In the middle of the first weekend of training camp, it's already apparent that every day that passes without terrible news for the White Sox is a victory.
Granted, the results of the team's COVID-19 tests haven't been released yet, but savor the normalcy nevertheless.
If you want to know what might possibly lie around the corner, look at the Atlanta Braves, who announced that four of their players tested positive for COVID-19. One of them is Freddie Freeman, whose wife delivered a word of warning on her social media channels:
The Yankees are without DJ LeMahieu, who tested positive for COVID-19 but is asymptomatic thus far. (Unrelated to the pandemic, Masahiro Tanaka had to be helped off the field after getting struck in the head by a Giancarlo Stanton liner.)
More players are assessing the landscape and opting out. Some had uphill climbs for stability (Felix Hernandez was trying to make the Braves; Welington Castillo the Nationals), and others just don't see the upside (David Price, citing family concerns). Buster Posey joined Mike Trout in expressing uncertainty about playing.
The White Sox won't play any of these teams due to geographically confined schedule, and that's supposed to be released on Monday. As far as their division is concerned, some of their rivals are already experiencing turbulence.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins announced that both Miguel Sanó and Willans Astudillo both tested positive during the intake testing phase at the start of training camp. Two other players in the organization who are in the 60-man player pool, Nick Gordon and Edwar Colina, tested positive while at home.
Kansas City Royals
I had temporarily forgotten that Mike Matheny is now at the helm of the Royals, since it seemed like he replaced Ned Yost about six years ago, yet hadn't managed a game for the last six years. Anyway, he became the first manager to reveal that he contracted the virus, which he said happened about a month ago.
“I did have symptoms. We knew. We had a family member test positive, so we knew even before the test because we had exposure, so my wife and I took off and we quarantined just the two of us. And it was just the way they said it might happen, about three days [after exposure], I started feeling it.
“But we laid low and quarantined and stayed away from people and it ran its course. Fortunately I’ve been tested with the right antibody and looking forward now to donating some plasma to help out however we can.”
Matheny is masking up and running the show at Kauffman Stadium, so apparently he's in the clear. But Sal Perez, who was supposed to return behind the plate for KC after missing all of last season with Tommy John surgery, tested positive for COVID-19. He's reported to be asymptomatic and in good spirits.
Cleveland Indians
Delino DeShields, one of the main players Indians received from Texas in the Corey Kluber trade, tested positive for COVID-19, with what Chris Antonetti called "very mild symptoms" (diminished sense of taste and smell). Emmanuel Clase, the other player the Rangers sent to Cleveland, was already suspended for the season due to PED use.
The bigger storyline concerning Cleveland is the future of its name. With Washington's NFL team on the precipice of ditching the "Redskins" slur because corporations are severing their connection with the franchise, the Indians and the ketchup-red face of Chief Wahoo are on deck as the most egregious representation of Native Americans in sports. The wheels for changing mascots are similarly in motion.
Cleveland minimized Chief Wahoo's presence, which was part of the conditions for receiving the All-Star Game at Progressive Field last year, but the name that inspired such a caricature was going to require a reckoning at some point. It's never made sense to me that it took so long, especially since Cleveland baseball history has a superior name in "Spiders" just begging for modern-day merch.
If you're wondering where the Blackhawks stand in all of this, The Athletic published a thoroughly reported story on the issue by Scott Powers. A few other dominoes probably have to fall before they have to answer about their logo, but previously stubborn pieces are now starting to tumble.
(Photo by Erik Drost / Flickr)
