincinnati Reds did. Whether you agree with Marcus Stroman opting out or not, this was the exact type of situation he wanted to avoid when discussing his opt-out decision.

The entire weekend is going to be a test of how effective the Mets are with squashing a potential outbreak. If their roster and staff members were following guidelines before a positive test, then the cases will remain at two. The player and staff member remain in Miami while most of the team is back in New York.

Reports stated the flight back to New York had a different vibe to it and understandably so. Players could not eat or drink on the flight home and received assigned seats. Despite conflicting stories and articles, the Mets are taking the correct steps from preventing this from taking over the same way it did for the Marlins.

The speculation game is in full force with the situation and the Mets spending the week in Miami. Some assume it is related to going to a club, but all of that is just for show. Social media leads to some brutal fans or some wild comments from doctors who received their medical degrees through Twitter. At this point, all we can do is sit back and evaluate the information as it comes in.

Back to the Field

When the Mets do return to the field, the few days off should aid an ailing starting rotation. David Peterson and Michael Wacha receive extra time to rehab their injuries, and even Steven Matz gets some time to clear his head. The Mets also will not have to force Seth Lugo into the rotation, as they were before Thursday’s game was postponed.

The Mets and Yankees both have an off day on Monday, which could serve as a doubleheader opportunity for both teams. If not, the Mets play the Marlins at Citi Field starting on Tuesday. The Mets had a three-game winning streak and may receive the opportunity to start Jacob deGrom in their first game back.

Their schedule will be packed towards the end of the season. The Mets starters also must get deeper into the game if their bullpen is going to pitch successfully. But for now, the health of each player comes first. Once they are back to normal, then they can get back to worrying about their playoff push.

New York Mets: MLB Stoppage Won’t Stop Stroman

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New York Yankees, New York Mets, Marcus Stroman

The Coronavirus has already done significant damage to the world and has led to a delay in MLB’s season. Despite the stoppage, New York Mets‘ Marcus Stroman is going to keep himself ready for the day baseball opens up their doors again.

Stroman is the epitome of what “no days off” is all about. The local-born hurler is known for his intense and high-quality training sessions. His exercises are precisely why he is one of the most athletic pitchers in all of baseball. Much like Stroman, Noah Syndergaard is continuing to work out in hopes the season starts sooner rather than later.

No Baseball Anytime Soon

The CDC recommends eight weeks of abstaining from crowds of more than 50 people. This sets the MLB season to resume way past the aim of April 9. It pushes back the hopeful date a month later to May 9. The longer we go without any games or Spring Training, the more time players will need to get themselves back in game shape.

Unfortunately, all players can do is stay away from people and countdown the days until baseball can resume. Players should continue to keep themselves healthy but do not expect to see them back on the field anytime soon.